Characters at the Cradle: Mary, An Introduction to Gabriel, Mary, and Joseph

by David Chadwick

This week, we will continue to look at some more characters whose lives had profound intersections with the cradle of Jesus. Over the past two weeks, we studied Zechariah and Elizabeth.

This week, we study Mary, the mother of Jesus. But in order to understand Mary, we have to understand Gabriel and Joseph as well.

After Gabriel visited Zechariah with the amazing news that his wife would give birth to a baby named John (the Baptist), God gave him a second assignment. He told him to go visit a young virgin girl named Mary in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. She was betrothed to a man named Joseph who was from the house of David. In those days, the betrothal time was a set apart year-long period during which a couple could get to know one another before marriage.

In order to fully understand the significance of Mary and Joseph, you must know these two important biblical truths. First, Mary was a virgin. She had to be a virgin in order to fulfill the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. The Christ child had to be conceived by the Holy Spirit to a virgin woman in order to bypass the way that Adam’s sin was transmitted through humanity ever since the Fall in Genesis 3. Secondly, Joseph had to be in the household of David in order to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage (Jeremiah 23:5).

Joseph, too, is an important part of the story. Gabriel appears to him in Matthew’s gospel to assure him that Mary is impregnated by the Holy Spirit. He obeyed and must have been a great father.

Gabriel, the same angel that appeared to Zechariah, also appeared to Mary saying, “Greetings, O favored one.” He announced the coming Messiah, telling Mary she would have a son named Jesus, which means Savior, for he will save the world of its sins. Jesus would be the Son of the Most High God. He would reign over Israel and God’s Kingdom.

Mary was a Godly woman, likely a young teenager, who was specifically chosen by God to carry out a very important mission. She was not perfect, as Catholics assume, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But I do think she should be honored more than many Protestants tend to honor her.

Much like Zechariah, Mary was troubled, startled, and overwhelmed. Mary wondered, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” This question is profound, and I will help answer it tomorrow. Stay tuned.