Luke 1:29-33
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Gabriel repeated to Mary she had found favor with God. The words meant Mary had become the recipient of a gift bestowed on her by a superior, by God Himself. This phrase did not point out any special virtue in Mary; she was not sinless.

Some have suggested Mary was favored because of who she was, she had in herself grace to bestow on others. They have also suggested she remained a virgin forever. Scripture gives a different understanding! God chose Mary, blessed her and she unpretentiously accepted His call to be the mother of Jesus. She went on to have other children (Luke 8:19; Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3).

Gabriel explained this child would grow in her womb, be born as all human children are born and be named Jesus. This son will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest. The word “Son” was an Old Testament designation of the Messiah. God would miraculously create a human child who would actually be His Son, the long-awaited Savior (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:9-16; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; 11:1-3).

Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. This was a common name, meaning “Jehovah saves.” Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land, so Jesus would lead His people into eternal life. The symbolism of Jesus’ name was not lost on the people of His day, who took names seriously and saw them as a source of power. In Jesus’ name people would be healed, demons would be banished, and sins would be forgiven.

God’s favor does not automatically bring instant success or fame.

God’s blessing on Mary, the honor of being the mother of the Messiah, would lead to much pain: her contemporaries would ridicule her; her fiancé’ would consider leaving her; her son would be rejected and crucified.

But through her son would come the world’s only hope! This is why Mary has been praised by countless generations as the young girl who “found favor with God.”

Mary’s submission was part of God’s plan to bring about salvation.

If sorrow weighs you down and dims your hope, think of Mary and wait patiently for God to finish working out His plan.