As foretold by the seventy-weeks prophesy delivered to the prophet Daniel by the angel Gabriel, God had a plan and a timetable for His Son, Messiah Jesus Christ, to be born and live among His people as a human being.
Gabriel would return five centuries later to announce the unfolding of the Father’s plan, beginning with the priest Zacharias, whose aging wife Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist, Messiah’s prophetic herald. Gabriel would return again six months later to visit Elizabeth’s young relative, Mary, chosen by the Father to become the mother of Jesus. Mary would faithfully consent to go along with God’s plan.
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 had 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. What was it about Mary that God found so special? In the case of David, chosen to establish heaven’s eternal throne on earth, it was his deep faith that made such a strong impression with the Lord. David was not a perfect person, but his faith stood out on many occasions, such as when he took on and defeated the warrior Goliath because the giant had been threatening Israel’s armies while blaspheming the Name of the Lord. Perhaps it was her humble faith that brought about such 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. In fact, He would be both 100% God and 100% human at the same time. He set aside His divine power and relied on faith in His Father and the presence of the Holy Spirit to do the Father’s will at all times, from preaching the kingdom to healing physical illness or driving out demons, to laying down His life on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He would rise again and ascend to the Father’s right hand, one day to return to reign on the throne of His father David, the fulfillment of the genealogy of Jesus Christ
Mary conceived as a virgin after consenting to allow the Holy Spirit of God to overshadow her. Many have great difficulty with this concept. It is not very difficult for me to believe that the One who created both the seen and the unseen worlds, the spiritual and the physical, from the smallest DNA to the furthest and most sophisticated heavenly bodies, joined the human and divine building blocks of life to allow God to live among us as a sinless human. He did so, and in the fullness of time, He will return to be with us forever.
Reflection
Why might God have picked Mary to be the mother of His only begotten Son, Jesus? In His mercy and grace, He has picked us, as well, to be His followers and faithful servants.
Father God, grant us the faith to walk closely with Jesus today, following in His light, and grant us the power through the Holy Spirit to love, serve, and forgive others according to Your will. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 