Advent Day 1: The Annunciation

- The Messiah was to be born in David's family. Joseph was a descendant of David.
- Mary was young, female, and poor. Unlikely candidate for being the mother of the Messiah. But God chose Mary for one of the most important tasks ever: to raise up the Son of God. God chose a humble woman, in a lowly home, in an obscure village. God can and will use you if you trust Him and submit to Him, regardless of what ability, experience, education, or background you may have.
- "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Joshua" which means The Lord saves/Jehovah is salvation. Just as Joshua had led Israel into the promised land, Jesus would lead His followers into eternal life.
- God had promised David that his kingdom would last forever. "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16) This promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, whose reign shall continue throughout eternity.
- Mary's unhesitating acceptance demonstrated her devotion to God, faith, and obedience. She was willing to risk disgrace and divorce to comply with God's command. Disasters awaited. Her friends and neighbors would ridicule her. Her own fiance would come close to leaving her. Her parents could reject her. People could easily consider her crazy. Nevertheless, Mary humbly submitted to God's will.
- Mary believed the angel's words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances. She trusted God and knew that God is able to do the impossible. She just wanted to serve God ("I am the Lord's servant. May Your word to me be fulfilled") at all cost.
- Mary's submission was part of God's plan to bring about our salvation. Through her Son would come the world's only hope!
- Jesus was born without the sin that entered the world through Adam. He was born holy, conceived by the Holy Spirit, through a virgin. Jesus remained sinless (He always obeyed God) and was thus able to die in our place for our sins and make us acceptable to God.