The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21

MARY: JESUS FORETOLD

Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-28 "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women."

As we have been reading the devotionals over the past couple of weeks, we have seen God's mighty hand at work in "All that has come to pass."  In this, God sent His angel Gabriel—meaning Man of God—to speak to Mary, a virgin, who was betrothed—meaning promised in marriage—to a man named Joseph.  He tells her in verse 30 to not be afraid, for she has found favor (grace) with God.  There was a divine influence on her heart, and it was reflected in her life.   He also tells her that she will conceive in her womb a Son, and she's to give Him the name Jesus.  Mary questions Gabriel and wants to know how this can be, being she did not know a man.  Gabriel explains to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her (to envelop in a haze of brilliancy).  The One to be born will be called the Son of God—"For with God nothing will be impossible." (v. 37) This needs to be our statement of faith—NOTHING is impossible with God.  With that, Mary submitted herself completely to doing God's will and trusting in Him, and the angel departed.

 This is a prophecy being fulfilled.  If we take a look at Isaiah 7:14, we will see the prophecy spoken to King Ahaz through Isaiah by God; Isaiah telling King Ahaz that the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (God with us).  And now, in these verses of Luke, those words are being fulfilled.  God is in control of this whole thing; from Old Testament times of a prophecy spoken, all of the way to New Testament times of that prophecy being fulfilled. 

God wants us to come today and submit our lives to Him completely—the way Mary did, and trust in Him in all things.  Come to Jesus today; let Him dwell in you as He did in Mary; let Him have total control of your life today.

Jeremiah 32:17 “Ah, LORD GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm."  Look to Him today.  He is GREAT and greatly to be praised!

~ Melody Krauser