“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel came to Mary, a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph…The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28) The Greek word for highly favored TOMMY, is “Kecharitōmenē” (pronounced key-car-it-oh-may-nay). If you translate it literally in English it means “you who have been graced.” This is the only time this form of the word is used in scripture.
Now you would think when she heard this she would shout and proclaim “I’m highly favored” by God but no, “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and WONDERED what kind of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:29) I think her reaction might indicate why God favored her, it was her humility. “…the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great, called the Son of the Most High…His kingdom will NEVER END.” “How will this be,” Mary asked, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called THE SON OF GOD.” (Luke 1:30-35) “After hearing all this Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! LET IT BE to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)
Although Mary is HIGHLY FAVORED she will face many challenges. Mary was promised to a local carpenter named Joseph. And she knows that according to God’s Law, a woman who is engaged to one man but who willingly has sexual relations with another man is to be STONED TO DEATH. Because who would believe God made her pregnant? Joseph does not want her to be stoned to death or to be disgraced publicly; so, he makes up his mind to DIVORCE HER SECRETLY. In those days, promised people were viewed as married, and a divorce was required to end an engagement. While Joseph was asleep. An angel appears to him in a dream and says: “Do not be afraid to take your wife Mary, for what has been conceived in her is by the HOLY SPIRIT. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”—(Matt. 1:20, 21).
Mary is nine months pregnant and rides on a donkey 80 miles, so the Son of God could be born in a barn and placed in an animal feeding trough. Jesus leaves His family business and goes out ministering and many miracles begin to happen. “When His family heard what was happening, they tried to take Him away. “HE’S OUT OF HIS MIND,” they said.” (Mark 3:21) Then another time, “Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him. They stood outside and sent word for Him to come out and talk with them. Someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around Him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.” (Mark 3:31-34) At this time His family DID NOT BELIEVE Jesus was the savior.
You might say “I wish I was highly favored” well, “…God SO LOVED the world (that’s you and me) that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes (that’s you and me) in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him MIGHT BE SAVED.” (John 3:16-17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham