THE DIVINE ANNOUNCEMENT

TO MARY

Luke 1:26-31 "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, Called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary.  And coming in, he said to her,  "Hail favored one!  The Lord is with you."  But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.  And the angel said to her,  "Do mot be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son , and you shall name Him Jesus."

 

1. One brief note:  It is strange to my mind that the greatest event in the history of the world, the birth or announcement of the birth of the Messiah would come to two people as young and simple and poor and seemingly unrefined and unknown as Mary and Joseph.  How about the town the angel visits.  Jesus will go through his whole life as “Jesus of Nazareth” which was a small, nasty, little community of people.  Question: WHY DOES GOD NOT ANNOUNCE THIS BIRTH ON A GRAND SCALE....with balloons flying and cannons bursting forth and fireworks from the sky and voices from heaven?  

 

1:26

THERE WAS THE DIVINE MESSENGER  

1.  “and in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel”  v. 26

a. We have now the second time an angel has appeared....both times, it is Gabriel.  Again, remember that for about 500 years, no angelic visit and now within a period of 6 months, we have a visit to Zacharias and now to Mary.  

 

2. “as sent from God”  v. 26  God does the sending and tells Gabriel where to go.  Thus, we can blame God for coming to such a insignificant family and small little hick town...with no fanfare, nothing ornate and grandiose.  Go to 1:19 and it says “who stands in the presence of God.”  [Hey, I like that]

 

3. “city of Galilee, named Nazareth”  v. 26

a. No more than 2,000 people in the town.  Nazareth was one of the most unimportant little communities we know of.  It was NOT the seat of religion or culture...and was really next to nothing as a city.  It was located in Galilee, not Judaea...it was Nazareth, not Jerusalem, it was the home where Mary dwelt, not the Temple.  The angel Gabriel passed OVER Judea and went to Galilee which was held in contempt.  God passed over the city of the great King and came to Nazareth, which was a city where Nathaniel said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth.”  I might mention that it also was one of the more corrupt towns to be found in all that region.  God thus passed the Temple of His own appointment and went into a small, little home. 

b. Nazareth was situated about 70 miles northeast from Jer. and was half way house between Tyre and Sidon.  It stood on a hillside....and at the foot of the hill ran the great highway between Tyre and Sidon and Jerusalem. Along the highway passed Roman soldiers, Greek merchants, Greek travelers.  Being where it was geographically, it was the place where ROMAN SOLDIERS WOULD TARRY OVER NIGHT AND GREEK MERCHANT MEN PUT UP FOR THE NIGHT....HOT BED OF CORRUPTION AND WICKEDNESS. 

c. Note here on Poverty:  Let us beware of despising poverty in others and even of being ashamed of it IF God lays it upon ourselves.  Remember, He chose voluntarily the path of poverty.  “Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor.”  II Cor 8:9  Let us all remember what He says, “mind not high things, but consdescend to men of low estate.”  Rom 12:16

 

4. We will stop right here and give you great outline.  [not original with me...I borrowed it]   

1. The Angelic APPROACH  1:26-29

2. The Angelic ANNUNCIATION  1:30-34

3. The Angelic INTERPRETATION.  1:35-38

1:27

THERE WAS THE DIVINE CHOICE

1. “to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph”

a. “virgin”  means one who has had no sexual relations.  It is NEVER used of a married woman in the scriptures.  

b. “betrothed”  This was most likely arranged by the parents...and it was binding...and lasted about a year and ONLY death or divorce could separate it.  During the year the woman would prove her faithfulness.  The man would prepare a place for her.  The wedding feast would last about 7 days.  

1:28-30

HE BROUGHT A DIVINE BLESSING

1. “Hail” [v.28] was the word from the Angel.  The word means “hello.”  How would you like it if a angel of God came into your home and said, “hello.”  WHAT SIMPLICITY. It would appear that God could do better than this according to our way of marketing events, people, things.  Just a “hello” is all the angel greets her with.  

2. “highly favored” [v.28] [or graced one]

a. I would mention that Mary was NOT the source of grace but the RECIPIENT of grace.  The angels says that she has been given grace by God.  NOTHING HERE IS SAID ABOUT THE VIRTUES OF MARY.  She is NOT the bestower of grace and CANNOT hear the prayers of anyone.

b. Please remember two things:

1. The angel DID NOT worship Mary or pray to her...he simply greeted her.

2. The angel DID NOT say that she was “full of grace” but “highly favored.”

3. “troubled at his saying” [v.29]  She was perplexed by this...for she knew she was a sinner.  She was one of us...a sinner.  She refers to God as “her Savior.”  1:47.  I like the fact  that she was “troubled” at the saying....and the lesson is profound.  MARY WAS NOT CONSCIOUS OF THE BEAUTY OF HER CHARACTER....which is in itself a revelation of the person she was.

