“A Faith Like Mary’s”

A Visit From Gabriel

If I were the Virgin Mary, I’m not sure my faith would have been as trusting as hers. Do you ever wonder how you might have responded if you’d been in her sandals? How many people do you think would have believed your story?

The angel Gabriel did not deliver his world-changing announcement to a mass audience.

No video was filmed to be shown on all the major networks and cable channels.

No reporter came to take a picture and write a story for the Nazareth newspaper.

No smartphone selfie proved God’s messenger really had visited her.

And the angel didn’t even go with Mary to break the news to her parents or to Joseph. Gabriel had a private conversation with Mary and then departed.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Luke 1:26-38 The Message (MSG) Copyright © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

^26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

^29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
    the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

³⁵ The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
    will be called Holy, Son of God.

^36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

May the witness of Mary’s faith strengthen ours.

David