Preparing for Christmas
Humanly Impossible - Preparing for Christmas
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Humanly Impossible
READ: Luke 1:26-38 The Birth of Jesus Is Announced 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.27 He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary.28The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!” 29Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant.30The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was,33and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!” 34Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.36Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.” 38“I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE Today’s passage announces an even more remarkable, wonderful and unexpected birth. Gabriel, the same angel that appeared to Zechariah and Elizabeth, now tells Mary that she will have a son. Mary is initially confused because she is a virgin. If it’s going to happen, God will have to do it and God will through his Spirit. Gabriel shares the incredible news of the role her baby will have in God’s kingdom. God’s miraculous work will bear the “Son of the Most High God,” the one God promised to David about one thousand years earlier. The “descendants of Jacob” is another term for the people of Israel and they have been waiting for centuries for their Messiah, their Anointed King. While she has questions, she acts differently than Zechariah. She believes God’s message through Gabriel. She trusts God. Her statement, “I am the Lord’s servant” clearly communicates willingness to do what God has called her to do. She will be the mother of the “Son of the Most High God.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for this remarkable announcement. Thank you for doing something through Mary that is humanly impossible. Thank you for Mary’s example. Even though this must have been really difficult to hear, she was willing to trust you and to be your servant. I want to be your servant and do what you want me to do. Even though it might be difficult and confusing, help me to obey you. Amen.
DIG DEEPER: Is there a situation that doesn’t make sense, but it seems like God is leading you to do it? What steps can you take to gain God’s clarity and wisdom? God uses Mary’s relative Elizabeth to encourage her. We’ll read about Mary’s visit with Elizabeth tomorrow.
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