In Luke's story of the Annunciation, we have thus far made observations about character qualities of Mary, the woman God chose to bear his Son. For the next several days, we will expand the text of our meditation to Luke 1.26-56, and our focus will be on the two proclamations made in this passage.The first proclamation is an announcement of the King. Gabriel delivered this message to Mary. She will bear a son and name him Jesus ("God saves"). People will recognize his greatness and call him "Son of God." He is the promised Davidic King who will rule forever over God's eternal Kingdom. Since Mary is a virgin, the Child will be conceived by divine intervention, and so he will be holy, God's own Son.
The angel's words provide rich material for meditation, and this we will do in days to come. Suffice it now to say that the true focus of this passage is on Jesus himself—who he is and his royal vocation. Mary's hope and the hope of the world is a Person, a Child who will be born to fulfill the First Testament promises of Messiah, the "Offspring of the Woman" (Genesis 3.15) who will crush sin, evil and death forever.
The second proclamation is made by Mary herself in the song we call the "Magnificat." It is an announcement of the Kingdom. In verses 46-55, the Virgin praises God by describing the mighty acts that bring about his rule in the new creation. Her words define and describe the nature of God's reign—God is Savior, who bestows his grace and mercy on the lowly, and brings down the proud and powerful with his mighty arm. He keeps his covenant promises and displays his faithfulness.
The King and the Kingdom. God's rule has arrived in the Person who will exercise dominion over God's new creation forever. This is the message of Advent and Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment