When the Lord sends a sign of “the virgin,” it is not just any virgin, but a special person who is unmistakably the one set aside for His purpose. The identity of this “virgin” was known to those during that time around 631-630 B.C., but unknown to us. This special young woman may have been around the age of 12 ½; marriageable age for young women and a marriageable age of 14 years for boys. This age was set to ensure virginity was established and to avoid pregnancy and premature puberty.
We might imagine when Gabriel came to Mary, the mother of Jesus, she may have been doing chores, cleaning up around the house, preparing food for the family or other household tasks. It certainly that God selected an exact time to get her attention for this once in a lifetime announcement. What happened next was one of those events that will never be forgotten and never repeated.
Isaiah 7:14 announces, “The Lord Himself will give a sign. A virgin shall conceive. This virgin shall bear a son whose name will be called Immanuel. Butter and honey He shall eat to know to refuse evil and choose the good.”
In Luke 1:26-38, Mary is doing her household duties and Gabriel is sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin betrothed (engaged) to a man named Joseph. Gabriel appears and greets “the virgin” heartily and with excitement to bring a message of great joy!
“Rejoice, favored one. The Lord is with you.” She was perplexed and who would not be? Think of it. An angel appears. He is not introduced by anyone. “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God.” Wow! This is great. Don’t we want our Lord to be pleased with us and show favor? Yes, of course. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will call His name Jesus.
Gabriel goes on to describe her Son. He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give Him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end! You could not even ask for any more than this. And of course, this is a onetime gift from Almighty God through the dynasty of David.
Her perplexity is increased wondering, “How in the world am I going to have a Son and I have not even known a man?” Gabriel answers beautifully: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and overshadow you. The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Then to further decrease her complexity, he informs her that her relative Elizabeth, who is in her sixth month, will also bear a child in her old age. As you know she has been barren for a long time. She is in her old age, has also conceived a son.
When Mary’s excitement and enthusiasm is heightened, she exclaims “How will this all happen?” Wow! Here is the best part of the message to Mary, “For no word from God will be impossible” or “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Zachariah receives the same message but, in another way, when he is stricken with no ability to speak until the time is come. These are the words to remember based on God’s promises to us. These words are not outdated or outside of the known and unknown habitable or not habitable world.
They stand in eternity. He is reliable. His word is incontrovertible. Mary humbly receives her life’s mission and finds her place in the assembly waiting for the arrival of the Holy Spirit in Acts.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Or Questions? Please let me know. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. Don’t stop praying and hoping. References: The Holy Bible, StudyLight.org, New International Commentary on the New Testament. Today is another great day to do good and be successful.”
