Luke 1:26–38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

What is happening? How can this be? There must be some mistake. I can’t be pregnant. Those sentiments have been shared by young ladies and women millions of times in the history of the world. The distress and trauma and anxiety is unbearable. But one case is different from all the rest. All those other women who had these thoughts had been impregnated through sexual activity with a man. But Mary was truly a virgin. Her incredulity was well-founded. So what was the explanation? “The power of the Most High.” A little later, the angel tells Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, is pregnant in her old age. And then Gabriel offers this truth: “For nothing is impossible with God.”

There is a song that asks “Mary did you know…?” While she certainly was not privy to all the details of what would happen to her Son, she did know who He was. This was God made man, come to earth to buy us back from sin and death and give us restoration and peace with the Father.

Mary’s faith and confidence in God’s power is plainly stated:  “I am the Lord’s servant … May it be to me as you have said.”

Lord, help us to trust you as Mary did.

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood, By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh — Woman’s Offspring, pure and fresh.

Here a maid was found with child Yet remained a virgin mild.
In her womb this truth was shown God was there upon His throne.

Then stepped forth the Lord of all From his pure and kingly hall;
God of God, yet fully man, His heroic course began.

God the Father was His source, Back to God He ran His course.
Into hell His road went down, Back then to His throne and crown.

For you are the Father’s Son, Who in flesh the vict’ry won.
By Your mighty pow’r make whole All our ills of flesh and soul.

From the manger newborn light Shines in glory through the night.
Darkness there no more resides; In this life faith now abides

Glory to the Father sing, Glory to the Son, our king,
Glory to the Spirit be Now and through eternity.

(Lutheran Service Book #332)