A Glorious Birth Announcement

Introduction

There were many prophecies which were made concerning the birth of Christ and the Jewish people were eagerly awaiting the promised Messiah which had been foretold.

After around 400 years of silence finally a glorious announcement is made concerning the savior which was to come into the world.

The angel Gabriel is tasked with delivering the announcement and within its contents there is much to be considered.

Gabriel appeared first to a priest named Zacharias to inform him that his wife which had been barren would now bear a son whose name should be John and who would be the forerunner who prepared the way for the coming savior.

The angel Gabriel would later be sent to the region of Galilee to a city called Nazareth to a young woman named Mary.

The news he would bring would come to be the most significant news to have ever been received. The savior was to be born!

In the angel’s message to Mary we can see that:

Prophecy is Fulfilled (Vs. 27)

There were many prophecies which were fulfilled at the moment of the savior’s birth but two in particular are in view here.

The first is that the savior would be of the lineage of David.

This prophecy begins when God speaks to David and reveals that his kingdom shall be established forever. (II Samuel 7:12-16)

It is further brought to light in Isaiah 11:1-10 - these verses speak directly of the millennial kingdom over which Christ will reign

Jeremiah 23:5–6 KJV 1900

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

These verses in Jeremiah can be interpreted in no other way than to refer to the coming Messiah which we now know is Jesus.

Matthew 1 records the lineage of Joseph and the fact that he was a direct descendant of King David.

The other prophecy which is confirmed is that Jesus would be born of a virgin a supernatural event that cannot be explained without recognizing the power of God.

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

Jesus Christ was not born simply to a young woman as some have suggested but literally to a woman who was a virgin, who had never known a man.

What miraculous birth was that of our savior and how obvious should have been the fact that He was the promised savior.

Grace Extended (Vs. 28-31)

The angel Gabriel begins his message to Mary by saying that she is blessed and highly favoured. Contrary to what some may suggest this does not elevate Mary to a position above any other ordinary man or women.

Mary was chosen to be the mother of the savior not because of who she was but rather because of God’s grace. She would play a vital role in God’s plan of redemption but only as a result of God’s grace not because she was deserving of such an honored position.

We would certainly assume that Joseph and Mary were both of extraordinary character and godliness but even so they were not different in any significant way than you and I.

We may see another example of such an outpouring of God’s grace in the life of Noah, a godly man but a sinner still.

Genesis 6:8 KJV 1900

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Just as Noah was chosen by God to construct an ark for the deliverance of all who would enter into it, so also was Mary simply a human instrument by which the savior would enter humanity to bring about the deliverance of all who would place their trust in Him.

We must be careful not to elevate Mary to a position she would never have accepted knowing that the role she played was merely the product of God’s grace.

God has graciously used many human instruments throughout history but we must never elevate them to the point of worshipping or deifying them. Instead we must always remember the God whom they served.

If Mary were here today I am confident that she would never desire worship but that instead here desire would be that all men would worship Jesus Christ.

The Future Foretold (Vs. 31b-33)

There are many mothers and fathers who have great hope and aspirations for their children and who would like to know what the future holds for their child.

The angel Gabriel would give Mary specific details of what the future would hold for the son which she would conceive.

The name He was to be given was in itself significant, Jesus literally meaning savior. This name may not have seemed especially significant at the time but surely would later be seen as highly meaningful.

Gabriel then makes several declarations concerning the child which is to be born. The first that He will be great, meaning that He would be a child of great importance and significance.

The following statement would have been a striking one, that He would be called the “Son of the Highest.”

This statement was plainly ascribing deity to Jesus as the Son of God.

Mark 5:7 KJV 1900

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

Even when men failed to recognize His deity, the demons recognized that Jesus was the Son of God.

Finally Gabriel says that Jesus shall be given the throne of His father David ascribing to Him royalty and also that the kingdom which He shall rule over shall be an eternal kingdom unlike any kingdom before it.

This was something that Mary would not witness in her lifetime but which will ultimately be fulfilled in the Millennial reign as Jesus sits upon David’s throne in Jerusalem to rule and reign in righteousness.

The Power of God Displayed (Vs. 34-37)

After hearing all of this Mary questions Gabriel as to how these things shall come to pass especially since she has not known a man.

Gabriel’s answers is that God’s power will accomplish all that he has said.

The birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus were both miraculous births which were the product of the power of God.

The same is true of all that Gabriel has spoken, all shall be accomplished through mighty power of God!

Oh how we ought to take special note of Gabriels final words to Mary “for with God nothing shall be impossible.” What a marvelous truth that is still applicable today.

There is much that is impossible with man but there is nothing that is impossible with God. His will shall be fulfilled and His plan shall be carried out regardless of the obstacles and opposition against it.

Finally we see Mary’s response to the wonderful message that has been delivered to her:

Worship Commenced (Vs. 38 & 46-55)

Immediately as Gabriel concludes his announcement, Mary humbly submits to the will of God, certainly she may not have understood everything that would befall here but she was determined to yield herself to God to be used.

True worship must come from a heart and life humbly submitted to the will of God. No one who would rebel against God and refuse to submit to His will shall ever truly worship.

Then we see the worship overflow from marries heart to her lips as she sits with Elizabeth surely continuing to contemplate all that Gabriel has said.

Her desire was to magnify the Lord, she rejoiced in the wonderful opportunity which was hers to be used of God, and all the while she pointed to God and His power, His strength, and His mercy.

When was the last time that our hearts overflowed with worship to the point that our lips could not help but praise the Lord.

In troubling times like these how great is the need for true worship which would magnify and glorify God.

When we contemplate all the blessings that are now ours through our relationship by faith with Jesus Christ, we should be moved to worship.

Conclusion

These wonderful truths about the Jesus should stir our hearts and remind us of the goodness and the grace which God has shown to us.

Have we taken the time to worship Him as He is worthy? Are our lives being lived in humble submission to the will of God? Do we still believe that with God nothing shall be impossible?

In this small portion of scripture, we see prophecy being literally fulfilled and we look forward to the day when that which remains to be fulfilled shall also come to pass.

We see the grace of God extended to a humble young woman who would have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in the plan of God. God is still extending grace today and He is still using humble men and women to fulfill all His will.

We see the future foretold and we anxiously await the day when Jesus Christ will return and when He shall rule and reign over all the earth.

We see the power of God in full display as a barren women and a virgin both conceive and bring forth children. This same power is still active in the world today!

Then finally we see the worship which all of this provoked and may our hearts be stirred and may we also be provoked to the worship of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!