The Point of the Gospel

Gabriel Visits Mary

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent Gabriel to Mary, a woman engaged to Joseph, a descendent of David. She lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.

“Greetings, Mary,” Gabriel said. “Do not fear. You have God’s approval and will bear a son. Name him Jesus. He will be of great importance and be called the Son of God. God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Jesus’ rule will never end.”

“How can this happen,” Mary asked, “since I am a virgin?”

“The Holy Spirit will bring this to pass, and the one born to you will be called holy. Your relation Elizabeth is six month’s pregnant despite her age. Nothing is impossible to God.”

Faithful to the Lord, Mary believed it would be as the angel said, and Gabriel left her. She went to visit Elizabeth. When the older woman heard Mary arrive, her baby rolled within her and the Holy Spirit came upon her.

“You are blessed, Mary, as is the child within you. Why does the mother of my Lord visit me? My child leaped joyously on hearing you. You did not doubt the angel’s tidings and are blessed.”

Mary praised God for taking  heed of her, though she had neither riches nor power, and doing such things that future generations would call her blessed. She stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and returned home.

The Point of the Gospel—next Friday on Joseph and Personal Thoughts (remember, these are written from the perspective of Imshalel, a character in my novel The Devoted of Imshalel) about conflicting narratives and mistakes. Yes, there are mistakes in the Bible. Read the creation story in Genesis.