Scripture to Read: Luke 1:26-27
Gabriel, one of God’s archangels, was sent to deliver a message to Mary. This particular message occurred in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. Gabriel was sent to this little city in Galilee called Naz- areth. Nazareth was unremarkable and was 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 many other passages of Scripture. Mary was engaged to Joseph. There were three stages to a Jewish wedding back in the day of Mary and Joseph. First, there was the engagement. This was the formal agreement between the fathers of the bridegroom and the bride. Second, there was the betrothal. This ceremony was 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 for the bridegroom and the bride. Mary was 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 the perfect plan our Heavenly Father orchestrated. We must never get bored with this incred- ible Truth because our entire eternity rests on this Truth—that God came to us.
Challenge & Application
• What did God teach you today about His miraculous power and plan as He sent Gabriel to Mary?
• How does God speak to you each day, and why has He cho- sen to use this method to speak to us, His children?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!