17. Favored One
Luke 1: 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
The Angel arrived to foretell the coming of the birth of Jesus. He arrived to tell Mary she was going to be with child. The scene is very familiar and meaningful. It is incredibly theologically rich in its implications. A virgin birth. Only something that God could accomplish. The song “Mary Did You Know?” Captures those implications wonderfully. But think about the title for just a moment.
“Mary did you know?” Bring to mind all that the Angel told her when he arrived. Consider all that Mary heard from the shepherds on the night of His birth 40 weeks later. Think about the Bible verse that she treasured all of those things in her heart. Yes of course she knew.
The better question is, “Mary do you understand? Mary do you believe?” It is a question for us to ponder. An angel is most likely not going to arrive to ask you. But indeed when you and I hear the Gospel. Every time we hear the Gospel. The question comes again. Do you understand and do you believe? Maybe it is in the saving faith sense of do you believe and maybe it is a different sense where our faith is being made stronger in our lives. This Advent season may will all take time each day and hear through the ages and through the arrival of that angel to Mary the blessing of God’s favor in Christ. The Lord is with us.