Posted on 12/25/2012 6:40:49 PM PST by AmbassadorForChrist
Christ-mas is transcended by some truly marvelous golden nuggets from the book of Luke regarding this Christ-mas event which occurred approximately 2,012 years ago.
Luke 1:27: To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Joseph was espoused to this virgin named Mary; the Jewish espousal was a pre-marriage covenant, if you will, that was equally binding as a marriage; and Joseph and Mary both preserved themselves during this espousal that in Jewish time could equal as long as a year in preparation as the groom would prepare a place for Mary and himself to live, for Joseph's father's house had many mansions and Joseph was first to prepare a place to receive Mary his wife for their life in Joseph's father's house (to wit, the family and its name). This is the picture we see inside Jewish marriage and the espousal covenant that mirrors that for which is spoken by the husband (Lord) about the bridegroom (Israel) [John 3:29, John 14:3]
Luke 1:28: And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Thou that are highly favoured: a certain privilege to be chosen among women to be chosen to fulfill Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Blessed art thou among women: the word “bless” or “blessing” means to be spoken well of, enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God. Mary was receiving the spiritual happiness and the favor of God to be chosen to give the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 1:29: And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Why was Mary troubled at the angel's saying? If you would imagine, in culture 2,000 years ago, including ancient Israel, people did not always live as long as we do in modern society and therefore marriage occurred at a much earlier age: Mary was certainly a young woman, for in that time period, culturally, Mary would be like most young virgins and marry at an early age, typically 14 years to 18 years old. Highly unlikely would Mary be aged 25 to 35 years old at the espousal to Joseph. Therefore, when she saw the angel and was troubled at his saying, in large part this was due to the fact of her young age and mind and these things were too great to take in immediately.
Luke 1:30: And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Luke 1:31: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Fear not – the angel was commanding Mary to stop fearing. Why? For Mary had found favour with God. The meaning of the word “bless” or “blessing” means to be spoken well of, enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God. Here in the Word we have God's commentary on that blessing mentioned in Luke 1:28. Clearly this is proof that Mary had found favour with God.
Now when the angel announced that Mary would give birth to a son and call his name JESUS, the huge impact of this name suddenly impressed upon Mary. Two things to consider on this name JESUS: it means “God with us” and its Old Testament name equates to JACOB, Jacob is renamed "Israel" by God in Genesis 32:28-29 and 35:10. This name JESUS means “God with us: Israel's salvation”. And then further, the angel reveals to Mary that this JESUS shall be great, and called the Son of the Highest, and that God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
Luke 1:32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Luke 1:33: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
These great words were immense to Mary for they revealed that the conception of this child whom the angel announced to her was to be none other than that Son from God, and God with us, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. All these point back to the Old Testament prophecies and promises of Israel's Messiah. The angel was announcing the actual fulfillment of thousands of years of Old Testament prophecy and promises.
Luke 1:34: Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
This exclamation by Mary was another proof that she was overcome by that amazing announcement by the angel. Think on this: the angel just announced that conception of this child was to be none other than that Son from God, and God with us, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. How can this be!!! It was too great to take in and comprehend that a young woman such as herself would have this happen: and how can this be! It was all too amazing, but the angel next expounds to her what shall take place which gives Mary the answer to “how shall this be”. And this Mary recognized that she could not perform this, seeing that she had not known a man to conceive a child. But with the Father, nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Therefore to perform this miracle the power of God the Highest shall overshadow Mary to conceive the child! This overshadowing power could very well be that same overshadowing cloud that enveloped the Disciples (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34) when God's Son transfigured before them.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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