Last week we looked at the story in the Gospel of Luke where the angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah when he is burning incense in the temple. Today, we find the same angel, Gabriel, showing up six months later in Nazareth, about 80 miles or more to the north. This time he appears to a young teenager named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph.
In Luke 1:28 it says, “And having come in.” Have you ever wondered how angels make their entrance? In some situations, it seems they just appear, as if beamed in from another dimension. At other times, they must have switched dimensions away from the scene as they enter more like a human would. So, did Gabriel come in the front door? Did he knock first? Did he just appear? We don’t know. What we do know is that his announcement of “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” troubled Mary.
What I love here is God’s (and Gabriel’s) grace and patience with Mary. Gabriel tells her to not be afraid and repeats that she has “found favor with God.” Gabriel then goes on to tell her she will conceive a Son, and shall call His name Jesus and that He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. She asks the obvious question, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Once again we see Gabriel’s patience. He explains that God’s presence and power will conceive a child in her miraculously. Then he goes on to build her faith by telling her that Elizabeth, her cousin, has conceived in her old age and is sixth months pregnant (that the miracles in her family have already started.)
I am encouraged by this whole story. God knows that things like this can seem beyond belief. . .so He works with us to build and grow our faith. Yes, Mary’s response is amazing, “. . .Let it be to me according to your word.” And I don’t want to take anything away from her faith.
What I do want to highlight is how God encouraged Mary’s faith. He starts with a faith builder by miraculously sending her an angel. Then he lets her be troubled and ask questions. He follows that by the power of testimony (Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy). Then Mary makes her amazing faith declaration.
But even then, her faith needs to be nurtured, so she makes an 80+ mile journey to see Elizabeth. In those days that would have taken four or five days or more. Why did she go? Did she doubt the story? Did she fully believe and was excited for Elizabeth? Regardless of the reason, we can only assume that when she saw Elizabeth her faith for her situation only increased!
What has God been saying to you? Do you have honest questions about what He has said? If so, press in and ask Him for a little more insight this week. Then whose life and story builds your faith? Who do you need to go see in person or talk to on FaceTime that will increase your faith? Don’t put it off. Make it happen today!
