26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin\u2019s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, \u201cGreetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.\u201d 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him 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 ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.\u201d 34 Mary said to the angel, \u201cHow can this be, since I am a virgin?\u201d 35 The angel said to her, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.\u201d 38 Then Mary said, \u201cHere am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.\u201d Then the angel departed from her.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n With these words Luke leads us into one of the most breath-taking moments in history. <\/strong>So much so that \u00a0though secular historians cannot deny the life of this man, they must deny the circumstances of his birth; if these things happened as they are recorded, then everything is different; history itself hinges on this birth. \u00a0However, it is generally agreed that stories about Jesus\u2019 birth were in circulation in the first century, and Luke insists that he has carefully verified his references (Luke 1:1\u20134). Further, assuming that Luke was a physician, details about Jesus\u2019 birth would be of greater interest to him and perhaps more available to him. The question we have to ask is one of philosophical and theological presuppositions: \u00a0whether the God who created all things can do what is described here \u2013 and whether he would if he could.<\/span><\/p>\n Once again Gabriel is involved. He is sent from<\/em> and by God<\/em> (1:26) to a virgin.<\/em> Significantly, she is the beneficiary, not the bestower, of God\u2019s favor.<\/strong> She is to be a special recipient of grace that God has initiated. God will be with her (future tense) in the events that are to unfold.<\/span><\/p>\n God\u2019s ancient promises concerning his kingdom and his salvation are about to be fulfilled.<\/strong> Notice that the greater emphasis is on the son rather than the mother (compare, 1:28\u201331 and 1:32\u201333). He is to be called Jesus.<\/em> The angel\u2019s announcement in 1:32 and 33 compares with Nathan\u2019s prophecy to King David in 2 Samuel 7:9\u201316. It is also worth comparing the following: Luke 1:32, he will be great<\/em> with 2 Samuel 7:9, a great name;<\/em> Luke 1:32, throne of his father David<\/em> with 2 Samuel 7:13, the throne of his kingdom;<\/em> Luke 1:32, Son of the most High<\/em> with 2 Samuel 7:14, he will be my son;<\/em> and, Luke 1:33, king over the house of Jacob forever<\/em> with 2 Samuel 7:16, your house and your kingdom.<\/em> If you have time you might want to read Psalm 7:17 and Daniel 4:24.<\/span><\/p>\n Once again we see that that from his conception in Mary\u2019s womb Jesus is truly man and truly God. It means that God\u2019s kingdom is being established in a new way \u2013 God was coming to earth as a man from the family of kings, the \u201chouse of David.\u201d \u00a0Luke also suggests that Jesus is of the \u2018family\u2019 of another King, the great King \u2013 He is also the Son of the Most High,<\/em> God himself (1:32).<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018How can this be, since I have no husband?\u2019<\/strong> (1:34), Mary responded. The angel\u2019s reply is one of the most stunning statements about Jesus in the whole of Luke.<\/em> He clarifies for Mary just why this baby can be described as human and the Son of God. God\u2019s Holy Spirit will come upon you,<\/em> he says, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.<\/em> They are words that reflect the life-giving work of God in creation (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30) and in salvation (Ezekiel 37:14). \u00a0The references are not sexual but metaphorical. God\u2019s Spirit will come<\/em> and his presence, even glory (as at Mt Sinai [Exodus 40:35]), will be with Mary. The child\u2026 will be called holy<\/em> \u2013 set apart for God, the Son of God.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Mary\u2019s response is the model of humility and obedience:<\/strong> she was still unmarried, and did not know how Joseph would react to the news of her pregnancy. Nevertheless, she understood that, strange and even terrifying though it all may be, it was God (the Lord)<\/em> who had spoken (1:38). She had heard his word and would say yes to it\u2013 and though she says yes<\/em> so freely, still her yes, her fiat,<\/em> is another gift of God, who permitted this young Jewish girl to say yes to His word where Eve had said no.<\/em> Her confidence in God is a model for all of us who would follow the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGREAT EXPECTATIONS<\/h2>\n
![\"great-expectations-lenten\"](\"https:\/\/anglicanconnection.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/great-expectations-lenten-300x183.jpg\")
Clearly Jesus is more than a prophet:<\/strong> he not only stands in the tradition of the kings, he is the King<\/em><\/strong> God had promised long ago (2 Samuel 7:9\u201316; Psalm 89:14, 19\u201329, 35\u201337). Jesus\u2019 connection with David is very important. While he will be recognized as David\u2019s descendant after his death and resurrection (for example Acts 2:29\u201336), there would be times when he is recognized as such during his ministry (18:39; 19:38). Moreover this royal figure is also the Son of the Most High<\/em> (1:32). His rule is over Israel (Jacob)<\/em> and is eternal (1:33).<\/span><\/p>\nYou may want to consider:<\/h2>\n