Monday 08 April 2013

Background

You've probably heard this Bible passage more than any otherpart of the Bible as you've attended nativity plays over the years.You may even have been asked to play the part of Gabriel orMary!

Today, the Church in the west celebrates the 'Annunciation' -God announcing to Mary through Gabriel that she is to give birth toJesus. (It's normally celebrated on 25 March - nine months exactlybefore Christmas Day - but when this occurs in Lent we wait untilafter Easter to celebrate.).

Luke relates the results of his investigations (Luke1:3-4) so that we can understand exactly who Jesus is and howMary fits into God's plan. Gabriel appears in only one other bookin the Bible - in Daniel chapters 8 and 9 (we'll be looking atDaniel in these notes, beginning tomorrow) - when Gabriel appearsto Daniel to tell him God's plans for the end of the world. Thenext time Gabriel is mentioned is when he tells Zechariah that hiswife Elizabeth is to give birth to John (the Baptist) (Luke1:5-19) - who will prepare God's people for the Lord (Jesus)(Luke 1:17). What is the significance of Marybeing related to Elizabeth (v.36)? Elizabeth was descended fromAaron (Luke 1:5) the high priest - and so, presumably,Mary was also a descendant of Aaron. In this way Jesus can be shown- through Mary - to have the right to be himself anointed as highpriest.

And so, "in the sixth month" (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) (v. 26)Mary too is told that she is going to be used to fulfil God's planand that she will herself become pregnant. Notice that she is notasked what she herself thinks of this. Presumably God would onlyhave sent Gabriel to Mary if God was sure that she would agree tothe plan.

Note that in Daniel 9:25-26 the anointed one (Messiah) ofGod announced by Gabriel will only have a kingdom for a limitedtime; this time, the anointed one of God announced by Gabriel willhave a kingdom which will never end (v.33).

To Ponder

• To what extent do you agree that God would only have sentGabriel if God knew that Mary would agree to the plan? Was itpossible for Mary to say 'No thanks'?

• Do you think God would ever ask someone to do something that itwas impossible for them to do? Why, or why not?

• Have there been times in your life when you have beenfrightened to step out in faith to do something you felt God wasasking you to do? What helped you, or would have helped you, to say"yes"?