1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Listen to the words of the angel. The angel calls Mary “highly favored!” Imagine that, an angel, a being who interacts with God. And that angel is telling a young girl named Mary that SHE is highly favored! I figure the angel is highly favored. The angel experiences God’s presence and person up close. But Mary has a much more important role than the angel. Angels are a dime a dozen. Mary is unique. There is only woman who will carry the Savior of the world. She is highly favored. God has shown grace to Mary. That is what being favored by God means. In order to have favor, God must be involved. God’s grace and His presence go hand in hand. Everywhere grace is, God is. When God shows up, grace shows up. And when God is there, wow, that is special. This is one of the great messages of Jesus’ coming. God would be present with us in a new way. Not only would Mary be highly favored, but we become highly favored when we accept His message and enter into relationship with Him, as Mary chose to do. Mary knew this message was a special message. Angels don’t show up and give ordinary messages. They show up and give life-changing, history-altering messages. No wonder Mary was greatly trouble at his words. She had a life mapped out in her head, just like all engaged people do. She pictured listening to the sounds of carpentry. She pictured the kids running around with homemade wooden toys. She certainly didn’t picture being a central figure in God’s history with mankind. It is like she suddenly found out that a distant relative left her their fortune and she never knew she had a rich relative. All of life changed for Mary that day. The day I became a Jesus-follower was a life changing day for me. And my life has not been the same since.
The Arnold Journey 