Gabriel Visited Mary
The Gospels of Luke and Matthew are the only two Gospels that tell us anything about Jesus’ birth. Each of these two books give us a unique perspective on the Christmas events and, consequently, both help us understand the important things that took place regarding Jesus’ birth. Each Gospel provides information that’s not included in the other. In Luke 1:26-38, we read about the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary; the young woman who would become the mother of Jesus. This divine encounter revealed to Mary that she would conceive miraculously and give birth to a child who would be the long-awaited Messiah.
What Happened
Only Luke tell us about Gabriel’s visit to Mary that took place months before Jesus’ birth and even before Mary knew she was pregnant. Mary was living in Nazareth and was engaged to a man named Joseph. Gabriel explained that Mary would conceive and give birth to the “Son of the Most High.” Mary would understand that Gabriel was talking about the long-awaited Messiah. She also understood that Gabriel was telling her she would become pregnant BEFORE she and Joseph were married.
What an exciting but frightening announcement this must have been for Mary! Still, Mary was confused because she had never “been intimate with a man” (v. 34). Gabriel explained to Mary that she would conceive miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ birth would be a total miracle!
Gabriel went on to explain that Mary’s “relative Elizabeth,” was also pregnant “in her old age” (v. 36). Elizabeth’s son (John the Baptizer) would also be a miracle baby, but not in the same way as Jesus. Jesus would have only one physical parent (Mary) while John the Baptizer would have two physical parents (Zechariah and Elizabeth). John’s conception was miraculous because Elizabeth was old and beyond the age of child-bearing. Jesus’ conception was miraculous because there was no physical father involved.
The Virgin Conception and “Gabriel Visited Mary”
The story of how Gabriel visited Mary is one of many ways in which the New Testament (and the entire Bible) affirms Jesus’ miraculous conception. The Bible is very clear at this point; Jesus was conceived miraculously so His pedigree was both physical (Mary) and spiritual (the Holy Spirit). This unique pedigree would lay the foundation for a new kind of people (Christians) who would be born both physically and spiritually (John 3:5-6).
Luke certainly understood that people (then and now) would be skeptical about the notion of Jesus’ virgin conception. But he also understood the importance and necessity of the virgin conception if God is creating a new kind of people. He included this story of Gabriel’s visit to Mary so his readers would understand this important claim. This is, therefore, an important story for children to learn in order for them to develop the firm, biblical conviction that Jesus was born of a virgin and, therefore, had a unique pedigree.
You can find all of the activities related to Gabriel’s Visit to Mary here.
To read another helpful article about the virgin birth, go here.
