MARY and JOSEPH
MARY
Luke 1:26-28) [GNB] In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.
27) He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary.
28) The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
(NLT) Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
(NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
(BBE) And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.
QUESTION: What did Gabriel express to Mary?
ANSWER: She had been blessed with special favor from Almighty God, and God was with her in a unique way.
Luke 1:29-33) [GNB] Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what his words meant.
(BBE) But she was greatly troubled at his words,
(CEV) Mary was confused by the angel’s words
(GW) She was startled by what the angel said
(MSG) She was thoroughly shaken,
Concerning “deeply troubled,”
“to disturb wholly, that is, agitate (with alarm):” [Strong].
“to agitate greatly, trouble greatly” [Thayer].
“to agitate, trouble. To stir up throughout” [Word Study].
30) The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.
31) You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was,
33) and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
QUESTION: How did the angel’s message initially affect Mary?
ANSWER: She was “confused,” “startled,” “shaken,” “troubled,” “wholly disturbed,” “greatly agitated,” and “stirred up throughout.”
QUESTION: How did Gabriel respond to Mary’s confusion?
ANSWER: He assured her that God’s grace was with her.
QUESTION: What did the angel tell her about Jesus?
ANSWER: He would be the Son of God, He would assume David’s throne, and He would be the King of the Jews forever.
Luke 1:34-38) [GNB] Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”
35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.
36) Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.
37) For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
38) “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
QUESTION: How did the angel respond to Mary’s question of how it could happen?
ANSWER: He told her it that her pregnancy would be a result of God working a miracle through the Holy Spirit, and mentioned the pregnancy of Elizabeth to illustrate that God can do anything.
JOSEPH
Matthew 1:18-19) [GW] The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. His mother Mary had been promised to Joseph in marriage. But before they were married, Mary realized that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19) Her husband Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly.
QUESTION: What was Joseph’s response to Mary being pregnant?
ANSWER: He was going to break the engagement, but do it quietly so as to protect Mary.
Matthew 1:20-25) [GW] Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
21) She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins.”
22) All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true:
23) “The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
24) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife.
25) He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus.
QUESTION: What did God do to prevent Joseph from breaking his engagement to Mary?
ANSWER: He sent an angel to explain to Joseph what was really happening.
QUESTION: What did the angel tell Joseph about Jesus?
ANSWER: He would save people from their sins! He would fulfill Old Testament prophecy about Immanuel; that is, Jesus would literally be God with us!
QUESTION: What did the angel tell Mary about Jesus?
ANSWER: He would be the Son of God, He would assume David’s throne, and He would be the King of the Jews forever.
Mary:
Isaiah 9:6-7) [GW] A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7) His government and peace will have unlimited growth. He will establish David’s throne and kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The LORD of Armies is determined to do this!
Joseph:
Isaiah 7:14) [GW] So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel [God Is With Us].
NOTE: God seems to be telling Mary that her Son would fulfill O.T. prophecies regarding the coming king of the Jews, Who would reign forever. He seems to tell Joseph that Mary’s Son would fulfill O.T. prophecies regarding the coming God-man, the Savior of the world.