As Caleb ate the evening meal, he could all but feel the rush from his daughter as he did. Her anticipation for them to get done, so they could continue to talk about all that had happened with Mary. And as the meal was done, and the plates and bowls were put away, he watched as all hurried to gather around him again.
“I so love to see your excitement to hear more about our Savior! As you have a desire to feed more on His Word than you did on that meal! Abigail, I want to get back to all you asked me last night about Mary. And to be able to share with you all the amazement of her story!”
On saying this, Caleb reached out for his daughter, Abigail, and took her hand drawing her near. And as he did, the rest of the family made their way around Caleb also. “Last night, we talked about how Gabriel came to Mary. Tonight, I would love to tell you what brother Luke told me that Mary was told as Gabriel was sent by God to her. Gabriel started by telling her that she would conceive a son in her womb, and that she was to name Him Jesus(Luke 1:31). In Gabriel’s words, we do not see him focused on Mary, but on her son, where all of our focus should be. And where Mary knew her focus should also be. As she heard these words, the words of Isaiah must have been running through her mind. ‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.’(Isaiah 7:14). Mary would have realized in his words, that her conceiving this Son was not about her having intimate relations with a man, but would be the most intimate thing she could ever experience, as the Holy Spirit would place this child directly within her. In her womb, she would hold and nourish for nine months the hope of this world. Because through her womb, the Lord would become flesh, so He could deal with all the sin man had known. Because in her womb, God’s perfect justice and God’s perfect grace, would perfectly form together as one(Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21).”
Caleb, with great passion, continued. “She was told to call her son, Jesus. Not only was she told to call Him by this name, but Matthew told me that Joseph was told the same, as an angel appeared to him in a dream(Matthew 1:21). “Abba, may I ask”, his son Uri inquired of him, “why Jesus? So many have been given that name. What would He have not been given a very unique name?” With only a slight pause, Caleb looked at Uri with a smile and said. “Christ did not come to be seen as higher in stature, or from a unique crowd of men. He came so He could be among common men, as He would walk each day among all men. And what better way could this be done than by giving Him a common name? He was to be called Jesus(actually Joshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation, Yahweh saves”), because glory would not be seen in just His name, but in His Godly words and actions. And from those words, from those actions, would come His many real names. Names like Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace(Isaiah 9:6).”
And as he saw Uri nod in understanding, Caleb then continued, “Gabriel then confirmed all this for Mary, telling her just how great the Son of God she carried would be(Luke 1:32-33). Telling her that her Son would be El Elyon, the Most High God, the name above all names. He told her that her Son would be given the throne of David, and would reign over the house of Jacob, as His kingdom would never end. As a throne needs a king, and a king needs a kingdom, her Son would be the King of kings and the Lord of lords(1 Timothy 6:15), whose kingdom would be without boundaries, and whose reign would last forever(Revelation 11:15).”
As Caleb fought back the tears that came over him from the power of the words he was led to speak, he then told all about how Mary would respond(Luke 1:34). “On hearing all this, Mary, found herself confused by all she has heard, as for her to be pregnant was inconceivable to her understanding. And with this, she asked Gabriel the question, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ Gabriel quickly and thoroughly answered her, telling her that the Holy Spirit would come on her, and His power would overshadow her, and from this she was to call this holy Child the Son of God.”
Caleb paused, and took a moment to look into the eyes of his daughters and his daughters-in-law, before he spoke again directly to them. “My four precious daughters, think about what this is telling you for a moment. The Holy Spirit overshadowed her, He covered her like a cloud completely surrounding and encompassing her, like what had happened to all at the Transfiguration(Mark 9:7), a visible manifestation of the glory and power of our Lord God. What would happen with Mary was not a virginal birth, as Jesus would be born like all men, like all of us have been. What happened with Mary was one of the greatest miracles of history, a virginal conception.” As they heard this, Sarah, his daughter, asked Caleb a question. “Abba, why did Gabriel bring silence to Zacharias for asking a question, but not to Mary, did not they both ask the same question? Wondering how could this be possible?” Caleb thought for a second, then answered. “Sarah, Zacharias asked his question out of a lack of belief, Mary asked her question out of a faith filled with wonder.”
Caleb then looked up at all again. “Gabriel then spoke words to Mary to reinforce all he had told her, to show her that nothing is impossible with the Lord we serve(Luke 1:36-37). Gabriel tells Mary that Elizabeth is not only pregnant, but now six months pregnant. She would have known the situation her cousin had been in. Her age, her desire to have a child, but the fact she was past the age where it was believed she could conceive. But in hearing these words, Mary’s own faith would increase(Romans 10:17), and she would realize that no word spoken from our Lord shall be powerless. Mary could hold tight to the confidence that no word from the Lord God can fail(Mark 10:27). Then Mary, in hearing these words, acknowledges the truth that she knows that Gabriel has spoken to her. Telling him to let it be done to her according to the words the Lord had sent him to speak to her(Luke 1:38). Mary’s words, spoke four words to our Lord, ‘Thy will be done’(Matthew 6:10). And on hearing these words, Gabriel knew his mission was complete, and departed from Mary.”
On hearing all Caleb had spoken, his family sat in silence until Sarah spoke up to ask Caleb another question about Mary. “Abba, I have heard people say that Mary lived her life sinless after conceiving Jesus. Is that true? Did she never know sin?” On hearing this, Caleb smiled as he began to answer. “My precious daughter, Mary was no different from you and me, she had a sinful nature(Romans 3:23). Mary was as much human as you and I are. As Mary stood there looking up at her Son on the Cross that day(John 19:25-27), she not only cried with sorrow for her child, she wept with joy for her Savior.”
As Caleb finished, the silence returned to his family. Not a silence that found them without anything to say, but a silence that left them longing to hear this story even more. And as Caleb looked at their faces, he quickly let them know. “Do not worry, we are far from being done talking about Mary! The evening after tomorrow, I will speak of her again, and let you know about the amazing visit she soon took!”
As Caleb and his family come together again, I hope you and your family will join with them also!
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