“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not 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 call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.’” (Luke 1:30-32)
Six months after the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he visited a young woman in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. Her name was Mary. She certainly did not have a high opinion of herself, describing herself as “God’s lowly servant”. But the angel addressed her as “favored one” and said the Lord was with her. This confused Mary. What did the angel mean by these words? Did he have the right person in mind?
Yes, he did, for Mary was given a special task. She was to become the mother of a very special child. Her son would be the “Son of the Most High” and would be king over Israel for all eternity. What great promises! For Mary, this news came completely unexpected. At the same time, the angel’s words connected back to well-known, centuries old prophecies. The people in Israel lived in expectation of a Savior, a King from the family of David, who would bring redemption. Of this Savior, then, Mary would become the mother. Now the time had come for God to redeem His people!
Mary was to name her baby Jesus. That name means: God saves. This name fitted this promised Child perfectly.
What image do you have of Jesus? Does your image match the angel’s words?