Tag Archives: Gabriel

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Christmas, Scriptures, , , , , ,

Naturally, Mary was surprised by angel Gabriel’s visit.. Even after the angel assured her she was highly favored and she was blessed among women, she was still frightened.

028-028-angel-gabriel-appears-to-mary-full

 

“Fear not,” said the Gabriel, “for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. And he shall be great.” The angel told Mary the many great things Jesus would be. That’s a lot of pressure. Mary asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”

The angel concluded, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

800px-Gospel_of_Luke_Chapter_1-16_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media)She would need those words. She traveled to her cousin Elisabeth. As previously mentioned, their visit was an uplifting one.

 

And Joseph, her betrothed, would also need to know Mary was pregnant. And she was not carrying his child. She was not married. How would he react?

 Joseph’s Reaction:

nativity-mary-joseph-1102819-galleryIt was a shock when Joseph found out his fiancé was pregnant. What could he do about it?

 

The Bible describes Joseph as a “just man, and not willing to make her [Mary] a public example, was minded to put her away privily.” This meant he didn’t want Mary to face public humiliation. He “desired to release or divorce her secretly.” This also meant Joseph really respected women.

Deep in thought, he had a dream where an angel appeared and said, “Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”Anton_Raphael_Mengs_-_The_Dream_of_St._Joseph (2)

 

Joseph must have been relieved Mary was faithful to him. But since she was carrying a son that was “to save his people from their sins” that meant Jesus would need to be raised very well. Could you imagine the responsibility Joseph must have felt knowing he was to be the guardian of the Son of God?

But Joseph was up for it. He “did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him.” He married Mary. He was obedient to God’s commandments as well as a law abiding citizen

Because Caesar Augustus decreed his empire should be taxed and the citizens go to the place of the heritage, Joseph needed to go to Bethlehem.

Joseph had to travel to pay taxes and take his pregnant wife, who was carrying a baby-who would be the Savior of the World- safely to Bethlehem. Joseph had a lot on his mind. Perhaps he also had in mind the saying the angel brought to Mary: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Joseph would need both physical and spiritual strength to make the journey.

nativity-travel-bethlehem-958673-gallery (1)

 

 

 

King James Version of Bible
Matthew 1 and footnotes
Luke  1, 2

 

 

All photographs from lds.org–Media library : https://www.lds.org/media-library
and https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/?lang=eng

The Aunnunciation: The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary  (lds.org)

Mary and Elizabeth-_by_Sweet_Media

“The Dream of St. Joseph” (circa 1770s) by Anton Raphael Mengs.

 

 

 

Elisabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

Christmas, Scriptures, , , , , , , , , ,

Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, were good people. They were in their golden years and had been faithful to the Lord, and, yet, nothing could fully prepare them for the news from the angel, Gabriel. Zacharias was probably the most shocked.

While doing his priestly duties in the temple, Gabriel appeared to him privately. Understandably, Zacharias was also “troubled.” The angel started out with his usual greeting of “Fear not.” The angel went on.  “For thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,  and thous shalt call his name John.”

The news was too much for Zacharias. This was impossible. He and his wife were very old. Gabriel called these things “glad tidings” and still Zacharias was in a state of unbelief. Since he was in doubt, Gabriel told him, “Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

One could only imagine Elisabeth’s reaction when her husband came home speechless. Yet, she was grateful and accepting to carry a son who would eventually be known as John the Baptist.

Six months into her pregnancy, Mary visited her. At Mary’s greeting, “when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”Champaigne_visitation

At the moment, Elisabeth officially knew her cousin would give birth to the Son of God. Elisabeth said, “Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord could come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

Mary also acknowledged her gratefulness. “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiceth in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

This is an important part in scriptures seeing women interact and celebrating with each other. It also shows how much God is aware of women.

Mary helped Elisabeth for three more months before going back to her town.

And yes, Zacharias spoke  again at the naming of his son.

 

King James Version of Bible:
Luke Chapters 1 & 2
Photos from https://www.lds.org/bible-videos as well as the scriptural references and videos.
Painting: ” Visitation”, by Philippe de Champaigne