THE HIGHLY FAVORED ONE

Luke 1:26-38 / Keywords 1:38

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Footnotes

b. Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,

1. When Mary heard that she had found favor with God, she was afraid and troubled. She must have known that God's favor--his grace--though beautiful, is costly. She was just a simple country girl who was engaged to a young man named Joseph. Joseph was a humble carpenter, but the blood of kings flowed in his veins, for he was a descendant of David. Mary was looking forward to their sweet home. But God had a mission for her. He had chosen her to be the mother of his Son Jesus, the promised Messiah who would rule over an eternal kingdom. God was sending his Son, Mary's son, to be the Savior of the world.

 

2. Mary did not hesitate because of the personal sacrifice involved; she hesitated because what God asked of her defied her human reason: it seemed impossible. But nothing is impossible with God. The angel told her about Elizabeth. And Mary made a decision of faith to give up her human dream and be totally available to God--to be the Lord's servant.

 

Prayer Lord, let me serve you in any way you choose. Teach me to bear your costly grace.

One Word I am the Lord's servant