I never cease to marvel at how favoured Mary was. She was a young, unknown peasant girl living in a small village in remote corner of the Roman Empire. Yet, to use a Greek theological term, she was theotokos – the God bearer. I wonder how much she took in of what the angel said to her. The angel referred to:
Jesus the Saviour
His actual words were: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” (verse 31). “Jesus” in Hebrew or Aramaic means “Yahweh is salvation.”
This makes a hugely important point: Salvation fundamentally is relationship. It leads to religious and moral behaviour but it is primarily relationship – relationship between an individual and God, relationship between the Christian community and God.
That’s why the first and greatest commandment is to love God wholeheartedly. Many people (including some church attenders) have religion but don’t enjoy a relationship with God. God holds out his hand constantly to us, inviting us to take hold of it and to walk with him.
Salvation is relationship with God.
Then the angel referred to:
Jesus the Son
He said: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (verse 32)
There is only one God but he is three persons – Trinity. For all eternity, before the creation of humanity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit loved each other. They were united in that infinite and eternal love. God is love
Salvation is being caught up in the love of the Trinity. It is being caught up into the divine family and experiencing that infinite, eternal love which has always characterised God.
However, indescribable and ultimate pain struck at the heart of the Trinity when Jesus, the incarnate Son died in agony on the cross, bearing our sins. Such is God’s redeeming love for us.
Finally the angel referred to
Jesus the Sovereign
“The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (verses 32-33)
Jesus is Lord, he has divine sovereignty.
Salvation is:
- accepting the rule of God
- experiencing the victory of God
- enjoying the protection of God
- always and in all circumstances
Are you enjoying it? Are you enjoying him? If not, take the hand he offers you and walk with him in faith, trusting him always.
© Tony Higton: see conditions for reproduction