As foretold of in the “seventy-weeks” prophesy given to the prophet Daniel by the angel Gabriel, God had a plan and a timetable for the birth of His Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus would be born centuries later, living among His people on earth, both fully God and fully human. He would bring the good news of God’s kingdom, then offer Himself on a cross as a spotless sin sacrifice, to qualify believers everywhere to live in it.
The angel Gabriel returned long after the time of Daniel to announce the imminent unfolding of the Father’s plan. Visiting the priest Zechariah as he was serving in the temple, Gabriel announced that Zechariah’s aging wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to John the Baptist, the Messiah’s prophetic herald prophesied of in the book of Isaiah. Gabriel returns again six months later to visit Elizabeth’s young relative, Mary, who was chosen by the Father above all women to become the mother of Jesus.
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her:
Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
31 Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”
35 The angel replied to her:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.
36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:26-36 (HCSB)
Mary found tremendous favor with God, so much so that the Creator of the universe chose her to be the mother of His only begotten Son. Mary faithfully consented to God’s divine, eternal plan.
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 (NKJV)
What was it about Mary that God found so special? Consider two others who pleased Him, Moses and King David.
Over time, Moses, the leader of the Israelites, developed an intimate, two-way relationship with the Lord. He had initially asked God NOT to use him to free the Israelites, but in the end, he obeyed, and God worked mighty miracles through him. In the case of David, who was chosen to establish heaven’s eternal throne on earth, it was likely his deep faith that made such a positive impression on the Lord. David was not a perfect person, not by any means, but his faith stood out on many occasions. Even as a young man, he exhibited great trust in God when he took on and defeated the Philistine warrior, Goliath, who had threatened Israel’s armies while blaspheming the Name of the Lord. Perhaps like these two, it was Mary’s faith and potential for obedience that brought her such remarkable favor from God.
45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!” Luke 1:45 (HCSB)
Jesus would be born the Son of the Most High and called the Son of God. He would be both 100% God and 100% human. He would often set aside His own divine power, relying instead on faith in His Father and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, to carry out the Father’s will. Jesus humbly walked out His entire life in complete obedience to the Father, from preaching the kingdom of God, to miraculously healing all physical illnesses and driving out demons, to laying down His life on a cross for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus would be raised from the dead and, forty days later, ascend to glory at the Father’s right hand. He will one day return to earth to reign on the throne of His ancestor King David, in fulfillment of scripture and the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
After giving her consent to the Father’s will, Mary would conceive, though a virgin, by the power of Holy Spirit. Some have great difficulty with the concept of the virgin birth. To me, it is not difficult to believe at all. Remember, we are talking about the very God who stretched out the heavens, created both the seen and the unseen worlds, the physical and the spiritual, and who created everything from the smallest atomic particle to DNA to the largest and most sophisticated living creatures and heavenly bodies.
God really did join the human and divine building blocks of life to allow God to be born to live among us as a sinless and pure human being. And in the fullness of time, Jesus will return to live among us again, this time, forever.
Reflection
What aspects of God’s creation awe you the most?
Father God, grant us the faith to walk close with Jesus today, reflecting His light, being clothed in His righteousness and well-pleasing to You. Help us by the power of the Holy Spiri, to love, serve, and forgive others, according to Your will. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 