We started our journey through the life of Jesus by meeting Zechariah (meaning “God remembers”) and Elizabeth (meaning “God is my promise”) from the tribe of Levi.
Zechariah was a priest, and Elizabeth was his Godly wife who more than anything wanted a child, but there was no way a barren old woman would ever have a child. so they’d lost hope their prayers would be answered. That is until the day Gabriel (meaning “mighty man of God”) appeared to Zechariah in the holy place beside the altar of incense (symbolizing prayer) and told him they would give birth to a son.
And now we’re traversing through the life of Jesus in eight parts including 229 events. We have 228 left and No. 2 is the appearance of Gabriel to Mary with a story similar to the one he told Zechariah six months before he appeared to Mary.
Elizabeth is too old and barren, Mary is too young and unmarried. Two impossible stories summed up in Luke.
“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
— Luke 1: 28
Now if you’re one of those who grew up having trouble coloring inside the lines, meet a God who colors outside the lines and a pregnant young virgin whose name means “beloved rebellion.”
Mary, in Hebrew, means “beloved” with roots in the Egyptian “mara” meaning “rebellion.” So this young unmarried virgin will have a baby outside all the lines laid down by Jewish law. Mark Lowry wrote a song about this impossible, incredible birth.
“Mary, did you know That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?”
Having answered the prayers of a barren old couple who wanted a baby, now God sends Gabriel to a very young unmarried virgin who doesn’t want a baby saying in Luke:
“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus (meaning “Yahweh saves”).”
— Luke 1: 31
But is his name really Jesus?
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga.
