She had no idea it would be her. As a young Jewish girl, Mary had likely heard Isaiah’s prophecy, “the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b). However, she did not know when and how that prophecy would be fulfilled until Gabriel appeared. Most of us have read this story so many times that the shock and awe of that moment does not move us as it should.
Most people in the Bible did not have an angelic encounter, and no one else received this kind of news. Mary, likely a young teenager, was greeted by an angel who called her “favored woman” (CSB). This description, rendered in Catholicism’s Latin Vulgate translation as “full of grace,” has led many people to honor Mary in a way that rivals the worship due to Jesus. No doubt a godly woman, she was gifted with a unique opportunity, not rewarded for her righteousness. To suggest that Mary deserved this role because of her sinless life contradicts the biblical text and questions why a sinless One needed to be sent from heaven when such a one was already on earth. She was understandably troubled by Gabriel’s words, having no thought that some expected compensation from heaven had finally arrived.
Mary’s fears were calmed by knowing that God’s grace, His favor, was at work. The false teaching of the prosperity gospel has given many people the idea that God’s favor always brings physical comfort, namely health and wealth. Conversely, God’s choice leads many faithful Christians to the greatest levels of pain and struggle they have ever known.
Rust
Most of the 12 Apostles, and numerous believers after them, were chosen to lay down their lives in service to Christ. On the day of Jesus’ dedication in the temple, Simeon told Mary of the opposition that His ministry would bring, warning, “a sword will pierce your own soul” (Luke 2:35a). God’s favor would appoint her to bear and raise Jesus; it would also require her to see Him crucified.
As Gabriel continued his announcement, Mary learned that her Son’s arrival would fulfill many of God’s promises, especially the Davidic Covenant. The thought of a descendant of David permanently seated on the throne was probably a forgotten hope in the minds of many Jews because no one had been on the throne since the monarchy collapsed in 586 B.C. during the reign of Zedekiah (II Kings 25:1-7). Nevertheless, God had promised David, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” (II Samuel 7:16).
God would raise up not unending generations of offspring to be king, but a King for all generations, Jesus Christ! As Isaiah prophesied, this King would be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, establishing and sustaining David’s throne with justice and righteousness forever (Isaiah 9:7).
Contrary to popular opinion at the time, the people of Israel did not suffer ultimately from the lack of a strong political leader; they suffered because of sin. Jesus fulfilled these roles to redeem us not from our temporary discomforts, but to set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) and the sentence of condemnation it delivers. B&R
