Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 132, Luke 1:26-35 - New International Version (2024)

FAQs

What is the lesson learned from Luke 1:26-38? ›

The virgin birth proves that nothing is impossible with God. We must believe that God has the power to do all things, otherwise we do not serve God, but an idol. The virgin birth reveals the great faith of Mary who believed God's word and desired to be God's servant in the working of God's magnificent plan.

Annunciation, in Christianity, the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit to be called Jesus (Luke 1:26–38).

The Annunciation: Luke 1.26-38: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

“Don't be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

Luke 1:26–38 relates how a virgin learned she would miraculously bear the Son of God. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary, who is engaged to a man named Joseph. Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear a son, to be named Jesus. He will be the Promised One long awaited by the people of Israel.

Meaning that God became one of us at birth so He could one day save us from our sin. The miracle announced to Mary was that as a virgin she would give birth to God in His humanity. This would be accomplished without the seed of fallen man but be done by the God The Holy Spirit coming upon Mary.

From a theological perspective, we can say that God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus because she, herself, was the Immaculate Conception. This means that she was the only fitting mother for God in the flesh.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.

His wife was not being impregnated by the male Spirit of God. Rather, the feminine aspect of God would supervene and the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit would envelope Mary, birthing into her someone extremely special and then Jesus would physically enter this world “by” Mary.

Using these methods, most scholars assume a date of birth between 6 and 4 BC, and that Jesus' preaching began around AD 27–29 and lasted one to three years. They calculate the death of Jesus as having taken place between AD 30 and 36.

What is the message of Luke 1:26-28? ›

The Lord is with you (Luke 1:26-28) Joseph and Mary were an insignificant couple from an obscure town until God decided to send them a surprise from heaven. Their story reminds us that no matter where we are or who we are, God is with us. A young, engaged woman about to receive the news that she is expecting a child.

God is often deeply hidden, and God is active through each of us for each other. In the visit of Mary, God came close to Elizabeth in the ordinary and homely moments of every day. These Advent and Christmas days give us the space to allow the huge eternal mystery become part of the everyday.

Teach us by your Spirit to pray, “let it be with me according to your word.” Calm our hearts as we learn pray, “let it be with me according to your word.” Show us how to say “here am I, your servant,” without pretense, and with a spirit of sacrificial love. All for the sake of the world you so love.

We can say that the virgin birth is a good Christmas story for children. But what we can't do is ignore the truth as God sees it: to doubt the conception of Jesus Christ in the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit is doubting the character, power, and truthfulness of God, and thus is nothing other than unbelief.

Unlike Jesus' other parables, the main lesson of this one is stated upfront: God wants us to pray and not give up (or “lose heart,” v. 1). “Losing heart” is a product of the weariness that comes from living in a sinful, hostile world. Sometimes we are tempted to lose heart because of the injustice we see all around us.

Grace comes from Jesus' living in you – Gabriel doesn't tell Mary you have favor because “you're pretty amazing, you do you, God is so impressed with you”. Rather, He tells here God's favor to you is going to be Jesus living in you. You are going to have a son, who will be great, the Son of the “Most High” God.

"Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified "yes" to your will and plan for my life."