God’s plan coming to fulfillment

God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary in the town in Nazareth. Gabriel was not unfamiliar; described as the guardian angel of Israel; he appeared in ancient Hebrew writings and in the Old Testament when he gave insight to the prophet Daniel concerning his visions. We know Gabriel as a messenger – an awe-striking messenger. He terrified Daniel, caused Zechariah to be gripped with fear, and greatly troubled Mary.

Nazareth, before its recording here, was not mentioned in the Old or New Testament – or in rabbinical writings or works of the historian Josephus. It was an insignificant village, miles away from the Sea of Galilee, with no major roads, and with water supplied by a single underground spring. Consisting of a population of about 500, the conservative town that clung to traditional Jewish culture was held in contempt by some in first century Palestine.

The angel Gabriel came to a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. Her name was Mary. It is not incidental that Mary’s name was the third thing listed in her introduction in scripture. First, she was a virgin, a fact indisputably necessary for the mother of the Messiah. Second, she and Joseph had a formal prenuptial contract, a 12-month agreement that could only be broken by a divorce decree. Gabriel’s news would definitely challenge the man. Mary’s future depended on how Joseph responded.

Third, her name was Mary. While she had been simply a young girl in an unremarkable town, Gabriel told her that she was highly favored, that the Lord was with her, and that she had found favor with God. While scripture confirms her priestly lineage stemmed from Abraham, another requirement for the mother of the Messiah, she nevertheless fell short of the glory of God and needed a redeemer. Like so many parts of His story, Mary was the perfect unlikely choice for God’s remarkable plan.

When we look at Mary, there is a great deal to challenge and inspire us in our own walks of faith. Found in a humble village by Gabriel, the farthest distance she would ever travel was from Palestine to Egypt. Yet, her part in God’s plan was important and her story is known throughout the world. Although she questioned the angel, as a child of faith, she humbly submitted to and trusted in God’s plan for her. It is well worth considering Mary, the only person present both at the birth and also the death of Jesus; she witnessed His first and final breath. She courageously endured hardship and grief, faithful to her son and Savior. May we, like Mary, live humbly, step out boldly, and be faithful. May we have God’s vision for our own walks of faith to be part of His great plan and be used to bring the Light of the World into the darkness of those who need him – wherever they are.