In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!
Luke 1:26-28
I’m constantly amazed at how much Jesus lowered Himself to come to us (Philippians 2:1-11), and how hard He worked to communicate His desire to connect with the most common of us of humanity.
While the angel Gabriel brought the amazing news of the miraculous birth of John to a holy man in a holy place during a holy time (Zechariah in the context of the holy Temple of God during the sacrifice of incence - see One Step: Luke 1.3), the news of the supernatural coming of Jesus came to a much more ordinary place.*
Nazareth was unremarkable. Though flourishing as a producer of wheat, wine, oil, fruit, honey, and millet, only around 500 people called Nazareth home.* Scholars believe that Luke’s use of the qualifier a city of Galilee when mentioning Nazareth indicates that even the regional readers of Luke’s Gospel would not know the location of Nazareth.* Jesus, the coming King, came to a town that no one had heard about! Jesus, one who came for “the least of these,” like you and me, chose a family from a “least of these” towns. Why not send Jesus into this world to a town of renown where the news would spread quickly of His coming? God had another plan.
Furthermore, Galilee (where Nazareth was located) was known for their aggressive behavior.* Think about that: God chose a family from an aggressive, combative area to bring the Prince of Peace into the world! How unlikely! Jerusalem means city of peace. It would make sense to me if God chose this city, but an unknown town in a violent area? It’s unpredictable! In the words of the disciple Nathaniel in John 1:46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Mary’s story is also one more common than we realize. At the time of Gabriel’s visit to Mary, she was engaged. Though somewhat strange to us, in Israel during the time of Mary, it was customary for marriages to be a two-step process.* The first step was a legally-binding engagement that included a contract and a bridal price.* The completion of step one made the young woman involved the official wife of the groom.* Usually a year later, the bride would then participate in the bridal feast and move into the home of her husband.* The angel came to Mary in the “waiting” phase between step one and step two.* Because of the legalities of their union in step one, only divorce or death could end their agreement.* Since Mary is officially considered Joseph’s wife, any child born to her would be considered his, if he accepted the child.*
While Gabriel refers to Mary as favored, the intent is to highlight God’s great, undeserved grace toward her rather than her individual merit.* Luke’s desire was to help us to relate to Mary as a fellow recipient of grace rather than a super-human to be worshiped.*
Are you feeling like a common person from a common place in a common circumstance? Jesus came for you.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow yourself to be okay with common. Perhaps today God wants you to remember that He works miracles through common people. Maybe today God wants you to remember that Jesus came for you.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke (Lk 1:26–38). InterVarsity Press.
Garland, D. E. (2012). Luke (pp. 78–79). Zondervan.
Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 41–44). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Liefeld, W. L., & Pao, D. W. (2007). Luke. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, p. 59). Zondervan.
Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (pp. 56–58). Zondervan Publishing House.
Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke: 1:1–9:50 (Vol. 1, pp. 106–108). Baker Academic.
Nolland, J. (1989). Luke 1:1–9:20 (Vol. 35A, pp. 48–49). Word, Incorporated.