“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are
highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words
and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:28-29)
Why was Mary greatly troubled at the words of the angel, saying
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary wondered
what kind of greetings this might be. The hint was that she was engaged to be
married with Joseph, a descendant of David. She didn’t want to be intervened in
her life by any degree. Who has not experienced this? Who has not been troubled
like Mary at the greetings of the Lord? Having been favored is a good thing but
now she had her own business. Notice that she was even told what the favor was
yet. The angel didn’t say anything but the greetings to her. It is so contemporary
and up-to-date that we all are like Mary. She was greatly troubled at the
immediate thought of her marriage plan. Nothing was more important than that.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, you have found
favor with God.” Gabriel repeated the words that she had found favor with God. It
is absolutely a grace to her. What was the favor? It was for her to conceive and
give birth to a son and she was to call him Jesus. Humanly speaking, it is not
a favor at all but a curse for she was a virgin. But it is the favor of God because
she was going to bear Christ Jesus who was to come and save His people. “He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s
descendants forever; his kingdom will never end,” continued the angel.
Life is complex and complicated. There is no simple solution
or remedy although we at times desire to have such. Some say we live in a world
like rat race. Retirees say that they are busier than ever before. Some say
they are bored. Some yell at the podium, assuming that they have all the
solutions. I admit that we are living in a world of confusion and busy
mindedness. Ah, how many things we need to take care of every day! However, the
main thing remains as the main thing and does not change. Among so many things,
we shall not lose the main thing. What is it? It is Jesus Christ. We may miss
some fortunes, achievements, opportunities to the enjoyment of life, etc. But
we shall not miss Jesus all the time and eternally, because He is the Son of
God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He reigns His kingdom now and
will be manifested visibly when He comes again the loud and last trumpet call
with thousands and thousands of angels.
Apostle Peter explains clearly and plainly the prophecy of
His kingdom has already been fulfilled. “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you
confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here
to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath
that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to
come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to
the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to
life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has
received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you
now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The
Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:29-36)
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