It wasn’t long before Gabriel was commissioned again. Only a few months had passed since his appearance to Zacharias in the temple, and now he was needed once more. But Gabriel wasn’t the only one busy. In addition to her daily routine of work, Mary was getting ready for the big day. She had been betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph and was anticipating with joy being together with him at last. There would be plenty of work to do as their wedding day approached, but it was delightful preparation. And then an extraordinary visit transformed her very ordinary life.
Mission to Nowhere (1:26-29)
It was time to send Gabriel again. His previous visits had been to rather notable places: beautiful Babylon and the recently enhanced temple in Jerusalem. What would be next? “The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth” (Luk 1:26).1 Nazareth? A town of maybe 500 people in the middle of nowhere? Nazareth is never mentioned in the Old Testament. The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, never referred to it in his writings nor did any other early Jewish writers. Nathanael would later ask Philip, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (Joh 1:46). It was a nothing town. Yet God sent Gabriel there.
Gabriel’s past appearances had been to rather notable people: the respected administrator and prophet Daniel, and the venerated priest Zacharias. A prophet and a priest. Would a king be next? No. He was sent “to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (v27). From prophet to priest to peasant. Mary was just a teenager, perhaps between 13 and 18 years old. She was a nobody from a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. Truly, God’s ways are not our ways (Isa 55:8).
Other than her location in Nazareth, we do not know exactly where Mary was when the annunciation began. “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luk 1:28). Interestingly, Mary did not seem rattled by Gabriel’s appearance, as Zacharias had been (v12). She was troubled more by what he said: “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be” (v29). The greeting was certainly pleasant, but a bit confusing to her. How was Mary highly favored? In what way was the Lord with her? Had Gabriel appeared to the wrong person? As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear just how “highly favored” and “blessed” Mary was. Out of the billions of women who have lived upon this earth, Mary would be the only one to carry in her womb the holy Son of God.
Reign in the Forecast (1:30-33)
Gabriel went on to describe to Mary in what way she had “found favor with God” (v31). “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (vv31-33). This is a staggering list of titles and descriptions for the One soon to be in Mary’s womb. He is to be named “Jesus,” which means Savior. While John was called “great in the sight of the Lord” (v15), the One Mary would bring forth is simply “great.” He is the “Son of the Most High” (ESV), clearly indicating He is God’s Son. Being David’s ancestor, He will sit upon the throne of David, reigning over a kingdom that will never end.
At this time in Israel there was no reigning king. There had not been one for nearly six centuries. The people of Israel had been under Babylonian rule, Persian rule, Syrian rule and now Roman rule. But ancient promises were about to find their fulfillment in the child Mary would soon deliver. No amount of time can erase God’s promises.
We will see later in this chapter from Mary’s song of praise that she was very familiar with the Scriptures, being able to quote quite a few from memory. And listening to Gabriel’s words about reign in the forecast, her mind would go back to 2 Samuel 7 and the covenant the Lord made with David.2 She would also recall Daniel 7, where the coming Messiah was promised a “kingdom which shall not be destroyed … an everlasting kingdom” (vv14,27). Mary would expect the promise made to David to find fulfillment by the son in her womb. But she did have a very important question.
Explaining the Inexplicable (1:34-35)
“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (v34). Notice that Mary assumed this promise of a son to be fulfilled right away. Otherwise, she would not have asked this question. Notice also that, unlike Zacharias (v18), she did not ask for a sign. Mary was asking for clarification, not confirmation. And who can blame her? This is interesting biology indeed!
So, Gabriel went on to explain the inexplicable: “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 called3 holy – the Son of God” (v35 ESV). The word for “overshadow” is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to describe God’s presence in the sanctuary. It is used in the New Testament for God’s presence at Christ’s transfiguration, where the cloud of glory overshadowed the Lord and His disciples (Mat 17:5; Mar 9:7; Luk 9:34). Thus, the Holy Spirit would overshadow Mary, acting with creative power to produce human life in her womb. It may have happened shortly after Gabriel’s appearance to her, but we cannot be sure. What is certain, however, is that Joseph was not involved. God’s Son would be born of a virgin.
Gabriel’s words about this overshadowing may not fully satisfy our curiosity. Our imaginations are likely to get us into trouble. There is mystery here, but we must be content with what Scripture says and accept it by faith. After all, Mary did.
Sign Language (1:36-37)
Although Mary did not ask for a sign, Gabriel gave her one anyway for encouragement. “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren” (v36). If a barren womb could give birth, why not a virgin womb? If the supernatural could happen to her cousin, why not to Mary also?
Gabriel appears to be breaking news to Mary of which she was not aware. After all, Elisabeth “hid herself five months” (v24). The narrative to follow has Mary traveling with haste to find her cousin (v39). As Elisabeth was at the end of her second trimester, it would be visually clear that Gabriel’s words were true. What great encouragement this would be for Mary.
Let’s not miss another encouragement, however. The last thing Gabriel said to Mary was, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (v37). This would prompt Mary to recall similar words from Genesis 18:14, where the Lord spoke to a post-menopausal Sarah, promising a son to her. So, two things were given to Mary to stimulate her faith: remember Elisabeth, remember Sarah. How good God is!
Let It Be (1:38)
Mary’s reaction to it all is beautiful and instructive: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid [servant] of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (v38). Unlike Zacharias, who failed to believe Gabriel’s message (v20), Mary’s response was submissive faith. She had been preparing for marriage and suddenly she would have to prepare for motherhood. Mary could have said, “Not me, Gabriel. You must have the wrong Mary. Pick another young woman. I can’t do this. I’m out.” Instead, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be.” She heard what sounded like the impossible. She believed it. She embraced it. And so, while some have thought too much of Mary, let us not think too little of her. These many centuries later, we’re still calling her what Gabriel and Elisabeth called her, and what Mary called herself – blessed (vv28,42,48). And the “highly favored” Mary, because she submitted to God’s will, paved the way for all of us to be highly favored through the Son she would deliver.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
2 Luke emphasizes Christ’s Davidic descent (1:27,32,69; 2:4,11; 3:31; Acts 2:29ff.; 13:34ff.).
3 Notice that the child will be “called” the Son of God. He did not become the Son. Christ is the Eternal Son.