 

4. “you have found favor with God” [v.30]   Why?  Because of Divine Choice.  It says nothing about her being the SOURCE of grace...but she again was merely the RECIPIENT of grace. SHE WAS THE CHOICE OF GOD...The choice of Mary was the same as the choice of Noah when it says, “he found grace.”  THIS GRACE THEN CAME TO A WOMAN OF WHOM NOTHING IS SAID ABOUT HER VIRTUES.  Nothing other than the fact that she was a virgin...nothing about her personal life. 

1:31-34

HE ANNOUNCED THE DIVINE CHILD 

1. I would like to write down some thoughts about this tremendous event the angel is telling Mary about.

a. First, for Mary to carry in her womb GOD IN THE FLESH was something that would never happen to another person.  Here was a woman who was a “sinner” like you and like me, being the vehicle for the birth of God the Son.  I might stop here and mention that Mary was a believing sinner, for note 1:46.  God forming in the womb of a sinner is some kind of grace. 

b. Second, I understand v. 34 on the part of Mary.  Her natural question is “how is it possible for a woman to bear a child, save as the result of the action of a man.”  [this was the cold, scientific, biological difficulty she had]  Just remember, her mind could not think of a child being born to her without a man....and especially by the Holy Spirit.  

c. Third, do you realize that such a thought as a virgin conceiving by the Holy Spirit had NEVER found its way into human thought.  This is the first time that such a thought had ever been thought by an individual.  It had been prophesied in Isa. 7:14....”a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son...”  

d. Fourth, again there is a marketing slip here.  The name for our Lord is JESUS which means JOSHUA in the Hebrew.  This was one of the most common names of the time....Luke 2:21.  Surely, the Holy Spirit could have come up with a more unique name than just JESUS....which was used by scores of people. 

 

2. Note some qualities about Jesus:  v. 32-33

a. His Real Humanity:  “you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son.”

b. His Deity and Mission as Savior:   “shall call His name Jesus which means “Jehovah is the Savior.”

c. His INHERENT GREATNESS.....”He shall be great”   [when we think of someone being GREAT, we think of performances, showmanship, display, personality etc]

d.  His RELATIONSHIP:   “Son of the Most High”  Here you have His DEITY.   Jesus has the SAME ESSENCE as God.

e. HIS Title to the Throne of David:  “the Lord will give Him the throne of David.”  [This one truth alone establishes Him as the Messiah]

f. His universal and everlasting Kingdom:   “He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever...kingdom there will be no end.” 

3. Remember now, His name means JEHOVAH SAVES.  Please note these verses...so you will understand that He did not come to “feed the hungry” or “heal the sick” or “make you prosperous and happy” but HE CAME TO SAVE.  IF YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE SAVED, THEN FORGET ABOUT JESUS.  Jesus:  means “the Lord is Salvation”

a. Matt 1:21  “he shall SAVE  his people from their sins.”

b. Luke 2:11...”Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you”

c. Luke 2:30...”for my eyes have seen your SALVATION”

d. Luke 19:10...”For the Son of Man came to seek and to SAVE what was lost”

1. Please remember: Do not associate Jesus with food, clothing, pills, vaccinations, or anything else until you associate Him as THE SAVIOR OF THE SOUL. 

 

1:34-38

WE HAVE THE DIVINE MIRACLE

1. Here is one nice little outline that will break it all down for you.  [the outline, as usual is borrowed from one of my brothers in the faith]

A. We have SUPPLICATION:  v. 34

1. “how can this be” 

a. Mary had been told the most astounding thing any woman had ever been told....please note that she does not DOUBT it.  She just could not understand the METHOD which is expressed by the words, “since I do not know a man.”  Mary did not do what Zacharias did.  She asked, “how shall this be?”  and not “How CAN this be?”  

b. Remember, miracles did not happen.  No miracles for 400 years.  God had NOT even spoken in 400 years.  No one had even seen an angel in 500 years and here this angel comes to this very poor, unlikely woman named Mary.  

