I. Greetings from the Angel Gabriel (vv. 26-30)
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth (v. 26). The sixth month is from the time when the angel Gabriel announced to Elizabeth that she would have a son, that is, in the sixth month after Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, he was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee. The town of Nazareth in Galilee is located about 75 miles north of Jerusalem.
The angel Gabriel visited Mary, who lived in a town called Nazareth in Galilee (v. 27). In verse 27 of today’s text, the word “virgin” is used twice to refer to Mary. It was emphasizing the fact that Mary was a virgin. But it said that Mary was a virgin to whom she was betrothed. At that time, Jews got engaged a year before getting married. When a man and a woman become engaged, they become legally married. However, they cannot meet each other until the wedding. So, in verse 34, Mary answered, “I am a virgin.”
The man to whom Mary was betrothed was Joseph, a descendant of David. Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus. As can be seen from Jesus' personal genealogy, Joseph was clearly a descendant of David. Of course, Joseph was not the father of Jesus by blood. As we well know, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. However, legally Joseph was the father of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus legally came as the descendant of David.
Then why did Jesus have to come as a descendant of David? In 2 Samuel 7:12-13, God said that he would establish David's descendants and establish his kingdom's throne forever. Accordingly, the people of Israel continued to wait for the Messiah, the anointed king who would come as a descendant of David. Therefore, Jesus Christ had to come legally as a descendant of David, as God said to David. To make this fact clear, Luke introduced Joseph as a descendant of David, and said that Mary was betrothed to Joseph through her virginity. And she must become pregnant through the Holy Spirit in her virgin body and giving birth to her son can he become the son of God.
The angel Gabriel went to Mary and greeted, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (v. 28). The meaning of this greeting was that God had given Mary grace and had a special plan for her. When Mary heard the angel Gabriel’s greeting, she was greatly troubled and wondered, “What kind of greeting this might be.” (v. 29). This means that God thought about what he would use a woman of no particular significance like himself.
What the angel Gabriel told Mary was such great news. First of all, the angel reassured Mary. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” (v. 30). The Jews were very afraid of meeting the angel of God. Because when they met the angel of God, they thought that if they committed even the slightest sin, they would die. However, the angel Gabriel said that this visit was not a judgment. He rather told Mary that she had found favor with God. What favor did Mary receive from God?
II. She will give Birth to A Son (vv. 31~33)
Look at verse 31. “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” What the angel Gabriel meant when he told Mary was not that after she ended her engagement to Joseph and married her, she would become pregnant and give birth to a son, and that she would name him Jesus. He said that Mary became pregnant while she was betrothed to Joseph. So when we see verse 34, she asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become pregnant as a virgin, not knowing a man at all. This is completely impossible with human capabilities. But He can make this possible because nothing is impossible for God.
Mary’s conception with her virgin body was a miracle. But her birth follows the normal procedure, because it is said that she will give birth to a son. Jesus grew in Mary's womb for nine months and was born in the same way as other children. Jesus came to this earth in human flesh. But he had no sin. The reason Jesus came to this earth in the flesh was to die and take on our sins. So we can say that He was born to die.
The angel told the son to be born to be named Jesus. ‘Jesus’ is the Greek name, and the Hebrew name is ‘Joshua’ or ‘Jeshua.’ The meaning is ‘the LORD is salvation, the LORD saves.’ As his name implies, Jesus became the savior who saves us from sin by dying on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Therefore, if we believe in Jesus and are in Him, there is never condemnation. Because Jesus paid the price for all our sins on the cross. Also, Jesus had a body just like us. Therefore, Jesus fully understands all the suffering we experience. Jesus wants to save us from all the pain and problems we experience in our daily lives. Therefore, when you are faced with a difficult or hard situations, please do not suffer alone, but tell everything to Jesus in prayer. Then, the Lord will listen and resolve it.
Look at verses 32 and 33. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” The angel Gabriel told Mary five things about what kind of person the son to be born would be.
First, Jesus will become “the great one.” This fact is clearly evident in the life of Jesus. Jesus is omniscient and omnipotent. Therefore, Jesus is high and great as the “great one.”
Second, Jesus “will be called the Son of the Most High.” “The Most High” is a title referring to God. Jesus is the Son of God. What this means is that Jesus is essentially God. Jesus himself made this clear. He said in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one,” and in John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’”
Third, it says, “The Lord God will give him(Jesus) the throne of his father David.” As can be seen through the genealogy in Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is legally the ‘Son of David.’ Also, as can be seen through the genealogy in Luke Chapter 3, Jesus is a ‘son of David’ in his lineage. Therefore, Jesus had no problem taking over David's throne.
In 2 Samuel 7:12-13, we find the covenant that God gave to David. “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” God said that by appointing a seed from David's body, the “son of David,” as king, he would establish the throne of the kingdom forever. This does not refer to Solomon, who succeeded David as king. Solomon failed to strengthen his kingdom. Rather, he was the one who ruined the kingdom and caused it to be separated. Therefore, the Israelites continued to wait for the “Son of David” who would strengthen the throne of the kingdom. From then on, “Son of David” was used as a title for the Messiah. Ultimately, the covenant God gave to David was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “son of David,” and came to this earth as a king, inheriting the throne of his ancestor David. Wise men from the East realized that Jesus had been born as the King of the Jews, and came to worship the baby Jesus and offer gifts. When Jesus himself answered Pilate's question, he made it clear that he was a king.
