Scripture to Read: Luke 1:26-27
Gabriel, one of God’s archangels, delivered a message from God to Mary. Gabriel delivered the message in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. Mary lived in a little city in Galilee called Nazareth. Nazareth was pretty unremarkable and is not mentioned 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 as well. Mary was engaged to Joseph. To better understand engagement in the days of Mary and Joseph, we need to know that there were three stages to a Jewish wedding. First, there was the engagement: a formal agreement between the fathers of the bridegroom and the bride. Second, there was the betrothal: a ceremony where mutual promises were made between the bridegroom and the bride. Third, the wedding usually happened one year later, when the bridegroom would go to get his bride. Note: the bridegroom's father determined when his son could get his bride, which helps us better understand what Jesus said in John 14:1–3. So, the specific date was unexpected by the bridegroom and the bride. Mary was a virgin and by God's miraculous power, the Spirit planted the seed in her womb to carry God the Son. Jesus was fully man and fully God. This was our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan which He fully orchestrated. We must guard against becoming bored with this incredible Truth. Our entire eternity rests on this Truth which came to us from God the Father.
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!