The Virgin Birth Foretold
Week 2, Sem 2, 2022. Luke 1:26-45
Last week we read how the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, a priest of the temple. But he wasn’t just any other priest, he was old and highly experienced. He and his wife both come from families with a rich legacy. They are upper class. Not only that, out of about 18,000 priests, Zechariah was the one chosen to offer incense in the inner temple. That’s got to be the pinnacle of your career right there. There is absolutely no one else more qualified to receive a message from God.
But in our passage today we meet someone on the other end of the spectrum.
Luke1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
Zechariah is an old married man. Mary is a young virgin girl. Zechariah is married to Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Aaron who was Moses’ brother! Mary doesn’t even have a surname. Notice that? Zechariah is in Jerusalem, Mary lived in Nazareth which had a reputation for being good for nothing. By any measurable standard, Mary is a nobody living in the middle of nowhere. She’s the last person you’d expect to receive a message from God. And yet the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary personally and specifically. God’s Word comes unexpectedly. Notice what Gabriel says.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
Do you wonder why Mary was troubled at first? Because it goes to show the difference in our culture now vs back then. Most of us assume that if an angel appears it is to give us a good word or help us with a problem. But not Mary. How many times have I prayed for a vision or a word from God in the past and not realising that almost every single time in the Bible when God speaks or an angel appears it’s been terrifying. So Mary is rightly apprehensive. It’s like if two police officers walk in here wanting to speak to you, you’d hesitate for a moment won’t you. But then we get this incredible next verse.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Mary is from Nazareth. I bet if I gave you a map we’ll never be able to find it. But God found her and gives her his grace. That’s what that word favor actually is. You know what that means? God doesn’t just know who Mary is, but He actually likes her. That’s a trite way to say it but it’s true.
“God doesn’t just know who Mary is, He actually likes her. The question is not does God know of us (He does), but whether He likes us or not.”
You ever think about that? God knowing us is one thing. Does God actually like us is the harder question right? Because we might not like the answer. Mary doesn’t assume that if God exists, He must love me. That’s what most of us today assume. Otherwise, I’m not even going to bother. It’s this assumption that makes us ask the question: If God exists, why is there so much suffering in the world. That question presupposes that God exists to make the universe a better place, which obviously revolves around me.
Mary doesn’t assume that. I think that’s exactly the reason why she is favoured by God. Not because she’s from a Christian family, not because she is good at her job, not because of her resume, or even how many hours she volunteers at church. She is favoured by God because God is gracious. To those who don’t expect it. Gods word comes unexpectedly.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Put yourself in Mary’s shoes. It’s like if God said your son will get a Nobel prize in physics when you didn’t even finish year 12. Or in my case if God said to me my kids will become NBA all-stars. Look at me! My kids are going to be lucky if they even hit 6ft. Don’t even talk about NBA-tall. That’s what it’s like for Mary. Her son will be great, He will be king. He will rule forever. I’m sorry, what?
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
I’m pretty sure Mary isn’t thinking about the mechanics of getting pregnant. She was already engaged and it would be most natural to assume this son will be born to her and Joseph. It’s not like she’s an old woman in which case you’ll have to ask how. Mary’s young and engaged. It’s the most natural thing to assume she’ll have kids of her own especially now that God has said she will. So the question is not how can I fall pregnant without engaging in sexual intercourse. The question is more of ‘why me, since I’m a nobody.’ This explains why Zechariah asked how can this be and he was punished. Mary asks how can this be and doesn’t. So how can it be? The answer is that God will do everything.
God’s Word comes unexpectedly
God’s Spirit comes powerfully
35 And the angel answered her, “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. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
This here is one of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. Jesus Christ was conceived miraculously. We call it the virgin birth, or the immaculate conception. It might sound unbelievable, but that’s the point. It’s a miracle. Now think about this.
The virgin birth is a miracle in itself, that’s true. But there’s a meaning to it. God himself does what He wants done. And what does God do?
God came into the world as a baby born to a virgin girl. That’s the miracle! The creator of the universe, God of heaven and earth, chooses to come into the world as a baby. No lightning or thunder or great display of power. But a tiny baby born to a girl with no wealth no title no name. It’s just so weak. It goes against everything people assume about God.
But to those who believe, this is not weakness. This is power. Look at Elizabeth.
And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
She who was called barren. That’s rough to have your identity be measured by whether you can raise a family. But that’s we do right. Today if you don’t have kids nobody will really think twice. But if you don’t have a job? If you don’t have friends? Or good looks? The right connections? What will you be called? But God takes the one who was called barren and made her great. Nothing is impossible with God.
Do you know what that means? On one hand, God can do everything. Yes. But more. Nothing is impossible with God. If you are with God, you will not be barren. To be nothing is impossible with God. You will never be nothing. How do I know that? Because of the baby.
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
The baby doesn’t give us blessing. The baby is the blessing. God never gives us blessing, he always brings it. Because he is the blessing. Don’t you realise that’s what Christianity is about at the most fundamental level? Jesus didn’t come just to give us his teaching, or his power, or to save us from sin and death. All of that is true but more foundational to that is he came to give us God.
And until we realise this and believe it, we will never be satisfied with Christianity. We will always be expecting God to do things which when he doesn’t, our faith takes a hit. We pray for something and God doesn’t answer, we get discouraged. Not realising that the whole point of Christianity is that you can pray to God. Because of what Jesus has done, We have a God we can pray to, we can trust in, and depend on. And that in itself will be enough.