Jesus as Emptied

Emptied into prophecy

…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. (26-27)

God had promised that through Abraham, all the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3) . David was a descendant of Abraham. Joseph was a descendant of David. History unfolded exactly as prophesied.

Emptied into a virgin

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. (28-29)

Imagine being a virgin, engaged to be married, and then an angel appears. It is no wonder she is confused and disturbed.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (29-33)

Why was Mary chosen? For one, a virgin birth had been prophesied. Second, if Mary had already had children, or had already had sex, then the world would always wonder if Jesus was the Son of of the Most High. A miracle had to be evident.

Emptied into a promise

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. (34-35)

God promised Mary she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. In this scene we see how the Triune God operates — God sends, Jesus mediates, and the Holy Spirit accomplishes. God the Father sent the promised Jesus. God the Spirit caused the pregnancy to happen.

Emptied into scandal

What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” (36-37)

Elizabeth’s story is told in Luke 1:1-15. She was advanced in years, as was her husband Zechariah, but the angel Gabriel announced she would give birth to a boy who would be John the Baptist, the cousin and forerunner of Jesus. I find it so kind that God provided a friend for both women. Elizabeth had a scandalous pregnancy as an old woman. Mary’s pregnancy was scandalous because she was a virgin. (And poor Joseph! I hope he had a friend too!)

Emptied into ordinary human relationship

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. (38)

Imagine the first moment Mary was alone. An angel arrived to tell her she would become pregnant as a virgin, then disappeared.

Mary rushed to Elizabeth. Of course she did! God has been so kind to surround my own daughter with others who are also currently pregnant, some behind her, others ahead of her. The community is so sweet as these women help each other.

Emptied into supernatural human relationship

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Luke 1:39-42)

Here were return to last week’s post HERE that Jesus succumbed to the normal human development process you and I developed within, but without the angels! Somewhere between the angel’s visit to Mary and arriving at Elizabeth’s house, Mary became pregnant with the Son of God when the power of the Most High overshadowed her. The trip is estimated to have taken 9-10 days. According to THIS article, at 5-9 days, the new life burrows into the wall of the womb and the sex can be determined. Whether that is accurate to the day or not, the fact remains that Jesus arrived at Elizabeth’s house near this level of development.

A supernatural interaction occurred between two unborn children. The brand new life of Jesus was recognized by the 6 month old baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Unlike we who grew into human form, Jesus the Son of God emptied Himself in order to arrive on earth as our Savior.

Just like Mary pondered these treasures in her heart, let’s do the same.

Picture Explanation: My friend can decorate a house like nobody’s business. The wooden tree was made from a pallet by her husband. For you handy people, this is an idea!

If you are interested in being contacted about participating in a One Gritty Blink Bible study in 2023, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and contact me by email. Let’s focus on things that count for eternity!

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