Christians believe that Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited king of the universe, promised in the Old Testament. Christians believe that Jesus Christ came to our world at a particular point in history.
But when someone important is coming, it is always announced. We know this first hand. When I was 12 years old, I was a scout, and I went to the Ipswich Jamboree.a My leader announced to me about half way in that I was going to meet the Governor-General. I reckon she wanted me to have a shower. So off I went, and had my first shower, and made sure my uniform was clean. The VIP was on his way, and it was announced, and I needed to get ready.
Our passage today is from Luke chapter 1. Traditionally it was called ‘the Annunciation’. Our passage announces that the long awaited saviour and king is ‘coming soon’.
Our passage announces a pregnancy, an imminent royal birth. This VIP comes to us by being born. Long before ultrasounds and pregnancy tests, God announced an unexpected pregnancy to a young unmarried mother. Mary was a Jewish girl from the backwaters of Galilee. She did not expect this pregnancy, for she was a virgin. So she was astounded to hear the message, from no less than an angel, that: “You have found favour with God. You will become pregnant, and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
The angel’s first words are important. Mary, has found favour. Sure, you’re pregnant out of wedlock, and that sounds bad. But actually you are ‘full of grace’. You are full of this child, and so you are full of grace. The child you carry is both your own saviour, and also the saviour of the world. You can't get more full of grace than that.
Here is the fulfillment of what God promised Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). Humanity will be saved through the birth of a baby boy, the offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head.
The angel tells Mary the boy’s name. His name shall be ‘Jesus’. ‘Jesus’ means, ‘Yahweh saves’. ‘Jesus by name, Jesus by nature’—because Jesus came to save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21).
Mary’s astonishment is quite natural: “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Mary is saying, “I know the birds and the bees, that babies aren’t delivered by the stork. The normal rules of biology say this pregnancy is impossible. I’ve not been doing that sort of thing—I’m a virgin.” And it’s as if the angel says, “Mary, throw out your biology text book for this one. God is bringing about this pregnancy in a completely different way, because this baby will be one of a kind.”
Jesus’ conception was a unique and astounding miracle. There was no human father. This has been called the ‘virgin birth’ of Jesus, although the passage more accurately describes a ‘virgin conception’.
Jesus is ‘the Son of God’ because of who he is, and how he was conceived. Mary became pregnant because the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her (Luke 1:34-35). Unsurprisingly, the Holy Spirit produces a holy child.
Notice that Jesus is holy, sinless, without sin even as a tiny embryo. In this Jesus is very different to us. Each of us must say “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Ps 51:5). Jesus can’t say that. Jesus can’t say the General Confession, as we do. He has nothing to confess. He has no original sin. He is holy, from the very millisecond of his conception.
Notice also that because there was no human father, Jesus took his human nature only from his mother. Jesus was only the supposed son of Joseph (Luke 3:23). So Jesus is the same as us, truly one of us though his mother. But Jesus would call no-man ‘Father’. If Jesus underwent a paternity test, his DNA would come up ‘Fully God, 100% divine’. The Son of God is also God the Son.
Now all of this is remarkable and incredible, but it is not unbelievable. For the angel reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. And that was enough for Mary. Mary committed herself to faithfully and humbly believing God’s word.
And we need to be like Mary. Her response is the right one. Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it all happen to me just as you have said” (Luke 1:38). We too need to trust God in spite of what seems impossible. For God is the God of the impossible. We can’t save ourselves. But because of Jesus our saviour, our salvation becomes possible.
Let’s pray.