What is recorded by Luke in these verses is historically referred to as the Annunciation, that is, the Announcement. It is The Announcement of all announcements! Some of the world’s greatest composers and artists and poets have sought to capture the marvelous wonder of the scene Luke describes. What was announced to Mary on that fateful day was the answer to all of creation’s groaning. It was the answer to all of humanity’s sin and brokenness.

In Galilee, in the town of Nazareth lived a young virgin betrothed in marriage to an upright man named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary and the Lord bestowed remarkable grace upon her as the one who would carry the Consolation of God’s people, the Messiah, within her womb. Never before or since would such a miracle be repeated. What the angel announces to Mary is the mystery of mysteries, the incarnation of God Almighty in human nature.

It is understandable that this extraordinary announcement troubled Mary. She knew as well as any one of us that virgins do not conceive. And of course she was right. For this to happen, God would act directly in space and time. By the power of the Holy Spirit, apart from any physical union, Mary would conceive within her womb the One who would “be called holy – the Son of God.”

And just as in the days of Joseph and Mary, the doctrine of the virgin conception of Jesus is a stumbling block. To allow for the miraculous conception of Jesus then one must allow for the incarnation itself. Not only that, the miraculous conception of Jesus also makes way for his sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection. Indeed, the whole gospel leans upon the virgin conceived Messiah. Perhaps that is why it is so maligned. The hope for sinners rests upon the truth of what was announced to the young virgin in Nazareth.