Extremely Favored
Luke 1:26-38

Some information tends to carry huge implications to our lives. Some news could change our lives drastically.  The visit to the Dr. as you wait the test results to find out you have a terminal disease.  A shooting at the school where your kids attends.  Sudden death of a loved one in a car accident.  These things are shocking, disturbing to your ears.
A young girl was planning a wedding; she was so excited, but one day she had an unexpected visitor who brought to her some disturbing news.  She may need to put the wedding on hold.
Can you imagine if you have been planning something for a while, and someone shows up and says to you.  You have to put your plans on hold; your plans will be delayed, there is something you have to do first.  This truly would make you uncomfortable.
This young girl was Mary.  God sent his angel Gabriel to deliver the news to her.  Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Luke 1:5-26, 36) God sent Gabriel to Mary.

Gabriel’s greeting:  Greetings you favored one, (you who are highly favored) The Lord is with you.
Mary had no idea what the angel meant.  She was perplexed, puzzled, troubled by this greeting.

The angel then explains to her the greeting and the reason he came. (v.30)
Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God.  This is great news.  God looks at you with favor, grace.
You will be with a 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, his kingdom will never end.

Mary I am here to tell you that you will be the mother of the Son of God, the savior of the world, the King of kings.
Mary’s response.(v.34)  I am not even married yet.  How can this be possible since I am a virgin?  Isa.7:14 A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.
Leave the impossible to God. (v.34-37)
God will take care of the details.  God’s Spirit will come upon you and his power will overshadow (envelop) take residence in you.  So, the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Even Elizabeth is going to be a mother in her old age, for nothing is impossible with God. (v.37)

The effect of this news!   It could have impacted Mary in many ways:
Her relationship with Joseph (How is he going to react?) What about Joseph?
Matthew’s account tells us that Joseph was going to divorce her.  Joseph did not believe Mary’s story and he was ready to leave her.  At least he did not want to make a big deal of it.  Joseph did not want Mary to suffer disgrace (embarrassment, shame), therefore, he was going to undo the engagement secretly.
What a pregnancy before marriage would mean for Mary!
– Considered an adulterer.
– Shame and ridicule (damage your family name).
– Death, Joseph could legally have Mary stoned to death if he so chose.

The angel said to Mary, you are highly favored by God, but this doesn’t mean the road will be easy. You are highly favored may mean that you must be willing to go against family, traditions, your feelings, culture and society and even your own reputation in order to do what God wants.
Noah found favor in the eye of the LORD (Gn.6:8). He still had to build the ark and go against people in his culture.
God asked Mary to be the mother of the Savior, but this carried lots of implications.

Mary’s attitude.
She placed herself at the Lord’s disposal.  “I am the Lord’s slave; May it be to me as you have said”  (Whatever comes my way I will do).  Mary surrendered her agenda to God.
Mary chose to trust God even when she didn’t understand how things will unfold in her life.  Mary was agreeing to God’s will and going against culture expectations.  Sometimes saying yes to God means saying no to your plans, to your own feelings.  Saying yes to Jesus means going against your own family and traditions. This is what Mary did.
May knew the implications of her saying yes to God.  Joseph could leave her, and she chose to trust God.  She could be killed or at least disowned by her family, but she chose to trust God in the midst of it all.
Mary trusted God even when her world was about to be shaken.
She was highly favored in being chosen by God to bear God’s son.

You too are highly favored by God. God has seen your condition and he sent you a savior; God gave you a gift even when you did not deserve one.  He loved the world in such a way that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  Never forget that you have been extremely favored by God in Jesus.
We’ll talk later, favored ones!