“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ‘And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 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, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.”
Luke 1:30-33 (LSB)
The promise that Gabriel revealed to Mary was unthinkable. Mary, an unmarried teenager, a virgin, engaged to a poor carpenter, learned that her womb would carry the Messiah, the Savior of Israel, the Savior of the world. An unthinkable Promise … a willing heart.
“How can this be?”
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called Holy–the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35 (ESV)
The young women knew the prophecy. The Messiah would be born to a virgin. But Mary? She lived in Nazareth. The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
Would the villagers believe her story? Would Joseph? The consequences could be stoning if they didn’t believe her.
But could it be true? Did she really speak with an angel?
The Messiah—Jesus—Jehovah is salvation—
Son of the Most High.
In her womb?
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Luke 1:38 (ESV)
My King. My salvation. My Lord.
Facing unknown challenges, Mary declared who she was: the servant of the Lord. She bowed to the will of God. Have you?
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Loving Father, thank You for Mary’s willing heart. Thank You that she was willing to face the doubt of the villagers and the doubt of Joseph. Thank You for strengthening and equipping Mary for what was to come. You are faithful and true. Strengthen us and equip us to honor You and bless the world. Amen.
Reflections
- Read Luke 1 and imagine yourself as Mary. How would you react to the angel’s message?
- What does the Scripture reveal about God?
- Are you willing to let God work through you?
Free Devotional
Behold Our Savior … 31 Reflections
How is God working through you?
Featured Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
