Scripture to Read: Luke 1:26-27
Gabriel, one of God’s archangels, has a message from God to deliver to Mary. This message occurred in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. Gabriel was sent to a little city in Galilee called Nazareth. Nazareth was pretty unremarkable and is not even spoken of in the Old Testament. But Jesus would forever be identified with this place, being repeatedly called Jesus of Nazareth in Mark 1:24, Mark 10:47; Luke 4:34; John 18:7, John 19:19 and other passages. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. There were three stages to a Jewish wedding in that day. First, there was the engagement. This was the formal agreement made between the fathers of the bridegroom and the bride. Second, there was the betrothal. This was the ceremony where mutual promises were made between the bridegroom and the bride. Third, was the actual marriage of the couple. The wedding usually happened about one year later, when the bridegroom would go to get his bride. But, it was at a time set by the bridegroom’s father. So the time
was unexpected by the bridegroom as well as the bride. Mary was definitely a virgin, which helps us see how miraculous our Lord’s conception was in Mary’s womb. The Holy Spirit planted the seed in her, to carry God’s Son. Jesus was fully man and fully God. This was truly the perfect plan our Heavenly Father had orchestrated. We must be cautious not to get bored with this incredible Truth. For our entire eternity rests on this Truth, that God came to us.
Challenge & Application
What did you learn in today’s devotion that you did not know before? How has what you learned strengthened your faith in all that God has done for you, through our Lord Jesus Christ?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!