“You Who Are Highly Favored”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “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 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:26-33

The New Testament clarifies even further who this Son is. The angelic messenger appeared to Mary and identified the Christ-child in four ways. He would be the son of Mary, making Him fully human. He would be the Son of the Highest, which made Him fully divine. He would also be the Son of David, giving Him royal lineage. And He would bear the title of Son of God, giving Him equality with the Father in all things.

Our heavenly Father has given us His perfect, sufficient Son. O Come let us adore Him!

God’s love became incarnate at Bethlehem.

Our Daily Bread – December 19, 2013