Scriptures for Today
Luke 1:26-38
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Introduction — The Book of Luke
The book of Luke gives a detailed and orderly account of the life of Jesus Christ. Luke focuses on accuracy, sequence, and making things clear so you can understand exactly what happened. This is not vague storytelling—this is a precise record.
This also connects directly to everything God promised in the Old Testament. From Genesis all the way through the prophets, God promised a Savior would come. Now in Luke, that promise is no longer future—it is happening in real time.
Luke is showing you the exact moment when the plan of God to bring Jesus Christ into the world begins to unfold step by step.
In this passage, we see the announcement of Jesus Christ being born through Mary. This is not just information about a birth—it is a call to surrender to the will of God. The way Mary responds becomes the example.
What Happened Before This? (Luke 1:1-25)
Before this, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him that John the Baptist would be born. Zacharias questioned the message and did not believe what God said. Because of that, he was made unable to speak.
Now you have a contrast being set up. One person hears from God and doubts, while another is about to hear and respond differently. That contrast matters as you move into this passage.
This ties directly into the entire Bible. God has always spoken, and people either believe Him or reject Him. You see that pattern over and over again.
Now in Luke 1, you are seeing that same pattern again—but this time it is connected to the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.
Sent From God — To Nazareth
Luke 1:26
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
“In the sixth month” refers to Elisabeth’s pregnancy, showing this is continuing the same timeline. The angel Gabriel is sent directly from God, which means this message carries full authority. This is God speaking through Gabriel.
Nazareth is not a prestigious place. It is a low, overlooked city, and that shows how God works. He does not choose based on human status or reputation.
To a Virgin — In the Line of David
Luke 1:27
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Mary is clearly identified as a virgin, which is essential to what is about to happen. She is espoused to Joseph, meaning they are legally bound but have not come together physically. This sets up the reality of the virgin birth.
Joseph being of the house of David connects directly to prophecy. The Messiah had to come through David’s line, and this establishes that connection.
2 Samuel 7:12-13
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
This is the promise being fulfilled right here. The Messiah was always going to come through David, and now that is happening exactly like God said.
Highly Favoured — The Lord Is With Thee
Luke 1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Mary is called highly favoured, which means God has chosen her for a specific purpose. This does not make her sinless or worthy of worship. It means she has been selected by God to be used.
The key phrase is “the Lord is with thee.” That is what makes the difference. God’s presence is what matters, not the person being elevated above others.
Troubled — But Thinking
Luke 1:29
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Mary is troubled by what she hears, which shows she understands the weight of the moment. She is not reacting casually or emotionally. She is thinking carefully about what is being said.
She considers the message instead of rejecting it or blindly accepting it. That shows attention and seriousness.
Fear Not — A Promise Given
Luke 1:30-31
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
The angel tells her not to fear because this is coming from God’s favor, not judgment. Then the message is given clearly—she will conceive and bring forth a son. The name is given again, and it is JESUS.
This is not left up to interpretation. God defines exactly what will happen and what the name will be.
Who He Is — The Son of the Highest
Luke 1:32-33
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
This child is not ordinary. He is the Son of the Highest, and He is connected to the throne of David. That ties Him directly to the promises made in the Old Testament.
His kingdom will not end, which shows this goes beyond a temporary reign. This is an eternal authority.
A Real Question — Not Doubt
Luke 1:34
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Mary asks how this will happen, and that is a reasonable question. She knows the natural process and understands that it does not apply here. She is not rejecting the message—she is asking for understanding.
This is different from unbelief. This is a question based on reality.
The Power of God — Not Man
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
The answer is completely supernatural. The Holy Ghost and the power of God are responsible for this conception. There is no human involvement in this process.
This confirms that Jesus is not just another man. He is called the Son of God because of how He is brought into the world. This goes all the way back to the very beginning.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Notice it says the seed of the woman. That is not normal language. This points forward to a birth that does not come through a man. That promise is being fulfilled right here.
Nothing Shall Be Impossible
Luke 1:36-37
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
God gives her a real example. Elisabeth, who was barren, is now pregnant. That shows God is already doing what seems impossible.
Then the statement is made clearly—nothing shall be impossible with God. That is the foundation for everything happening here. You see this all throughout the Bible.
Genesis 18:14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
This is not new. God has always shown that He can do what man cannot do. What looks impossible to people is nothing to Him.
Be It Unto Me — Full Surrender
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Mary’s response is complete surrender. She identifies herself as the servant of the Lord and accepts what God has said. There are no conditions and no hesitation.
“Be it unto me according to thy word” shows full submission to God’s will. That is the correct response to what God says.
This is the exact opposite of what you saw with Zacharias earlier in the chapter. He heard the word of God and doubted. Mary hears the word of God and submits. This is the dividing line. When God speaks, you either resist or you surrender.
Mary didn’t fully understand everything that would happen. She didn’t know all the details. But she trusted what God said.
Practical Applications
- God often works through ordinary people in overlooked places, just like Nazareth. He does not choose based on status, ability, or reputation.
- God’s plans are not limited by human ability. If He says something will happen, it will happen.
- Nothing is impossible with God. And that includes situations in your life that seem completely beyond repair.
- The right response to God is not delay, not questioning, and not partial obedience. The right response is full surrender to His word.
Conclusion
Mary was given a message that would completely change her life. It would bring difficulty, misunderstanding, and sacrifice. But she didn’t argue. She didn’t delay. She didn’t try to control the situation.
She simply said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” That is the example.
When God speaks, the question is not whether you fully understand everything. The question is whether you will submit to what He said. You either resist God, or you surrender to Him.
Let’s pray.
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