| December 8, 1999 | The Annunciation to Mary | Luke 1:26-35

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text contains the announcement to Mary that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus. So, the text begins:

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by 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. The virgin's name was Mary.

The angel Gabriel is again at work, having previously spoken to John the Baptist's father, Zacharias, also in Luke chapter 1. Six months earlier this angel told Zacharias that he would have a son late in life and this son would become a great prophet. Zacharias did not believe Gabriel, and was then cursed with muteness until John was delivered.

28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

Gabriel spoke to Mary to remind her of God's grace. God is the one who finds us to be favorable because of His mercy. The angel reminded her that this same God who finds her favorable is also with her. "Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age," said Jesus. What a comfort to know that seen through the eyes of Christ's sacrifice, we are in God's favor and He is with us.

Mary's special mission was hinted at when the angel said, "Blessed are you among women." Martin Luther said that the highest calling of any human being is to be a mother. It is a higher calling than any man can hold. It is higher than the call of the pastor. God entrusts mothers with so much. Now, Mary was going be chief among mothers. What a special honor God gave her.

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

Obviously the angel was a surprise to Mary. She didn't really understand what it was that he said to her. She must have reacted with fear. The angel, responding to this goes on.

30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Again, the angel reminds Mary that she has found favor with God. This was a statement to calm a very natural fear which might arise if a person is confronted with a supernatural event from God, such as an angel appearance. The reaction is fear over our sins and guilt. We ought to fear wrath for our sins, but because of Christ, we can be at peace. We can know our sins are forgiven.

However, sinful human nature keeps leading us back to our guilt. Satan, the accuser, also keeps accusing us of deserving God's wrath and leading us to fear God. This is why we need constant assurance of God's grace. This is why it is so helpful to attend Divine Services as much as possible. This is why it is good to receive the Lord's Supper often. It is the reason for the often neglected practice of individual confession and absolution, where you as individuals can hear personally from your called pastor how your sins are forgiven.

31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

The divine prophecy is given to Mary. She will be the mother of the one to be named Jesus. God reveals the future to her and shows that He is the master of all things. "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."

32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

This child which Mary would conceive and bear would be a special child, a great one. He would be known as the Son of the Highest, that is the Son of the Highest being, the Son of God. This child would also serve in a special role of king in the continuation of the line of kings from King David.

God made this promise to King David, which is recorded for us in 2 Samuel, chapter 7. "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." This was a promise delivered through the prophet Nathan to David. Now. in Christ, it would be fulfilled. Christ, born of Mary, who herself was a decendant of David, would become the king to reign forever and ever.

33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

This eternal kingdom was also promised in Isaiah 9. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

This is Mary's challenge. Effectively, she says to the angel, "I don't understand how this could happen." However, that is an inappropriate question to ask when you are dealing with something God is telling you. God spoke through the angel to say this would happen. God also speaks to us through His Word. It is His power that accomplishes what He says.

We may ask other questions. How can God be three persons in one God? How can Jesus be one person of fully divine and fully human nature? How come some are saved and others are condemned if God wants to save all people? How can I be raised back to life after dying? There are lots of questions we can come up with, but the simple answer to all of these is that God is all-powerful and He can do whatever He wishes. This is the answer that Mary hears.

35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

So, through God's powerful miracle, a virgin gave birth to the Holy One, who is fully God and man. He is the same one who came to remove all our sins upon the cross. He came for you. Now, God sees us as His children, through His Son. Now, we are also given the label: highly favored one. All this comes through the grace of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.