34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
In verses 34 to 38, Mary miraculously conceived a son.
1:34
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Mary questioned how she could have a child as a virgin, since she had not had sexual relations with a male human being. Mary’s response was not one of doubt but of how it would happen; a virgin birth of a child was inconceivable to her. Her response was one of astonishment, not unbelief. Her question was “how,” not whether.
1:35
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;
Gabriel told Mary that she would not conceive by intercourse with a man but by supernatural means; “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” The power of the sovereign God “will overshadow you”; overshadow carries the idea of surround or encompass. The Holy Spirit would surround Mary to produce a virgin birth. God would give Mary a baby by His creative power.
therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The title “Son of God” shows that Jesus is God’s Son. Sometimes, the New Testament uses this title for the Messiah (Ro 1:3-4). He is the Son of God, who was the Messiah.
God’s Son is “Holy” in the sense that He is set apart from any other human being; God set Him aside for a unique purpose.
1:36
Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age;
Gabriel now revealed to Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant. Mary’s pregnancy was the second of two movements here by God upon women. Mary thought that Elizabeth was beyond childbearing years, so it surprised her that she was pregnant “in her old age.”
and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
The angel told Mary that Elizabeth had been pregnant for six months. God was about to do something special with Elizabeth’s son, who would become the formal herald of the coming Messiah.
1:37
For with God nothing will be impossible.”
These two unique pregnancies show God was at work to fulfill His purpose for humanity by providing the herald of the Messiah and the Messiah Himself in short order. Nothing is impossible with God because He has unlimited power (Gen 18:14 (LXX). Both Elizabeth’s and Mary’s conceptions were miracles. God is not limited to the laws of nature like finite human beings: He can bring about the miracles of a woman beyond her years bearing a child and of a baby born by virgin birth.
1:38
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!
Mary affirmed her service to the Lord. She wanted the will of God no matter what it might cost her.
Let it be to me according to your word.”
Mary responded to Gabriel with faith. Her response to God’s work was the opposite of Zechariah’s. Mary trusted God for whatever might happen to her.
And the angel departed from her.
The angel’s departure concluded the account of the announcement to Mary.
PRINCIPLE:
Those who believe in God’s promises are the most likely to embrace His providence in their lives.
APPLICATION:
Mary’s response to God was one of belief of and praise to God. She did not doubt that God would keep His Word, regardless of whether she could fully understand it. She believed and then accepted the providence of God for her life.