Fourth, Jesus “will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” “The house of Jacob” refers to Israel. Even though Jesus came to his land as king, his own people did not accept him. Rather, they crucified Jesus and killed him, accusing him of blasphemy. Likewise, while Jesus was on this earth, he could not rule as king in Jacob's house. But Jesus broke the power of death and was resurrected. And he ascended into heaven in the presence of his people. As a result, many spiritual Israelites, that is, all those who believe in and follow Jesus, serve and worship Jesus as their king. King Jesus rules over and cares for his people with love forever.
Fifth, Jesus’ “kingdom will never end.” The kingdoms of the world are not endless. Babylon fell, and the Persian Empire also collapsed. Both Rome and Greece collapsed. But the kingdom of Jesus Christ is endless. No one can bring down that kingdom. When Jesus returns on the clouds, we will reign with Jesus in that kingdom forever and ever. As we look forward to the day when Jesus will return in glory, I sincerely pray that we will always stand firm in our faith.
III. Mary’s Obedience (:34~38)
Mary quickly understood what the angel meant. So look at verse 34. “'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'” Mary asked him how this could happen since she was a virgin and had not yet slept with a man. Then the angel told her how this would happen. Look at verse 35. “The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” The angel said that the power of the Most High, that is, the Holy Spirit, would cover Mary, open her womb, and make her conceive the Son of God. Even though Mary was a virgin, she would conceive in this supernatural and miraculous way.
Usually, when women become pregnant, a human child is conceived through a relationship between a man and a woman. However, the birth of Christ is when the Son of God becomes a tiny fetus and is implanted in Mary's womb. This means that Christ was not created at that time, but came to this world borrowing the body of a woman. The Son of God came to this world, but became as small as a fetus in order to become a perfect human being. Christ became very humble and small to save us from sin. Christ became like an insignificant creature so small that it could not be seen with the naked eye. So the child to be born will be the holy one. He is completely separate from sin and has no sin at all. Although this person is legally Joseph's child, he is actually the Son of the Most High God. Jesus is God who came to this world in the flesh.
Mary did not ask the angel Gabriel for any sign. But the angel gave Mary two signs to strengthen her faith. First, the angel informed Mary that her relative Elizabeth was six months pregnant. (v. 36). Elizabeth also grew old and was past the age at which she could have children. Nevertheless, Elizabeth became pregnant miraculously by God. And she conceived and hid herself for five months. As a result, Mary would not have heard that Elizabeth was pregnant until then. Second, the angel said, “For nothing is impossible with God.” (v. 37). This verse is quoted from Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Mary must have been well aware of the fact that Sarah, Abraham's wife, had conceived through a miracle provided by God. So it may be that Mary heard the angel, and she believed that Elizabeth was also pregnant, even though she was old.
Dear believers! There is nothing that is impossible for God. God will definitely accomplish what He says. Therefore, please hold fast to what God has said in the Bible with your faith. I hope you stand firm on the Word of God and live victorious life with the Word of God every day. I pray and bless that you will have an abundant life where you hold on to the Word of God with faith and experience the fulfillment every day.
Look at verse 38. “I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said' Then the angel left her.” Mary must have thought of the women in the Bible who gave birth to children despite their age through the power of the LORD God. Abraham's wife Sarah, Manoah's wife, and Elkanah's wife Hannah all miraculously gave birth to Isaac, Samson, and Samuel. She confessed that she was only a servant girl used by God for His will. She did not consider herself to be special even though she had the grace of God. Mary believed that she was merely an instrument to be used for the will of God. Dear believers! I hope that we too can always humble ourselves before the Lord. At that time, God will use us preciously and elevate us.
Now Mary was engaged to Joseph. They haven't gotten married yet. The betrothal period is a time to examine the bride's sexual purity. Nevertheless, when Mary becomes pregnant with a son, she will face many problems. Mary's belly will be full before her wedding. Then she must tell her whole truth to her parents. She has to explain everything to her friends and neighbors who look at her with suspicion. And she must, among other things, convince her husband Joseph that she is betrothed. In the worst case, people might regard her as an unclean woman and stone her to death according to the provisions of the law. But Mary did not ask the angel a single question about these matters. Mary said to the angel: “I am the LORD's servant, May it be to me as you have said.” (v. 38a). In her faith, Mary entrusted all her matters to God, completely submitting to the will of her God, because she was the servant of her Master.
What happened to her as a result? In Matthew 1, God solved Mary's problem. When Joseph, Mary's husband, found out that Mary was pregnant and was seriously contemplating divorce from Mary, God sent his angel to Joseph to solve all the problems that Joseph had been worrying about. “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'” (Matthew 1:20~23). I hope that we too can leave everything to God and absolutely obey God’s will. Then God will solve all our problems.
The angel who foretold the birth of Jesus to Mary completed his mission and left her (v. 38b).
Conclusion
Christmas is a day to celebrate the day when Jesus, who is God, came to this earth in human form. Why did God come to us in the flesh? Jesus came to us to save us from our sins. In addition, Jesus came to us to give us the peace that the world does not know and that the world cannot give.
Dear believers! Are you tired of working hard and carrying a heavy burden? I sincerely pray and bless that Jesus will visit you at this time and give you all the amazing peace of heaven that the world does not know and that the world cannot give.
