Luke 1:26-30, “Blessed Art Thou Among Women”

Let’s meditate on the announcement to Mary made by the Lord through the angel Gabriel in Luke 1. Gabriel was the Lord’s primary messenger angel.  We say this because, for one thing, we are told his name. For another, he is mentioned by name twice in Daniel 8-9, to whom he appears twice to explain to Daniel his dreams.  He also appeared to Zecharias, father of John the Baptist.  And I’m not sure where all the other angels stand and await their orders to do God’s bidding, but Gabriel “stands in the presence of God” (Lk. 1:19). 

He comes to Mary, an insignificant woman in the eyes of the world, but one who is highly blessed by God.  Of Mary we are told two things about God’s grace: she was “highly favored” (1:18) and now she had “found favor with God.”  Both words come from the root “charis” which is the word for grace.  Prior to Gabriel’s coming Mary had been the recipient of much grace from the Lord; and now, with Gabriel’s presence, Mary was given more grace.  What does this mean?

First, we accept the classic definition of “grace,” that it is God’s “undeserved favor.”  It is God’s goodness given to people who are undeserving.  We do not see God giving His grace to His Son.  He was in no way “undeserving.”  He was worthy of all the goodness of His Father.  Rather, Jesus suffered according to the will of His Father.  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief (Isa. 53:10). He shed His blood on the cross on behalf of sinners.  The Father loved His Son but to be loved by someone is not the same as to be shown grace.  Love is unconditional.  Grace requires a condition of undeservedness.

God gives grace to that people can be and do that which will bring glory to Him.  Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Gen. 6:8).  In a totally wicked world Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation (6:9).  So why did he receive grace?  It was because God had a huge task for him.  The same can be said of Mary: she found grace in the Lord for the task ahead that would not be easy.  In fact, apart from God’s omnipotent help, her task would be impossible (Lk. 1:37).  Mary is the “posterchild” for James 4:6. First, James says, God gives more grace.  That was true of Mary.  Then James says, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  God does not give grace or more grace to those who will use it to bring glory to themselves.  But God had already been gracious to Mary, and she had received that grace by faith, so that the Lord was with her, and she was “blessed among women.”  Now God was going to use Mary to facilitate the Incarnation.  For that task, she would need, and would be given, more grace.

Here is a wonderful thought.  Mary found grace to bring the Child into the world, and thus, the grace of God that brings salvation appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14).