by Timothy W. Burnett
The earlier known Greek word for �virgin� simply meant that she was a young woman. The question of whether she was a virgin according to our current standards is answered in verse 34, �Then said Mary unto the angel, �How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?�� Throughout the Old Testament there are scripture where the word know is used for that specific bonding between a man and woman which ultimately results in conception. In short, Mary was also a virgin according to our current standards.
To be espoused to Joseph meant she had already agreed to a marriage that had not actually occurred yet. According to Matthew 1:24-25, Joseph did eventually take Mary to be his wife. Their marriage would have been sealed that night by joining together in a way that would normally result in conceiving a child. According to verse 25, he did not actually conceive a child in Mary because she was already carrying her first born son.
Returning to the record in Luke, the angel told Mary that she would conceive in her womb and eventually give birth to a son. She was instructed to name him Jesus. The word Jesus was translated from the same Hebrew name given to Joshua the son of Nun. It basically meant �God is with us.� Just as Joshua did God�s will, so also did Jesus Christ do God�s will.
Next the angel said, "And behold thy cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son..." (verse 36). The word "conceive" is the same word used in verse 31. It is important to understand that both John and Jesus were conceived in the womb of a woman. The big difference was that Jesus was miraculously conceived by God in heaven, making him the son of God and not the son of a man.
We move on to verse 37 where Gabriel made the following declaration, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." As important as these words stand, they have lead to great confusion. Imagine the stumbling block a young believer faces after reading Hebrews 6:18, "...in which it is impossible for God to lie." If it is impossible for God to lie, then how could nothing be impossible with God? Why the apparent contradiction?
The word "nothing" was translated from an earlier known Greek word that meant "no word." The word "impossible" came from another word that meant "void of power." Gabriel exhorted her to have confidence and trust that God�s word is never void of power. What a tremendous truth!
Finally, we come to Mary's humble and meek response, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to your word." When God gave His word, Mary had the meekness to believe it, and the humility to receive what was promised. It would have been at that time that Jesus Christ was conceived in her womb.
Jesus Christ would have learned from Mary and Joseph how to walk with God. They would have been great examples and teachers of meekness and humility toward God his Father. We can see this in Matthew 26:39 where he meekly said, "...not as I will, but as you will." God chose only the best to rear his son.
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