Gabriel Visits Mary

Right on time. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God” (1:26). The sixth month means six months after Elizabeth's baby began to grow (1:24). God was keeping His plan exactly on time. Gabriel. Gabriel had told Zacharias, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God” (1:19). He came straight from God with God's message. A small town. Nazareth was a little town in Galilee, far from the big city of Jerusalem. God did not choose a palace. He chose an ordinary home. An ordinary girl. Mary was a young woman engaged to Joseph, “of the house of David” (1:27). Joseph came from King David's family. Highly favored. Gabriel said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you” (1:28). Favored means God had shown her His kindness. It was a gift, and Mary did not earn it. The Lord is with you. Mary would not face God's big plan alone. God was with Mary, and He would help her with everything He was about to ask. What we learn. God sees ordinary people in ordinary places. He knows your name and your town, and He is kind to you too.

The sixth month (1:26). God's two promises were moving together. Six months after Elizabeth conceived (1:24), God sent Gabriel again. The same messenger who spoke to Zacharias in the temple now came to a home in Galilee. Gabriel (1:19). Gabriel is God's messenger. He told Zacharias, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” Long before, Gabriel had explained God's plans to Daniel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21). Nazareth (1:26). Nazareth was a small farming village in the hills of Galilee. The Old Testament never names it. Later, Nathanael asked whether anything good could come out of Nazareth (John 1:46). God chose that town for His Son's childhood home. Betrothed (1:27). Betrothal was stronger than our engagement. It was a binding promise to marry, and only a divorce could end it. Mary and Joseph were not yet living together. Kecharitomene (1:28). “Highly favored one” translates the Greek kecharitomene (say: keh-khah-ree-TOH-meh-neh). It comes from charis (say: KAH-rees), grace, and means one who has been given grace. The grace came from God to Mary. Mary herself later called God “my Savior” (1:47). The Lord is with you. God said the same to Gideon before a hard task (Judges 6:12). God's presence came first, and then the job He was giving. Application. God's grace finds people where they are, in small towns and ordinary homes. Nothing about your address or your family puts you outside His reach.

God sent Gabriel six months after Elizabeth's baby began to grow. God was right on time. Gabriel went to Nazareth. It was a small town far from the big city. God did not pick a palace or a rich family. He picked an ordinary young woman named Mary. Gabriel said that God had been very kind to her. That kindness was a gift. Mary did not earn it. Gabriel also said, “The Lord is with you.” That was the best news of all. God sees ordinary people like you and me. He knows your name and your street. He is kind to you too.

God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary. Mary lived in a small town. God was very kind to Mary. God is with you too!

Troubled. “But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was” (1:29). Mary was upset and confused. She thought hard about what the angel meant. Honest feelings. Mary did not pretend to be calm. God was not angry with her for feeling troubled. He sent comfort. Called by name. “Do not be afraid, Mary” (1:30). Gabriel spoke her name. God's messengers often began with these words. Gabriel said the same to Zacharias (1:13), and an angel said it to the shepherds (2:10). Found favor. “For you have found favor with God” (1:30). Favor means God's kindness and blessing. Mary had not done something amazing to deserve it. God chose to be kind to her. The same God. God tells His people “Do not be afraid” again and again. David prayed, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). What we learn. When you feel scared or confused, you can tell God. He knows your name, and He comes close with comfort. Fear does not have to win, because God is with you.

Troubled (1:29). The word means stirred up all the way through, deeply upset. Zacharias was troubled at the sight of the angel (1:12); Mary was troubled at his words. She thought hard about “what manner of greeting this was.” Fear not. “Do not be afraid” is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture. God spoke it to Abraham (Genesis 15:1) and to Joshua (Joshua 1:9), and through Isaiah: “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). The reason is always the same: God is present. Favor (1:30). Charis appears again: “you have found favor with God.” Long before, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). In both places grace is received, not earned. A different question. Zacharias asked, “How shall I know this?” (1:18) and could not speak until the promise came true, because he did not believe (1:20). Mary would soon ask how God would do it, not whether He could. Fear that listens to God's word can turn into faith. Philippians 4:6-7. Paul teaches what to do with anxious thoughts: bring them to God in prayer, and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Application. Feeling troubled is not the same as unbelief. Bring your confusion honestly to God, and let His word answer it.

Mary was confused and upset by the angel's words. She did not understand yet. God was not angry with her for feeling that way. Gabriel called her by name. He said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” Then he told her that God was pleased with her. God was being kind to Mary. She had not done anything to earn it. It was God's gift. You might feel scared or confused sometimes. You can tell God how you feel. He knows your name, just like He knew Mary's. He comes close to help you.

