Read Luke 1:26-38

Confidence in God’s Promises

When Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, she was called “highly favored” and “blessed…among women” (Luke 1:28). Mary’s reaction to seeing an angel was the typical one: “she was troubled” (Luke 1:29). Throughout the Scriptures, when an angel appeared to a person, that person was generally troubled or afraid. Thus, Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).

Then the angel told Mary why she was “highly favored” and “blessed”: she was the woman through whom God would bring “the Son of the Highest” into the world (Luke 1:32). Mary questioned the angel further, saying, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34).

Was Mary exhibiting doubt in the word of Gabriel here, or was she simply seeking clarification? We must be very careful that we do not impugn upon her doubt when we do not have the full story. Mary was well aware of how babies were made, and she was also aware she had not participated in such activities. How then could she bring a child into the world?

A prophet of old said, “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). Indeed, as Gabriel said, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

After the angel’s explanation, Mary did not ask any further questions. She accepted the message and showed great faith, saying, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Are we as confident as Mary in the promises of God? He has promised many things contingent on our faithful obedience, but how often do we doubt and search for loopholes? This is not to suggest that we should never seek further information or clarification; when we do not fully understand something that God says, we certainly should ask questions! But when we receive the answer, are we satisfied that God will deliver on His promises?

Read Luke 1:67-80

Prophecy Fulfillment

For centuries, the Jews awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptizer, praised God that the time of the Messiah had finally come. He made specific reference to a number of prophecies of old.

Zacharias proclaimed, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68). The idea behind “visiting” is not limited to spending time with another, but carries with it the connotation of taking care of another. These thoughts can be traced back to a number of prophecies. “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity” (Zephaniah 2:7 KJV). David also referred to this concept of God “visiting” His creation: “What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4, cf. Hebrews 2:6).

Zacharias also referred to “a horn of salvation” (Luke 1:69), indicating great strength. The image of the powerful “horn” was used by Ezekiel, who called Him “the horn of the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 29:21), and by the psalmists, who used the phrases “the horn of David” (Psalm 132:17) and “the horn of His people” (Psalm 148:14).

Further, Zacharias recognized that the Messiah would come from the line of David, using the phrase, “in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69). The Old Testament is full of such prophecies. “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11).

God, in His infinite wisdom, inspired men of old to declare what He planned to do and how He planned to save man. As we read through the gospel accounts and the rest of the New Testament, we see that plan unfolding. We are blessed to live in a time that we have the full revelation of God at our fingertips. God strengthens our faith through His Word as we read both the promises in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of those promises in the New.

Read Luke 1:5-25

Righteous And Blameless (But Not Perfect)

Luke begins his account of the gospel not with the birth of Jesus, but of John the Baptizer, who was born about six months before “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). John’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth, both described in inspiration as “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). What a beautiful description of these people of faith!

We are not told exactly how old this couple was; we only know that “they were both well advanced in years” (Luke 1:7). Zacharias was a priest and was on this occasion burning incense in the temple. This was a special honor for a priest. The late brother James Burton Coffman wrote, “The great numbers of priests necessitated that particular choice for various functions should be made by casting lots; and no one was allowed to burn incense more than once, many never being permitted to do so at all.”

While he performed his duties at the altar of incense, an angel appeared to Zacharias and told him that he and his wife would have a son. This son, who they were to name John, would be the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy! “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

Zacharias stumbled in his faith here, doubting the angel’s announcement. “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife s well advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). There is little doubt that Zacharias had forgotten about Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac, but this man likely did not consider himself in the same class as Abraham.

Yet, everything the angel came to pass; Zacharias and Elizabeth brought John the Baptizer into this world, and John prepared the people for the coming Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).