The Blessed Birth Anouncement

Gabriel Told Mary About Jesus

God was about to do the greatest thing of all time. He was going to send His son into the world to free humanity from the bondage of sin.

God sent Gabriel to deliver two messages. Understanding that Gabriel stands in the presence of God. Luke 1:19

Luke 1:19 NASB95

The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

The first message was sent to Zacharias for the birth of John the Baptist. John the Baptist would prepare the way for the messiah. Isaiah 40:3

Isaiah 40:3 NASB95

A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

John would be this voice calling in the wilderness. He will proclaim that Jesus is the Savior of the world. John 1:29

John 1:29 NASB95

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The second message Gabriel delivered was to Mary. He told her that she would give birth to a son and name Him Jesus. He told her that He will be called Son of the Most High. He told her that her child would be given the throne of His father David and that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever. Gabriel told Mary that she was going to give birth to the Son of God.

This presented a little bit of a problem!

The Virgin Birth

Mary was betrothed to Joseph. This betrothal period lasted one year. During that time the bridegroom was to prepare a home for the couple. Also during this time they were not to be intimate with one another. Though they were legally married they could not be intimate with one another until after the wedding ceremony.

This presented a problem for Mary because if she became pregnant during the betrothal period she could be accused of adultery and stoned to death. Matthew 1:19

Matthew 1:19 NASB95

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

This is why Mary asked Gabriel: Luke 1:34

Luke 1:34 NASB95

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

The answer Gabriel gave was nothing short of a Miracle!

Doctrinal importance of the virgin birth.

Many people and even theologians question the issue of a virgin birth. I believe it to be true based on the authority of scripture. The prophet proclaimed it, Gabriel communicated it, and the gospels testify to it.

Isaiah 7:14 NASB95

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Luke 1:31 NASB95

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

Matthew 1:18 NASB95

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

The virgin birth is important because it shows how Jesus is fully human and fully God. Jesus is fully human because He was made from Mary’s womb. This means that He came into this world the natural way. He grew up as a person just as we do. Luke 2:52

Luke 2:52 NASB95

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus did not come into the world as a super spiritual being that could not identify with the people He was saving. He perfectly identifies with us because he went through the natural process of humanity.

In his humanity he was tempted to sin just as we are. However, He never sinned. Hebrews 4:15

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Though Jesus was made in Mary’s womb, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is important because if He was conceived by Joseph then He would be born with an inherited sin nature. But because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, He had no sin nature.

Having no sin nature means that He could give his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He could take our sins and satisfy the wrath of God towards our sins and impute to us His righteousness!

John 19:17–18 NASB95

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.

Jesus died a real death, was buried in a real tomb, and was resurrected on the third day.

Mary’s Response

Mary put her trust in the Lord regarding this decision. Her response should be as ours should be when God calls us. She said: Luke 1:38

Luke 1:38 NASB95

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

She declared herself to be a bondslave of the Lord. This means she recognized herself as a willing person to submit herself to the Lordship of the Father.

Thought the Lord may not send Gabriel to give us messages about our calling, He does send His Holy Spirit to tell us of our calling. The question is, what will be our response?

The first calling a person receives is to be saved. SHARE THE GOSPEL.

The next calling is what it looks like for you to follow Jesus.

The next calling is your area of service.