stephen R Harrison

I will never forget all three times my wife found out she was pregnant and told me the great news. How exciting! The children we had hoped and prayed for had been conceived and begun to grow – human life had formed – what a miracle! Like you, I’ve received expectant and birth announcements. I’ve even watched several announcement videos over the years. Some are very creative. When Mimis and Pappaws find out the great news, the videos always reveal their shocked and joyous reactions. But no announcement tops that of Gabriel’s big reveal to Mary. This young virgin of Nazareth was about to have her life changed forever!

Who was this young lady, and why was she chosen above all to give birth to the Savior of the World? “Why me?” was a question I’m sure she had as well. While Mary should be honored (Luke 1:42-43 says she was blessed and favored), she should never be magnified above Jesus. He’s the point, not her. Luke 1:32 says, “He (Jesus) will be great and called Son of the Most High.” But this ordinary girl had an extraordinary assignment. She was of the tribe of Judah, descending from King David, and also a virgin as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. Mary even told Gabriel she was a virgin (Luke 1:34). Joseph had no union with her till after Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:25). Mary was engaged to Joseph, a poor carpenter from Nazareth (Matthew 13:55). Jewish girls married young, and she was probably a young teenager.

As if an angel appearing to you isn’t enough to send you into an anxiety attack, Gabriel also told her she was pregnant. Not just any pregnancy (as she pondered how this could happen to a virgin) but pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the World! This was no ghost causing a nightmare of a horrible tragedy. This was the angel Gabriel giving her good news of how she had God’s favor and blessing to give birth to Jesus! What a mission! What a purpose! Isaiah 9:6 reveals, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” He was born (fully human), and God’s Son (fully divine) was given. There had never been and would never be such a combination of humanity and divinity! His name would be called Jesus because He would save the people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Mary had a life-changing revelation that day. She was just an ordinary Jewish teenager. While she most likely knew the pregnancy process, can you sense something more significant – the anticipation, wonder, and amazement of being the mother of the Son of God? Mary fully understood the power of God that day as Gabriel revealed she, a virgin teenager, would give birth to God’s Son and her old relative Elizabeth was also with child (John the Baptist). These were signs that “with God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37). Mary’s response could have been to run in fear. She could have been skeptical, lacking faith. However, she shows us how we should all respond to God’s great call and purpose however He chooses to reveal it. No matter how scary, weird, impractical, or intrusive it may seem, God knows best, and we should surrender ourselves to His will. She answered Gabriel with a worshipful heart, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). May that be the attitude of our hearts as God reveals His will to us.