Be It Unto Me

The Passage

 Luke 1:26-38  

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

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."

A Little Background

Galatians 4:4 tells us that when the time was full or right, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law.  For centuries, the Israelites had looked for the promised deliverer.  Every young woman hoped that she would be the one who would conceive and bear a son according to Isaiah 7:14. 

Some Explanation

“Now in the sixth month...”  The sixth month refers to the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  Again the angel Gabriel appears, this time to a young virgin named Mary.  Like the announcement to Zacharias, Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear a son.  He tells her to name Him JESUS.  He also tells Mary:

1.    He will be great.

2.    He will be called the Son of the Highest.

3.    The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

4.    He will reign over the house of Jacob (another name for Israel) forever.

5.    There will be no end to His kingdom.

6.    He will be called the Son of God.

Observations and Insights

Mary must have recognized that Gabriel was announcing the coming of the long awaited anointed One, the Messiah, or Christ, for this child would reign on the throne of David.  Like Zacharias, Mary also questions the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know (have not had sexual relations) with a man?”  Why was Gabriel’s response to Mary different than his response to Zacharias?  The Bible doesn’t tell us, but I have a theory.  I believe it is a special kindness of God to this young woman on whom He gave favor. 

In Zacharias’ case, there is obvious unbelief.  Zacharias was an old man who should well have known the history of Abraham and Sarah as well as Elkanah and Hannah.  God had enabled Sarah to conceive at 90 years of age.  He certainly could do the same for Elizabeth within the normal context of marriage.  But Mary was a virgin.  For her to conceive required her to submit to some kind of sexual activity.  Mary was not expressing doubt.  As a virgin who had kept herself pure, she was genuinely concerned about what was going to occur.  We are not told specifically how, but in some miraculous way, the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” her and she conceived the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Today, the enemies of God hurl accusations at the God of the Bible.  Its detractors call the Bible sexist against women.  Not so.  The Bible records the culture of the times.  Women were looked upon as objects or possessions in all cultures.  But in the Old Testament, we see God treating women with honor.  In Genesis, when it was the woman who first ate of the fruit, it is Adam whom God holds accountable.  Even in the midst of pronouncing the consequences of her sin, God also embedded a blessing upon the woman.  The promised One, Messiah Jesus, would come through a woman (Genesis 3:15).  God not only favored a woman, Mary, through whom to incarnate in human flesh, but He also treated her with loving respect and gentleness. 

Mary was quick to respond in faith as she offered herself as a maidservant (literally a slave, doulé) to the Lord.  Mary is an example of faithfulness to our faithful God.  He favored her to bring the Holy One, God in flesh, Jesus Christ into the world.  Despite the unknown, and despite the coming derision she would bear conceiving a child out of wedlock, Mary responded in quick obedience, “Let it be to me according to your word."  May I be as quick to respond to God’s Word no matter the cost.  But to do so, I must read it.  As we read together, I pray that we will encourage one another to obedience and faithfulness.
Next:      Matthew 1:1-17