The Birth Of Jesus Foretold

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.