An Angel's Visit | Dana C. Baldwin

Introduction

There is something about the birth of a child that inspires. A newborn baby brings great joy to a family. I have heard many women say the pains of childbirth while not forgotten are soon dismissed for the joy of holding this new baby. But even before the baby is born comes the news that one is expecting a child. This information is rarely taken unemotionally. Sharing that news with others brings much celebration. Family and friends join in celebration of the news about “the blessed event.”

But there are times when the news of a conception is not celebrated. Instead of joy a person may feel guilt and embarrassment. Engaging in relations outside of God’s will may result in a pregnancy and a family weeps. Such heartaches are not quickly forgotten. The baby is not at fault and so with the baby’s presence, many times families have a way of moving forward but the emotions are not the same.

Luke begins his story about Jesus with two miracles. The first is between a husband and wife who have long passed the years when a child could be born. Zechariah’s reaction is disbelief; Elizabeth’s reaction is filled with praise. But Luke adds the second miracle: the conception of Jesus. Unlike Zechariah and Elizabeth’s, which would have brought joy to family and friends, we have the story of Mary. Her situation is quite different. Engaged to be married to a devoted man of God, Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she is going to have a child. Luke does not include some details in his story which are found in Matthew’s account. The news isn’t met with celebration. Mary’s fiancé is embarrassed, shamed. He wants to quietly set Mary aside. It isn’t his child.

We can imagine how gut-wrenching it would have been for Joseph. Luke focuses instead on Mary’s reaction to the news, and for our lesson today we will join Luke’s account. We know Mary is young. It wasn’t unusual for very young girls in Jesus’ day to marry. Her reaction to God’s announcement is more than commendable. May our faith be strengthened today as we learn from Mary’s encounter with God’s messenger.

Announcement

Elizabeth is six months along in her pregnancy. God sends Gabriel again to give a direct announcement to one of his people. From the big city to the little town, Gabriel goes at God’s command. Notice Luke’s commitment to history. Nazareth is not only named but the province of its location is given. Nazareth was a very small town hardly noticeable. Twice we are told that Mary is a virgin, and Mary will confirm such in verse 34.

Gabriel announces God’s will for Mary. She is going to have a child. His name means “God saves” or “Savior.” The announcement not only tells Mary that she is chosen to give birth to a child but as Gabriel did with Elizabeth, so now he tells her what this child means to God’s people. He will be great. He will be called Son of the Most High—this is a regal term suggesting a king, but just in case there is any doubt, he will receive the throne of David. This is messianic. The people had been waiting for someone to occupy David’s throne again. He will reign over Jacob, a way of speaking of God’s people, forever. His kingdom will never end.

Mary has been chosen to give birth to a child who will fulfill God’s will and purpose—a will and purpose that the people have been waiting for. Generation after generation had passed. The people waited for God to bring about his king. Mary receives word she will be the one who will give birth to God’s intent. Mary’s reaction reveals that she not only understands biology but that this conception is to take place before she is married. Engaged to marry Joseph, she might have rightly thought that this was her life when she got married. But she understood the intent of the message. This will happen now, before you get married. God is going to create life within your womb before you are married.

Gabriel speaks in response with a word which speaks of the significance of what is going to happen. The one to be born will be holy—set apart for God’s purpose, but more than set apart, completely pure. Not of human origin. So holy will the child be that he will be called the Son of God. Only God could produce this baby. Not conceived in human terms; conceived by the power and mind of God. Gabriel tells Mary that even her old relative Elizabeth is going to have a child in the next few months because God intervened on her behalf.

For nothing is impossible with God. Nothing is beyond God’s power. And Mary’s response acknowledges that she is God’s servant. She is willing to be God’s vessel for bringing the Savior into the world.

Allegiance

Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing is beyond God’s power. We know this to be true. He can create life from nothing as he did when he made this world, and he can bring life into this world through the womb of a young girl who has never been with a man. Our God is a God of possibilities. That calls for allegiance from us. This calls for us to be people of faith. This calls for us to set aside our agendas and allow God to bring his will and purpose into this life at his own time. Generation after generation waited for the Messiah. God acted when it was time. And when he acted there was no doubt about who was bringing all of this about.

Second, Mary’s response is one of a servant who is open to doing the will of God no matter what. We notice from Matthew’s account that Joseph was offended. God had to intervene with him to keep him connected to Mary. He becomes a willing participant. But this birth in a small, out-of-the-way town is not going to go unnoticed. Even in Jesus’ ministry in John 8, Jesus is questioned about the origin of his birth and ridiculed because the story was that Mary had been unfaithful to Joseph, so that Jesus didn’t know who his real father was.

Here’s the point: beyond the embarrassment and the wagging tongues and the accusations and the potential ridicule, Mary accepted God’s will for her life. Her visit to Elizabeth resulted in a blessing. Elizabeth knew that Mary’s baby was from God just as hers was from God. Mary’s view is expressed in her song in verses 46—55. Through her God was going to extend his mercy to those who had been treated mercilessly. She was ready to be God’s servant, for it truly was not about her but about what God was going to do through her. Her reputation will be questioned. Her husband will be talked about. Her son will bear the name “Savior” while the community may ridicule her, but with a servant heart she gives herself to God’s will and purpose. Servants of God give allegiance to the One who can use us to show his mercy and love.

Third, twice Luke points out that Mary is a virgin. But Luke never mentions Jesus’ conception again. From this point on, the “virgin” birth has no place in his writing. It isn’t until later that this becomes a point of contention among those who do not want to believe in Jesus. This is what makes this story so explosive. There are three witnesses to Mary’s condition—Mary, Joseph, and God. No further proof is needed. The modern and post-modern mind asks for more proof. But the implication is profound: if Jesus is conceived without a human father, then what kind of allegiance does he deserve?

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