Gabriel’s Visit To Nazareth

Gabriel’s Visit To Nazareth

When I was a young boy Christmas was a time of great excitement for my sister Lois and me. My parents were devoted to us and provided to the best of their ability. I remember one year when my mother made beautifully colored aprons and sold them to friends and neighbors. Her effort and sacrifice was so she could make a memorable Christmas for us. My gift was a small peddle-driven play automobile. Oh how I loved that car. It was a marvelous Christmas morning surprise, probably my most memorable as a child.

Luke 1:26-27 (NKJV) 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

The context sets the stage, Mary had not yet had sexual contact with a man, Luke called her a virgin and noted that she was pledged to be married to Joseph (cf. 2:5). In Jewish culture then a man and woman were betrothed or pledged to each other for a period of time before the actual consummation of their marriage. This betrothal was much stronger than an engagement period today, for the two were considered husband and wife except that they did not live together till after the wedding. Let’s look at what the Word of God says concerning this matter.

·      Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. This was a prophesized event announced years prior to the birth.

·      Matthew 1:18 (NKJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

·      Matthew 1:21 (NKJV) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

·      Luke 1:34-35 (NKJV) 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

·      John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Virgin Birth is a vital link in God’s Eternal Plan. It is a vital link because without the supernatural birth there could be no redemption for the lost race. The first Adam crashed and burned, i.e. failed, in the Garden. The second Adam, Jesus, came to earth and succeeded in His mission by living a sinless life.

The Old Testament informs us that the sacrifice for sin was to be a perfect lamb without blemish. The blood of that lamb was then spilled on behalf of the one offering that sacrifice. If Jesus would have been born as a result of natural intercourse, we would still be lost in our sin. Thus, the Virgin Birth is critical to the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. 1 John 4:9,10 (NKJV) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  What is propitiation? The Son became an atoning Sacrifice for our sins. Romans 3:25 (NKJV) whom God set forth as a propitiation (sacrifice for our sins) by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

Hallelujah to our LAMB! Jesus willingly gave himself up so that the Father passed over or blotted out the sins that were previously committed. Hebrews 9:22 (ESV) Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Have a Blessed Christmas