Category Archives: Virgin Mary

Blessed Is She Who Believed

Posted in Believe God, Christmas Reflections Devotional, Virgin Mary, Zacharias and Elizabeth by

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:39-45
 
Mary had just received the news from the angel Gabriel that she, a virgin, would conceive and give birth to a Son.  Not just any son, but the Son of Highest, the Son of God and she was to call Him Jesus.  Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua…Jehovah is salvation.  Jesus would be given the throne of His father David and of His kingdom there would be no end.
 
Mary was a young Hebrew girl, about 13 years old, unmarried and a virgin.  Never before in the history of the world had a virgin given birth.  Never before was God incarnated as a Man.  Who would believe her?  Who would believe her that an angel, sent forth from the presence of God, had come with news that she would give birth to Israel’s long awaited Messiah?  God had been silent for 400 years and now He had sent a messenger to tell Mary the Good News.  She was…an ordinary Jewish girl, in a poor town called Nazareth.  There was nothing noteworthy or deserving about Mary.  Would her parents believe her?  What would her fiancé Joseph say…would he believe her or put her away? 
 
Mary arose with haste to go to the one home whose occupants would believe her good news.  The angel Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, in her old age and barren, was now pregnant.  For with God nothing is impossible. 
 
Mary quickly went to the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth in Judea.  It was a journey of about 75 miles and it would have taken her several days.  The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly when Mary became pregnant.  However, we know the Holy Spirit came upon her and overshadowed her.  Some time from when Gabriel told Mary the good news to when she arrived at Zacharias and Elizabeth’s home, Mary conceived.
 
Gabriel had prophesied that even in his mother’s womb John would be filled with the Holy Spirit.  That he was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord.  In scripture, we are told that when Mary greeted Elizabeth the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leaped.  The Greek word means leap for joy, it’s akin to skipping.  This child was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord.  Even while in his mother’s womb, he heralded the coming Savior.  He did so without words, a fetus filled with the Holy Spirit…he leaped with joy at the Messiah’s coming.   
 
At that time, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she began to loudly proclaim that Mary was blessed as was the fruit of her womb.  Have you ever experienced something that was so exciting that you wanted to shout it from the roof top?  A joy and excitement that couldn’t be contained? 
 
Elizabeth recognized that Mary was pregnant with the Lord.  Not just any lord…but her Lord and God.  She asked why it had been granted to her that the mother of her Lord would come to her.  Was she aware of her own sinfulness and unworthiness of being in the Lord’s presence?  Elizabeth was humbled, as we all should be when we come into the presence of the Lord.
 
How gracious of God to confirm the angel’s prophesy.  Elizabeth pronounced Mary blessed because she had believed God.  She assured her that the things the Lord told her would be fulfilled. 
 
How could Mary know with any certainty that indeed she would give birth to the long awaited Messiah?  She was pregnant such a short time and it would be a while before that would be evident. 
 
She could have confidence because God was true to His word.  Through the angel Gabriel, God told Mary of Elizabeth’s miraculous conception…and she found it had come to pass.  Elizabeth and Zacharias had also received a word from the Lord, through the angel Gabriel…just as Mary did.  The baby within Elizabeth’s womb leaped and at that time Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit as she spoke words that confirmed the angel’s message. 
 
Mary stayed three months with Elizabeth and Zacharias.  She returned home before John’s birth.  What were those three months like?  Despite the fact that Zacharias was not able to speak, Elizabeth and Mary had to have communicated to Zacharias the good news that Mary would be the mother of the Messiah.  Did they pour over the scriptures that foretold of Israel’s Messiah?  Did they go over and over everything that Gabriel had told them?  Were they filled with wonder and amazement at all that God was doing through them? 
 
Those three month must have been instrumental in building up and reinforcing Mary’s faith, for soon she would return home to face her parents and her fiancé Joseph with the news that she, a virgin, would give birth to the Messiah.  Soon her pregnancy could not be hid…what would the neighbors say? 
 
There many stories and myths throughout various cultures of a virgin birth.   How can we be certain that what’s recorded in Luke’s Gospel is true? 
 
Luke wrote his Gospel after carefully compiling eyewitness accounts.  Did Luke talk to Mary herself to find out about Jesus’ conception?  Mary would have been able to relay what had happened to Zacharias and Elizabeth…she had spent three months with them. 
 
We can know with certainty, that Luke’s account is not just another myth or legend because of what would happen 33 years later.  Not only Jesus’ death on the cross, but his resurrection three days later.  Jesus’ resurrection was witnessed by hundreds of people during the 40 days that Jesus remained before ascending to heaven.  Many eyewitnesses suffered persecution and were killed because of what they knew was true. 
 
Have you believed John’s silent but joyful proclamation that Jesus is Israel’s long awaited Messiah?  If not…why not read Luke’s eyewitness accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and decide for yourself if you will believe God?

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Christmas Reflections…The Virgin Birth

Posted in Christmas Reflections Devotional, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Virgin Birth, Virgin Mary by

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”   And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.   Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. – Luke 1:34-38

Only through the virgin birth…do you have a Messiah, a Savior.  If Jesus was merely the product of human conception…He was merely a sinful man. 

For unbelievers, the virgin birth is a hurdle…something that is too hard to believe.  For liberal Christians…it’s an area that they have willingly compromised for they don’t believe in the inerrancy of scripture. 

