Printer-friendly  |  Email to a friend

Advent devotions 2008

DEC. 19 - WHEN GOD MAKES A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
By Tina Peters, a junior physics major from Yellow Springs, Ohio

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

----------

DEVOTIONAL:
The main character in the annunciation to Mary is of course Mary, but she is not who the story is about. This is the story of the identity of Jesus. The Angel Gabriel says to Mary, "And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus."

In Hebrew, the name Jesus means "God saves." From the very beginning, with the naming of the child, we learn that Jesus will save those who depend upon God. This is the plan that will unfold throughout the Gospels, but it begins here with a name, Jesus.

With this name comes the titles proclaimed by the angel, an identity in two parts, the Messiah descended from David and the Son of the Most High. The title Messiah descended from David shows his human lineage and is reminiscent of the promise in II Samuel 7, the passage we read from Tuesday. Jesus' identity as the Son of the Most High shows his direct descent from God as explained by the angel in Luke 1:35. Jesus' identity is in two parts, descendant of David and of God in Spirit.

Though Luke's main message is Jesus, Mary brings a valuable lesson as well. When she responds to Gabriel, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Mary is not only consenting to be the physical mother of Jesus, but she also becomes the first to hear the proclamation of God's will and to do it. Mary's "fiat," her yes to God, is the first example of Christian discipleship and is a model for all that follow her.

----------

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.' 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 favour 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 will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her.

Posted at 17:34 #