Mary felt afraid. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” God was happy with her. God helps us when we are scared.

A Son. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son” (1:31). Mary would carry a real baby, just like every mother. His name. “And shall call His name Jesus” (1:31). God chose the name Himself. Jesus means the Lord saves. An angel told Joseph, “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Great. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest” (1:32). The Highest is God Himself. Jesus is God's Son. David's throne. “And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (1:32). Long before, God promised King David, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). Jesus is that King. No end. “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (1:33). Every other king dies, and every other kingdom falls. Jesus' kingdom lasts forever. Isaiah saw it too. Isaiah wrote that a Child would be born to rule “Upon the throne of David,” and that His kingdom would have “no end” (Isaiah 9:7). What we learn. The baby in Mary's arms would be the Savior and the King. Jesus can be your Savior and your King today.

The name (1:31). Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua (say: yeh-SHOO-ah), meaning the Lord saves. It is the same name as Joshua. Matthew 1:21 gives the reason: “for He will save His people from their sins.” His name is His mission. Son of the Highest (1:32). The Highest is a title for God Himself, for no one is higher than God. In verse 35 the angel says plainly that the Child will be called “the Son of God.” He is God the Son, who “became flesh” (John 1:14). The promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). God told David, “I will set up your seed after you… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” After Solomon the kingdom split, and in the exile David's family lost the throne. The promise waited for one King who would never die. House of Jacob (1:33). Jacob was renamed Israel, so the house of Jacob means God's people. Daniel saw One like the Son of Man whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 7:14). Isaiah 9:6-7. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given.” A Child is born, so He is human. A Son is given, so He comes from heaven. His rule has “no end, Upon the throne of David.” Application. A forever King deserves our whole loyalty. To call Jesus Lord is to let Him rule every part of life, not only Sunday.

Gabriel said Mary would have a baby boy. God Himself chose the baby's name. The name was Jesus. Jesus means the Lord saves. Jesus came to save people from their sins. Gabriel said Jesus would be great. He would be called the Son of the Most High God. Long ago, God made a promise to King David. One of David's family would be King forever. Jesus is that forever King! Other kings grow old and die. Jesus' kingdom will never end. You can ask Jesus to be your King today.

The baby's name would be Jesus. Jesus came to save us. Jesus is a great King. His kingdom never ends!

How? “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (1:34). Mary was not married. She believed the angel, but she asked how God would do it. The Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you” (1:35). God Himself would make it happen. No man would be the baby's father. The Holy One. “That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (1:35). Jesus would be fully God and fully man, and He would never sin. A sign. “Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age” (1:36). If God could give old Elizabeth a baby, He could do this too. Nothing impossible. “For with God nothing will be impossible” (1:37). This is our memory verse. Mary's answer. “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (1:38). A maidservant is a servant girl. Mary gave herself to God's plan. Trust first. Mary did not know what people would say or how hard it might be. She trusted God anyway. What we learn. Nothing is too hard for God. When God speaks in His Word, the best answer is yes.

How, not whether (1:34). Zacharias asked for proof and was made silent (1:18-20). Mary asked how. Elizabeth later said, “Blessed is she who believed” (1:45). Mary's question came from faith that wanted to understand. Overshadow (1:35). The Greek episkiazo (say: eh-pee-skee-AH-zoh) means to cast a shadow over. The same word describes the bright cloud that overshadowed the disciples when Jesus was transfigured (Luke 9:34). God's own presence would rest on Mary. The virgin birth. Isaiah had said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew explains Immanuel: “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus had a human mother and no human father. Why it matters. Jesus is truly human, so He could take our place. He is truly God and holy from birth, so His death could pay for the sins of others, not His own (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Rhema (1:37-38). Word for word, verse 37 says that no word from God will be without power. The Greek rhema (say: RAY-mah) means a spoken word. Mary answered with the same word: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Maidservant (1:38). A maidservant is a servant girl who belongs to her master. Mary chose a low title for herself and put her life in God's hands, whatever it would cost her in Nazareth. Application. Faith does not need every answer first. It takes God at His word and says yes.

Mary asked, “How will this happen?” She was not married yet. Gabriel said the Holy Spirit would come upon her. God's own power would make it happen. So the baby would be holy, the Son of God. Then Gabriel told her about Elizabeth. Old Elizabeth was going to have a baby too! Gabriel said, “God can do everything!” Mary said she was the Lord's servant girl. She was ready to do what God wanted. She did not know everything that would happen. She trusted God anyway. You can trust God like Mary did.

Mary asked a question. God can do anything! Mary said yes to God. You can say yes to God too.

Gabriel Visits Mary

🎉 All words found!