The Sounds of the Seasons, Part 1 Gabriel’s Message to Mary
The Christmas season is a time of music, all sounds in some special way connected to the story of Jesus’ birth. Arguably the most sublime and breathtaking sound is the announcement made by the angels—the very moment that prepared the scene for the miraculous birth of our Savior. This divine message—in fact, coming directly from the angel Gabriel—speaks of God’s very great plans and of his closest involvement in the lives of his people.
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!'” (Luke 1:26-28, ESV).
When Gabriel visited Mary, it was not like any other visitation. It was an occasion of divine intention, a moment of heavenly miracle. The angelic salutation – “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee!” was more than a common form of salutation; it was a profound announcement of God’s grace and nearness. Imagine the hush of that humble home in Nazareth—suddenly filled with the dazzling presence of an angel bringing a message straight from the throne of God.
“But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He is king over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end‘” (Luke 1:29-33).
Mary was afraid and confused. The message, which the angel conveyed, evoked a feeling of awe and at the same time overwhelmed a person. Sensing her fear, Gabriel assured her at once: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” These words tended to calm down her spirit and prepare her heart for the outstanding message she would have to hear: that she was going to become the mother of the Messiah.
A lot of promises and prophecies were carried by the words of Gabriel. And the name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins, was the reason why. This child was to be great and called the Son of the Most High; that’s what Gabriel told her. This was a child who was to do all the prophecies that have been held in store for so long and to reign over the throne of David and establish a kingdom with no end.
Try to imagine a teenage Mary finding out she was about to become the mother of God. She was a humble virgin from a small town, now chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. Feelings that must have rushed into her heart were awe mixed with a huge sense of humility and, possibly, even doubt. Yet, in this divine encounter, she drew strength and faith to be able to say yes to God’s will.
“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:34-38, ESV).
As such, Mary’s response is a very natural and straight question: “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Gabriel answered her, reiterating God’s power and sovereignty. The Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and the power of the Most High would result in the miraculous conception of the holy Son of God. This involved giving Mary a sign of God’s miraculous power by making her understand that her relative, Elizabeth, who was in old age and considered to be barren, was expecting a baby. This will be another “assurance that there would be nothing that was impossible with God.” The answer only bears witness to her faith and submissiveness: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Her readiness to accept God’s plan in this peculiar service, despite social disgrace and personal uncertainty, will have to serve as a powerful example of obedience and trust in God’s promises.
The annunciation of the angel to Mary is one event that lets us look back at ourselves and reflect on our responses to the calling of God in our lives. Like Mary, we may be standing face to face with a divine moment beyond human explanation but that also calls for a leap of faith. The sounds of the herald angel’s voice are sounds of hope and salvation that remind us of how God daily is at work in our lives, usually unexpectedly and sometimes in miraculous ways.
As we listen to the sounds of the season, may we be attuned to the voice of God calling to us. May we, like Mary, be people who are ready and willing to believe in the intention and purpose of God, even if it seems beyond all understanding. An announcement from above implores us to accept the miraculous, to be open to God’s intervention, and to be His instruments of grace and design.
The angelic announcement is the part that begins the miraculous story of Jesus’ birth. It is a voice that runs through the ages, reminding us of God’s amazing love and fulfillment of His promises. As we celebrate this Christmas season, let us find motivation in Mary’s faith and the angel’s proclamation, embracing the joy and wonder that accompanies the birth of our Savior.
All teachings are prayerfully written by Daniel Glasco, utilizing available resources to faithfully present biblical truth and discipleship encouragement.