T-37: Appointed

I begin my study of Luke 1:26-38 with today’s text…

Luke 1:26-27 (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 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.
[1]

As usual, it is of utmost importance to consider this passage within the appropriate context by reading the preceding passages. Otherwise, the first four words “In the sixth month” may lead one to a misunderstanding of the timing of the blessed event which we study.

The sixth month to which the scripture refers is a reference to how far along Elizabeth was in her pregnancy and not to the calendar month. The relationship between the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus is important in that through this birth ordering, prophesies were fulfilled. For purposes of our study though, it is sufficient to understand that Elizabeth was sixth months pregnant with John.

At that time, God “sent the angel Gabriel…” The angel Gabriel is mentioned by name four times in scripture (including this reference). In each of these references, Gabriel is functioning as a messenger; twice to Daniel, once to Zechariah and once to Mary. I think this is important to take note of how Gabriel served God, never revealing anything unintended but always in response to an assignment from God.

This heavenly messenger, Gabriel was sent ‘to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,…’ It is important to note that the citizens of Galilee were frowned upon by the Jews of Judah as being unclean or ‘not kosher’ because of their interaction with the gentiles. And Nazareth was a small town which means there is nothing about which to boast for this village. However, it was only an hour’s walk to a large, relatively modern city (Sepphoris) and Nazareth was situated on a major trade route. This was no backwoods or remote village. I think it is fun to speculate that God chose this location to deliver the Messiah in anticipation of his rejection by the Jews and acceptance by the Gentiles; but that is only speculation.

Factually though, Gabriel was dispatched to deliver a message “to a virgin..” a young girl who had never had sex. Her purity was no passing matter; maintaining her purity was critical in her culture and signified her devotion to God. Though a virgin, she was ‘pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.’ In that time, ‘pledged’ meant more than dating or even engaged. In fact, Joseph and ‘the virgin’ were considered to be married and were referred to as husband and wife. However, during this time, it was forbidden for the two to have marital relations. Thus, ‘the virgin’ had been set apart as the wife of Joseph. Based on what we know of the culture of that time, this would indicate that she was thirteen (13) or fourteen (14).

Both ‘the virgin’ and Joseph were descendents of King David but it is “the virgin’s” lineage that secures Jesus’ ancestral ties to David and the tribe of Judah. “The virgin’s name was Mary.”

Thus, Mary is introduced to us as casually as meeting a friend of a friend. I’m trying, diligently, not to skip ahead but I have two virgin daughters, fifteen and eleven. When I consider that God chose Mary, I can’t help but consider that God can use my daughters for his purposes too. God chooses those who choose Him, who are committed to him and filled with His grace. Their hometown, state, country and age are non-factors. God uses normal, common people to accomplish wonderful and uncommon purposes. Let’s be sure to keep that in mind as we learn more about this little girl named Mary in the coming days.

שָׁלֹם

Carl



[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.