The virgin’s name was Mary.

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In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” -Luke 1:26-33 NLT

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This story is amazing and miraculous. Small wonder that so many are skeptical of it. It seems as unbelievable today as it did back then. I wonder what the angel looked like? His comforting words to Mary indicates that there may have been something awe inspiring about Gabriel. His words to this young girl speak to me of Mary's faith. She was favored. The Lord was with her. In the following verses her faith begins to shine and we begin to understand why she was chosen.

I wonder what it was like for Mary to hear the words that her son will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High? I wonder if she thought, like many of that day, that the Messiah would restore Israel? I cannot imagine what was going through her mind as she heard that her son's rule would be forever. Suffice to say that these words were spoken in such a way that she vividly remembered them. She would need the comfort of these words many years later.

Our hearts are full with awe Lord. Help us to embrace the magnificent wonder of this story once again.

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