JY 9
January 9
Luke 1:26-33. The Angel's visit to Mary.
God appointed that his Son should be born six months after John. So six months after the angel had spoken to Zacharias, he came to Mary. She was a poor woman, of a low, poor city, called Nazareth. She was indeed descended from King David, who had lived more than a thousand years before, and she was engaged to be married to a man called Joseph, also descended from King David. It had been prophesied that the Son of God would be born among David's family. Isaiah calls the Saviour "A branch out of the stem of Jesse," (Isaiah 11:1,) for Jesse was the father of David. Jesse was like a tree, of which Jesus was a branch.
It seems probable that the angel visited Mary when she was alone. He said, "Greetings!" bidding her rejoice because a wonderful favor was about to be conferred on her.
The Roman Catholics pretend that the words "highly favoured" mean "full of grace;" and say, that Mary can now impart grace, and that the angel worshiped her. But we know that Mary was but a creature, and even a sinful creature, and that it is idolatry to treat her as the Lord.
Mary was full of humility; and God loves to honour the humble. She was alarmed at the greeting of the angel; but she was told not to fear, and was informed of the wonderful event about to happen.
The Saviour so long expected was to be her son. He was to be called "Jesus," which signifies Saviour, and is the same name as Joshua. The angel said this Saviour would be a great king. Perhaps you will inquire, Was he not equal with God? was he not King of kings from everlasting? Yes—but the angel spoke of his greatness in his human nature. As a man, he was to be king; therefore it was said that "the Lord would give unto him the throne of his father David." He was to be King over the house of Jacob, that is, over the Jews, the descendants of Jacob. The words that were afterwards written over the cross were true, "The King of the Jews." But is he not King of the Gentiles also? Yes; he is—and the day shall come when every tongue will confess that he is Lord; and when every knee will bow to him. (Phil. 2.)
Of his kingdom there shall be no end. Other kingdoms have come to an end. Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream an image which represented all the kingdoms of the world—and he saw a little stone overthrow this image, and this stone become a mountain. (Dan. 2.) The stone represented Christ. He will bring all kingdoms to an end; and then he will be King over all the earth. (Zec. 14:9.) Then there will be no more war, nor famine, nor misery; men will obey Christ's laws, and live in holiness and peace.
That day has not come yet. Very few people have submitted to Christ; very few seek to do his will. Christ is a king against whom his subjects have rebelled. But do you not think that a king loves his faithful subjects at such a time? How dear to him is their obedience, when others scorn him! Does our King and Saviour count us among his faithful subjects? Then he will acknowledge us when he comes in glory. This song shall soon be sung in heaven by believers—"We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, and was, and is to come; because you have taken to you your great power and have reigned." (Rev. 11.) Then He will give reward to those who fear his name, small and great.