From before His conception and birth…God prophesied that Jesus was the Son of God.  Born of a woman, but conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures we see prophesies of the virgin born Messiah. 

     And I will put enmity
     Between you and the woman,
     And between your seed and her Seed;
     He shall bruise your head,
     And you shall bruise His heel.” – Genesis 3:15

Women do not have a seed.  A virgin cannot give birth unless God miraculously intervenes.  God has only done this once in human history.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14
 
The Jews knew from scripture that the Messiah would come from the line of David. 

“And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.  Your throne shall be established forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-16

The fact that Jesus claimed to be from the line of David wasn’t in dispute.  In Jesus day the records still existed that could trace back His lineage back to King David.  It was because Jesus claimed to be God that the Jewish religious leaders wanted to kill Him.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.  Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”  The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”  – John 10:22-30

It’s amazing and beyond our comprehension to think that a virgin will give birth.  Women do not have a seed.  Virgins do not have babies.  Unless God miraculously intervenes a virgin cannot give birth.  Even Mary was amazed at what the angel told her.  Mary response confirms that she is a virgin.  “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” – Luke 1: 34

There have been other miraculous conceptions in the Bible.  Starting with Abraham and Sarah.  Like Zacharias and Elizabeth, their bodies were as good as dead.  Unless God preformed a miracle, they would not have had a child.  Samuel’s birth to Hannah was a miracle.  Unless God had opened her womb she would have remained childless.

But Jesus conception is the only one that was both miraculous and divine.  Jesus was born of a women, by the power of the Highest.  Jesus is the Son of God and Son of Man.  Only the sinless Son of God could pay the price for our sin. 

Mary was a humble willing servant.  Unlike Zacharias, Mary did not doubt the angel Gabriel’s good news.  Perhaps her question was filled with wonder and amazement.  Wonder at how God would accomplish this miraculous work and amazement that God saw fit to choose her.
 
We can learn something from Mary’s response.  After the angel confirmed that she would become pregnant when the Holy Spirit came upon her and overshadowed her, she responded with willing obedient belief. 

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. – Luke 1:38

Mary didn’t quake with fear.  She didn’t take into account the inconvenience that would result as she would soon be pregnant, and not yet wed.  She didn’t worry about what family and friends might say and that she might face rejection by the one to whom she was betrothed.  Mary believed God. 

Oh the goodness of the Lord.  The angel Gabriel shared that not only would Mary bear a Son…but that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant despite her advanced age and barrenness.  Someone to whom she could go and share the wonder of what God was doing.  Someone who would believe her and encourage her faith. 
 
Can you imagine Mary’s thoughts when the angel departed?  Did it seem like a dream?  Was her heart beating fast?  Was her face flushed with excitement?  When did the Holy Spirit come upon her and overshadow her?  Was her heart bursting with joy, wonder and amazement?

How do I react when God wants to use me?  Am I a willing servant?  Or do I count the cost to me personally?  Do I remember God is sovereign in all things?  Do I trust Him to go before me and work out all the details?  Do I truly believe that nothing is impossible with God? 

Have I received Jesus Christ, the Son of God as my Lord and Savior?  Is it His birth I celebrate this Christmas?
 

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Christmas Reflections..Chosen and Blessed

Posted in Angel Gabriel, Christmas Reflections Devotional, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Virgin Mary by

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” – Luke 1:26-30
 
It had been six months since God had broken his 400 years of silence.  Just six months before, God had sent Gabriel to tell Zacharias and Elizabeth about the miraculous birth of their son John…the forerunner of Christ sent to prepare the way of the Lord. 
 
Now in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel appeared before Mary to bring her a divine message from God. 
 
Gabriel greeted Mary and said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”   What was Mary’s reaction?  She was fearful and troubled at what the angel had said.  Why was Mary troubled? 
 
What kind of woman does God choose to bear the Son of God?  Mary must have been very young, a teenager at best.  Maybe 13 or 14 years of age.  The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about Mary other than her name and that she was a virgin, betrothed to a man named Joseph.  Unlike Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary was not commended as being upright and blameless before the Lord. She was a young Jewish girl in a small town called Nazareth.  
 
Was Mary troubled because she knew she was undeserving of God’s favor and grace?  Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us that Mary was sinless.  In fact, Mary needed a Savior every bit as much as we do.  Mary was not favored or shown grace by God because of who she was.  She was shown grace by God, because He chose to do so. 
 
Mary knew that she was a sinner before holy God.  In Luke 1:46, Mary rejoiced in God her Savior and extolled His mercy.  Only a sinner needs a merciful Savior.  But Mary was also a true believer. 
 
Mary was highly favored because God chose to use her as His instrument, through which the Savior of the world would be born.  She was blessed among women because of what God would do through her…not because of who she was or what she deserved.
 
Likewise…God has shown us grace and mercy, not because we deserve it.  He doesn’t choose us because of who we are or what we have to offer.  But in His sovereignty, God chooses to save us from our sins.  We are not saved because we are better than our brother or neighbor or friend.   In fact the Bible tells us that He chooses the weak and foolish things of this world. 
 
What about you…have you recognized your need for Jesus the merciful Savior?  This Christmas, do you celebrate because you received the gift of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary?  Why not choose Him today and have your name recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life? 
 
 

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