anniel

I think of a couple of things about the virgin conception. First, Mary's body was a holy vessel for carrying God's Son as she had never been with a man. It was also important that she be a virgin so that no man could claim Jesus was the son of a man. Finally, the fact that Mary conceived that which is fully human about Jesus and God supplied that which was fully God made Jesus the perfect God/man to provide salvation.

Mary's response was one of faith... of knowing that with God all things are possible and wondering how this applied to her. Zechariah's response was one that required God to prove Himself before Zechariah would believe. What a difference. A priest who ministered before the altar of God and who knew God's word and work verus a teenager, a girl, a peasant who did not have those advantages.

Perhaps the greatest birth announcement ever given. This god-loving and god-fearing teen would, by the power of God, become pregnant with a son who she would call Jesus (Messiah). He was the child that Israel had been waiting for and he would be a great man and known as the Son of El Elyon. He would be The King over the house of Jacob on the never ending throne of David.