June 21 You’re As Mary

Luke 1:26-28 “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
 
LUKE shifts the scene from the older Zechariah and Elizabeth to the young, “famous” Christmas couple. Hello, Joseph and Mary. Actually, Joseph’s still on the sidelines a bit. Mary becomes the main character. She’s the virgin.
     Oh my, this is a big deal. Mary’s virginity is a very big deal. This is so because in Genesis, right after Eve and Adam (another young “famous” couple) disobeyed God, God turned to them and said this to Satan: Genesis 3:15 I will put hatred between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."  
     The Lord declared with these words that he would make the world right without sin again as he had created it. He would do so through the seed of a woman – not a woman and a man, but a woman only. God later reminded his now chosen people the Jews through Isaiah 7:14 “the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (“Immanuel” means “God come down”)
     Oh, yes. As Gabriel went to “a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David” he acted under God’s eternal plan of salvation. Here is the Lord’s next step to restore the world to perfection. He chose Mary, this teen-aged virgin Jewish girl to bear the Savior of the world. That’s why Gabriel could say to her, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  
     Here’s something I’d like you to know: You are as Mary. How is that? God, indeed, had a special purpose for highly favored Mary. And God has a special purpose for highly favored you.
     Do you think I’m crazy? I’m not. Nope. I’m just looking at God; I’m looking at the cross, and I’m looking at God’s Word. Everything God has done since the Garden of Eden has been for you. Yes, you are so highly favored God has moved history to save you. Immanuel came through the virgin to be your Savior. Immanuel came to free you from sin. God came down to point you up to Heaven. God entered into the earth to graciously give your life a purpose God ordained long, long, ago. Oh yes, my friend you are like Mary. As you confess Jesus as Lord of your life, God’s high favor lifts you up to the highest Heaven.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I am so very grateful and humbled to be saved in your choosing, to be so eternally favored. In Jesus’ name I give thanks. Amen.