Good morning,
Christmas is Saturday, December 25. It is time to focus on why we celebrate this event. This week we will look at the announcements that were made to Isaiah, Micah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.
From the very beginning it is a supernatural story. Only God could have arranged all the details to make it happen. But happen it did.
Today let us look at the announcements the Lord made to the Angel to Mary.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. That first sin is passed down to all men. Jesus Christ willingly gave up His heavenly home to come to earth to pay the debt for sin that mankind could not pay.
Luke 1:26-35 The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Mary was going to bring forth the Messiah of Israel.
She was frightened when the angel began talking with her. She was confused how she was going to become pregnant without a man. She accepts the angel’s announcement.
Mary must have had mixed emotions as she pondered what the angel said. Excitement that she would be birthing the Son of God, trepidation, knowing she would be pregnant without a man. She was betrothed to Joseph. He and the rest of the community would think her unfaithful. Yet she said,”…Behold the handmaid of the Lord:be it unto me according to thy word…” (Luke 1:38)
She was faithful and God blessed her. Are we willing to take God at His word? Mary was.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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