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The angel speaks to Mary

These must be the most profound announcements ever given in the history of the world. The message is from God Himself by none other than Gabriel, God’s top-ranking angelic messenger. The recipients are two godly women – Mary who’s quite young, and her relative, Elizabeth, who is old. The announcements themselves are unprecedented in history, biology and theology. God says that Mary, a virgin, will give birth to a child conceived by the Holy Spirit. And this child is no ordinary child but is the long-prophesied and expected Messiah, the ‘Son of the Most High' (NIV) – Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Elizabeth too has conceived and her child, John, will grow up to be the baptiser preparing the way for Jesus.

Can you imagine the joy, wonder and privilege these two women felt? This then eventually cascaded down to their families and through the nation of Israel to all the nations of the world. This is joy to the world! ( Luke 2:10).

Real joy is bigger than good things happening to good people. It’s the joy of life-giving sustainable promises and outcomes orchestrated and delivered by God. ‘For no word from God will ever fail’ (Luke 1:37 NIV). Can I encourage you to either commence or strongly continue a life of joy centred around the person and purposes of Jesus?

Written by JOHN SCOTT