The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Scripture
Luke 1:26-38
Similar Passage
Birth of John
Foretold
Commentary
Luke closely ties the birth of Jesus and John
the Baptist together. It is in the sixth month of her
relative Elizabeth's pregnancy that Gabriel appears to Mary.
Although the question sounds similar, what Mary
asks Gabriel is vastly different from what Zechariah asked him.
Zechariah asks for proof, as if the appearance of an angel to
announce the miracle was not proof enough. Instead Mary
asks "How can this be?" She is not questioning that the
miracle will happen. Instead she wants to know the
circumstances that will bring it about. Mary's immediate
acceptance of the situation are a testament to her character.
Even though Mary doesn't ask for further proof,
Gabriel offers another miracle as proof that God is working in
the situation. Elizabeth, who was well beyond child
bearing years, was in the sixth month of her pregnancy.
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