Luke 2:26-38 | Lilybeth Otero

Have you ever been picked for something and didn’t expect it? Or have you ever been asked to do something you didn’t really feel adequate for? I remember when I was in 3rd grade my school had auditions for a little choir of children that were going to go caroling during Christmas. I had been singing since I was three and I’ve always loved it. But I definitely never thought I was that good. So I went to my audition and I sang “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie. I sang my little heart out, but there came a part in the song that was never too confident in and when I sang it I looked up at the music teacher and she made a face. A face which I interpreted as “Well, that was interesting, definitely not picking her.” I left so sad, I went home and cried and told my parents that I messed the whole thing up and I wasn’t going to get picked. The next day in music class they posted a list of all the kids that were chosen and I didn’t even want to look at the list and I was like there’s no way I’m on it. The teacher comes over to me and says “Don’t you want to check the list?” I said no, I messed up my audition I’m sure I’m not on there. She looks at me like I’m crazy and then smiles and says “What are you talking about!? You did great!” and I was like “What?! you made a face!” She said “that face was me being impressed by the heart and feeling you put in the song! You are definitely in!” I jumped up in shock, I was amazed that I was chosen. I really didn’t feel special and I knew I wasn’t the best singer in my class but I’ll tell you what, I sang with my whole heart, and I guess the teacher saw that. Today I want to talk about how Mary’s willing heart changed the course of her life. Our scripture today highlights the interactions between Mary and the angel that brought her the news that she would carry the Savior of all in her womb.

A Willing Servant

Luke 1:26–28 NLT

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Luke 1:26–28 NTV

26 Cuando Elisabet estaba en su sexto mes de embarazo, Dios envió al ángel Gabriel a Nazaret, una aldea de Galilea, 27 a una virgen llamada María. Ella estaba comprometida para casarse con un hombre llamado José, descendiente del rey David. 28 Gabriel se le apareció y dijo: «¡Saludos, mujer favorecida! ¡El Señor está contigo!».

I love when the Word mentions that someone is favored. Because my first question is “Why?” What about this person makes them favored. What did God see in them that made them favored? Some other favored people in the Bible are Noah and Moses. “You are highly favored- Mary had been “graced” by God in that she had been chosen to bear God’s Son (1:31, 35). She had not been chosen for this task because she possessed a particular piety or holiness of life that merited this privilege. The text suggests no special worthiness on Mary’s part” I think that this privilege of carrying Jesus was not necessarily given to Mary because of her worthiness but because of her willingness. The angel tells her that the Lord is with her he doesn’t say “may the Lord be with you” as in something he had hoped for her, he tells her a straight fact “The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:29–33 NLT

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Luke 1:29–33 NTV

29 Confusa y perturbada, María trató de pensar lo que el ángel quería decir. 30 —No tengas miedo, María —le dijo el ángel—, ¡porque has hallado el favor de Dios! 31 Concebirás y darás a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús. 32 Él será muy grande y lo llamarán Hijo del Altísimo. El Señor Dios le dará el trono de su antepasado David. 33 Y reinará sobre Israel para siempre; ¡su reino no tendrá fin!

In verse 29 my version says “confused and disturbed” others say she was “deeply troubled” In my research for this passage I found that it was not really common for a woman to be visited by an angel. So I looked into it and found that only 4 women in the Scriptures were visited by an angel: Hagar (Genesis 16:7, 21:17), Manoah’s wife, Samson’s mother (Judges 13:3), Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, and here with Mary the mother of Jesus. I noticed that all these women's encounters announced life! In verse 30 we see again the angel tell’s Mary she is favored by God. Then the angel continues by telling Mary who this baby will be. At this point in the text I always imagine Mary with her jaw dropped and in disbelief. And probably scared, that might be the reason the angel says “Do not be afraid.” But it’s like if someone came in here today and said to me “You’re not pregnant yet, but you’re going to be. And by the way, that baby is going to be the president of the United States.” Um WHAT?! One, I’d think you’re crazy, and two, I’d start reading the constitution to the baby in the womb, ya know just in case. Mary is thinking “Yeah right” at this point and the next verse shows us that.

Luke 1:34 NLT

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

Luke 1:34 NTV

34 —¿Pero cómo podrá suceder esto? —le preguntó María al ángel—. Soy virgen.

This is a very valid question. She’s a practical girl. The Scripture continues.

Luke 1:35–37 NLT

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”

Luke 1:35–37 NTV

35 El ángel le contestó: —El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra. Por lo tanto, el bebé que nacerá será santo y será llamado Hijo de Dios. 36 Además, tu parienta Elisabet, ¡quedó embarazada en su vejez! Antes la gente decía que ella era estéril, pero ha concebido un hijo y ya está en su sexto mes de embarazo. 37 Pues nada es imposible para Dios.

Verse 35 gives us real insight into how Holy this conception was going to be. This is how we know that Jesus divine, 100% man and 100% God. One commentator says “1:35 The Holy Spirit will perform this great miracle, so that Mary will become pregnant without having sexual relations with a man. Therefore indicates that Jesus’ holiness derives from his being conceived by the Holy Spirit. Though Jesus was a genuine human being, he did not inherit a sinful nature and disposition from Adam, as all other human beings do.” The Angel adds on the Elizabeth is pregnant in her old age, this wasn’t a random fact or something the angel found out from Elizabeth’s Facebook that showed up on his news feed. Elizabeth’s pregnancy was another sign of God’s power, that’s why he says in verse 37 “For the word of God will never fail.” Other versions say “For nothing is impossible for God.” Mary heard everything she needed to hear and

Luke 1:38 NLT

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38 NTV

38 María respondió: —Soy la sierva del Señor. Que se cumpla todo lo que has dicho acerca de mí. Y el ángel la dejó.

I think in that very moment Mary becomes Jesus’ first disciple, because she's willing to do whatever is required of her for her savior. It reminds me of the song “Mary did you know” and the line that says “This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.” Mary knew, and her response shows the willingness of her heart. A true disciple serves the Lord with their heart. Through the willingness of this servant we all get to witness the willingness of The Savior.

A Willing Savior

Jesus took the most humble form to enter this world. A helpless baby. All to grow up and die for each and every one of us. So as we take time to reflect I want you to think about what God might be asking you do in service to Him this season. Will you respond like Mary did and say “I am the Lord’s servant”? God is ready to anoint and equip you to do the things he’s called you to do, but are you willing? Come to him with a pure heart, pure intentions and he will speak to you.

Philippians 2:5–8 NLT

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5–8 NTV

5 Tengan la misma actitud que tuvo Cristo Jesús. 6 Aunque era Dios, no consideró que el ser igual a Dios fuera algo a lo cual aferrarse. 7 En cambio, renunció a sus privilegios divinos; adoptó la humilde posición de un esclavo y nació como un ser humano. Cuando apareció en forma de hombre, 8 se humilló a sí mismo en obediencia a Dios y murió en una cruz como morían los criminales.

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