WHEN Zechariah was at home, Elizabeth becomes pregnant...again at the proper time. She is ecstatic but keeps these things to herself. It is the private joy which comes from waiting on God, and waiting many years. This might reminds us of Rachel's conceiving a child in Genesis 30.23. We notice God's favor then took away her shame from--among men, 1.25. That was probably meant to represent the entire community around Zechariah and Elizabeth. Everyone saw her slim, working as the women did and then the day came when they saw her great with child, beaming, smiling widely because finally God has shown His favor over her.

The proper time was coming, more intense with every day. Israel's reproach would soon be lifted. As the people waited for Zechariah to come out of the temple, so Israel is waiting for God to come from His throne, into their midst. He is about to do so.

We notice that Luke mentions the sixth month in 1.26. This is to locate the time Gabriel came, in the manner of remembering events in Genesis 8.4,13 and other places in the OT narrative. Days and years are associated with secular history; the genealogy of Israel is assocated with Israel's covenant with God.

With that in mind, Luke recites the family history of Joseph, 1.27. Now is the acceptable time, for God has sent Gabriel. Isaiah had prophecied that a virgin would conceive a child in Isaiah 7.14, 9.6. Actually the prediction of a son who will be born to a virgin may even go back to Genesis 3.15. There the Lord God tells the serpent there will be--enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. Women don't have a seed, so why does the passage mention the seed of the woman? Because the father of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, who is not human, not a man who would have a seed. So the seed metaphorically comes from Mary. In truth, the life of Jesus was the most predestined life ever lived.

And Gabriel praises Mary. For centuries Israel praised God in the psalms, in their worship, in the prophets and poetry. Now, Gabriel from God praises Mary. He says--The Lord is with you. It can be translated--The Lord be with you.

Mary does not speak. Instead she takes the angel's words into her heart, pondering them. This is in contrast to Zechariah's skeptical outburst in 1.18. He spoke out, she takes in.

Again Gabriel says to Mary that she has found favor with God. This is also said of Noah in Genesis 6.8. This time Gabriel elaborates, he gives Mary more to hear. The angel is gradually taking Mary into God's plans, one step at a time. We notice that Mary is favored by God as a virgin, while Elizabeth was ashamed being without child. God's view is not the same as that of the neighbors. In 1 Samuel 16.7 the Lord said to Samuel--man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.

Mary has found favor. Then Gabriel says she will conceive, she will bear a son, she will name Hiim Jesus. He will be great, He will be called Son of the Most High God, He will be given the throne of David. Then Gabriel summarizes what Jesus willl do when he says--His kingdom will have no end, 1.33. Step by step, Gabriel has told Mary what Jesus will do, how to understand her son, and what this means for the world.

This is how she and Joseph are to understand Jesus, their yet-to-be son. He will be a boy, and yet more than any human boy ever was. These are the things Mary ponders in her heart. At this point, she then questions Gabriel--How can this be, since I am a virgin?


Gabriel takes her question as meaning, How will this birth even happen to me? Evidently she spoke in humility rather than doubt. Gabriel then tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her, the power of God will overshadow her. This may mean the Holy Spirit will open her womb so that the power of the Most High God will cascade into her. This is God Himself, who will come. For this reason, the child will be called, the Son of God (Luke 4.41, 8.28, 9.35, 10.6, 22).

Then the angel begins his exit. He says even Elizabeth--who was called barren--is pregnant, so that--nothing will be impossible with God, 1.37. Mary then accepts everything Gabriel has said--be it done to me according to your word. She asks for no sign, although having Gabriel the archangel stand there in the room might be sign enough. She says, as Gabriel has said these things, they must be true. Gabriel then departed.