Read Isaiah 7:10-14. TEXT: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to ... a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. .... (Luke 1:26a-27a).
As Elizabeth reaches the sixth month of her pregnancy, God sets the next phase of His mighty plan of salvation into motion. Once again He sends the angel Gabriel to deliver an important message. This time it's to a young virgin, a relative of Elizabeth who lives far to the north in a small, insignificant town called Nazareth.
The word "virgin" carries with it the thought of purity and innocence. It takes us back to the mother of the human race at the moment of her creation. Eve was holy, pure and innocent as she walked with her husband Adam in the Garden of Eden-at least before she met the serpent.
Sadly, Eve listened to the serpent's clever temptation and ate the forbidden fruit together with Adam. Stained by sin, they passed on their sinful condition to each of their children, including you and me. Now each of us is caught in that inescapable cycle. Since we are conceived and born of sinful parents, we inherit their sinful nature. And we cannot avoid passing it on to our children.
That is why it is necessary for God's Son to be conceived and born of a virgin descendant of Adam and Eve. Without a sinful human father, Jesus will be free of the sinful nature we inherit. His purity, holiness, and spotlessness make Him worthy to be our substitute and Savior. In His perfect life, death and resurrection, He will be able to make us pure and holy too. And since Jesus, God's only-begotten Son, has entered the human family of Adam and Eve, He is our brother. And God the Father can adopt us as His own dear children.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your plan to save the world through Your pure and holy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Zechariah 11-12 Revelation 2
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