 

B. We have then the STRATEGY:  v. 35

1. “the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee....”

a. Here is the answer to her problem and question.  Here is how God is going to work it out.  The Holy Spirit is mentioned 3 times in chapter one and 3 times in chapter two.  Mary, here is what is going to happen.  DIVINE POWER IS GOING TO ACT ON MARY.  “the Power of the Most High will overshadow you.”  What does this mean?  It means that the SOVEREIGN ALMIGHTY WILL CREATE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.  The word “overshadow” means to surround, influence. One writer says that it means “to envelope thee in darkness.”  THIS IS THE BIOLOGICAL ANSWER.  The power of the Most High will wrap Mary, envelope Mary, overshadow Mary. 

b. He is called “holy”  This is the FIRST TIME a child is born holy...all other children are born unholy....they are all depraved, unholy. 

2. “Son of God” v. 35  He is the SON OF GOD, not the SON OF MARY, not the SON OF JOSEPH.  Heb. 1:3...teaches He is the exact duplication of the nature of God.  “I and the Father are One.”  “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” 

3. Some Thoughts about His Virgin Birth:

1. Question: How did He escape the persistent contamination which characterizes all human history?  Answer: By the act of “wrapping her around”  “enveloping her in darkness” is how OUR LORD WAS HELD FROM CONTAMINATION WITH THE SIN OF HER NATURE. 

2. Remember the terms “coming upon” and “overshadowing” in v. 35 are NOT references to the same thing.  The “coming upon” CAUSED the miracle of conception and the “overshadowing” was a time of SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP while Mary carried in her womb the Son of God. 

3. It has been said:  That the Lord Jesus had a miraculous conception but a “natural birth.”  THAT IS NOT TRUE.  The birth itself was unique.  The Lord Jesus in speaking to God said in Psa. 22:9-10...”thou art He that took me out of the womb; thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.  I was cast upon thee from the womb. thou art my God from my mother’s belly.”   

4. Question:  When did He become the “Son of God”? Some say he became the Son of God at his birth, thus denying His eternal Sonship.  Listen, He was the Son of God before He was sent.  The Father “sent the Son.”  I John 4:14.  He was the eternal Son who came.  John 1:18, 3:16, 3:31-36, 4:34, 5:24, 30, 17:24, I John 4:9-10.  

 

C. We have then the SIGN.  v. 36

1. Mary did NOT ask for a sign but God gave her a sign.  The sign would be Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was a relative of Mary....”hath conceived in her old age.”  This would be shocking to Mary.  In v. 39 she takes off to visit Elizabeth....which was about 90 miles of walking.  IT ANCHORED HER FAITH. 

 

 

D. The SOVEREIGNTY  v. 37

1. Verse 37 is just dropped in here...”With God nothing is impossible.”  Your conception proves this and the conception of Elizabeth proves this....NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.  Gen 18:14 is where this verse is borrowed....in birth of Isaac. 

2. Listen, if you have problems and trouble with v. 35 about the procedure of the birth of Christ, then the Holy Spirit throws in one more verse which should convince you and remove all doubts...and it says, “for with god nothing shall be impossible.”   

3. Note:  I love the mighty principle which the angel Gabriel lays down to silence all objections about the incarnation.  “WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE.”

 

 

E. We have the SUBMISSION:  v. 38

1. “behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word” 

a. “handmaid”  is the word doulos which means BOND SLAVE.  Mary refers to herself as the bond slave of the Lord....SUBMISSION IS WHAT CHARACTERIZES MARY.  Note v. 48...for she uses the word again. By the way, this is the ONLY COMPLIMENT Mary ever paid herself when she said she was the “bond slave of the Lord.” 

b. Do you Realize:  that this young lady could not be more than 13 or 14 years of age....and at this early age she calls herself a BOND SLAVE of God...she is humble, lowly and happy to be whatever for God.She accept the messenger of God even before any explanation to Joseph, her parents,the people at large.  Matt 1:20-25 the angel comes to Joseph and explains. 

c. Let me make a statement:  Mary had a right appreciation of the Lord. {she was His bond slave} This leads to a CORRECT ASSESSMENT OF YOURSELF.  You cannot assess your self properly until you have a right appreciation of Him.  Do you remember when Isaiah saw the Lord.  What did Isaiah say about himself when  he saw the Lord.  He said, “woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips.”  He never knew he had unclean lips until he saw the Lord.  He was then able to properly ACCESS himself.  

d. I cannot but love the meek and ready acquiescene of the Virgin Mary in God’s revealed will concerning her.   Can you get over her response which was “behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word.”

1. It was no “light matter” to become the mother of our Lord in this unheard of and mysterious way.   SHE ASKS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.  SHE RAISES NO FURTHER OBJECTIONS.