L U K E 1:26–33 (NIV)
“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.”
REFLECTION:
While Mary was engaged to Joseph, an angel announced that God had graciously chosen her to bear a Son. His name was to be Jesus. In Hebrew, this name means "Savior."(1) He will be called the Son of God, and to Him, would be given the throne of David. Although the word Messiah is not used in the text, the angel announces the birth of God's Messiah. His kingdom will be forever.
Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted: The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982)
1 I. Howard Marshall, "Luke," in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 982.