In yesterday’s post, I contemplated whether Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because he thought she was afraid of him or if he knows she’s concerned about his greeting and what it means to her. Another thought came to me that maybe he’s telling her not to be afraid of what she is about to hear. This is going to be news that will change the course of history, and her life will never be the same.
“Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom, there shall be no end.” Luke 1: 31-33 (AMP)
Do you think Gabriel is telling her to stop worrying about his greeting and focus on what he’s about to say? “Listen carefully.” Other versions say, “And behold,” but any way you say it, I still think he was telling her to focus before he drops the most incredible news on her that she is going to conceive and give birth to God’s Son. This is the most important news anyone will ever hear, and she must pay attention.
She is to name this child Jesus. As I said in an earlier post, Jesus was a common name at the time, but the name means, ‘The Salvation of Yahweh.’ The description of Him will point to all that He will be. His name won’t just mean the Salvation of Yahweh, He will be the Salvation of Yahweh.
He will be given David’s throne just as prophecies of the Messiah have said, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will have no end. By this point, Mary may be realizing that she is the virgin talked about in those prophecies about the Messiah, and the Son she will give birth to will be the Messiah they’ve waited and watched for all these years.
The encouragement of the angel to not be afraid is very powerful about now. She’s young, not even married yet, and the task in front of her is daunting. Was Mary afraid? Was she excited? Did she really understand at this moment the full ramifications of everything? Whatever her emotions, the Lord is with her, she is highly favored, and she needn’t be afraid.
Today’s truth is we have nothing to fear, either. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior during this season, let’s remember who we are in Him and all that He has promised us. Like Mary, God is with us. Jesus said He is with us always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20), we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3), and we are favored, He has blessed us with His glorious grace in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), meaning we have His divine grace which is His undeserved love and favor.
Debbie's Perspective 
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