Luke 1:26-38 recounts the birth of Jesus and the prophecy of His kingdom. Following the news of John the Baptist’s birth to a barren Elizabeth, the boundaries of human understanding are further pushed beyond their limits. This account of Jesus’ birth is not only miraculous but also explores how Joseph and Mary are affected by God’s choice to carry out His plan.
God’s providence is evident in every aspect of our lives, from government and jobs to trials and circumstances. He is not silent or confused. The birth of John the Baptist to an elderly couple, now a miraculous event beyond human comprehension, is a testament to God’s power and wisdom.
What may seem even more miraculous than an elderly couple having a child is a virgin becoming pregnant. Just because we don’t understand them or can’t explain them doesn’t invalidate them. You don’t have to explain it to believe it. That’s a good portion of Scripture—it’s beyond human comprehension.
In the ancient days, encounters with God were not uncommon for those whom the Lord chose to use. As new covenant believers, we have the Holy Spirit within us, but under the old covenant, the Lord spoke in many ways. For Mary, it was an angel, as with Elizabeth. Being perplexed about the statement, which would be understandable, the angel comforted her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God” (vs. 30). The angel then told her, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (vs. 31-33).
Her response, similar to Zachariah’s, was one of disbelief. The extent of human understanding is limited, so these responses shouldn’t be seen as a lack of faith. In fact, many of us doubt the care of the Lord because we can’t comprehend the trial or circumstance. Knowing she was a virgin, the fact of a virgin being pregnant was incomprehensible.
The angel told of Elizabeth and her pregnancy, which was equally hard to believe. The angel explained how this would happen. The final statement was one that required no response: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (vs. 37). John the Baptist was to be born to an old man and a barren woman, yet you would conceive even though you were a virgin.
No doubt much was difficult to understand, but Mary believed regardless of her complete comprehension of it: “May it be done according to your word” (vs. 38). I have often not understood circumstances in my life, nor have you. But what is most comforting to me is that God is sovereign and does nothing out of haphazard responses. Mary may not have understood, but she trusted God in what He was doing, and so should we.