Scripture: Luke 1: Verse 31
Six months after Elizabeth’s conception, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth. The apostle John states that Nazareth was a mean, despised, inferior, and unimportant place to live.
Mary lived in Nazareth when the angel appeared to her. She was a virgin, espoused to Joseph but they were not living together. Both of them were from the house and lineage of David. They were from humble origins, poor, of low estate and living in what may described as a ghetto ( el barrio) because of their social, political and economic standing in society. Nazareth was a city of violence, killings, gang fights, robberies and criminal activities similar to the experience of many towns and cities of today.
Because of the reputation of Nazareth, the people were stigmatized and they suffered discrimination, prejudice and injustice by others. The residents were prejudged as being criminals, mean, rough, tough, troublemakers and hoodlums.
Mary and Joseph were not like the ordinary Nazarene. They did not succumb to the daily pressures of life or yield to the temptations all around them in Nazareth. They were sober-minded and walked circumspectly.
Mary was a special person among all the women of Nazareth. She was chosen and singled out to be the mother of the Messiah. The angel appeared to Mary in her house and the salutation of the angel surprised her. The angel encouraged her not to be fearful for she had found favor and grace with God as follows: She shall conceive in the womb even though she was a virgin who never knew a man. She shall see the extra-ordinary and wonderful experience that was prophesized in Isaiah 7: 14. Jesus shall be great in His person as God and man, incarnate with a divine nature and a human nature. That Jesus would be holy and free from the original pollution and sin, in which all who descend from Adam are conceived, but in Jesus all shall be saved and made alive.
Mary listened to the message, believed and was willing to be used by God to accomplish His purpose and plan of salvation of the world.
When the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son to redeem the world from sin.
