NATIVITY By Mike Herron

describing the favored condition of all those who believe in Jesus; ‘ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.’ (Eph 1:6 NLT) God was removing any lack of self-esteem she might have felt because of her gender, young age, and low social status. She began to ‘argue back and forth with herself’ 2 when the angel interrupted her with a fuller explanation. She was to stop fearing, a normal reaction to a supernatural visitation. The angel tells her that the highest form of grace possible has been given to her. This undeserved favor is ‘always found, never earned.’ 3 The grace (charis) of God is sweet, charming and lovely but it is also more powerful than any force that works against it. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” The angel announces the purpose of God’s grace; Mary’s conception of a son that she is to name Jesus; ‘The one through whom Jehovah brings salvation.’ This baby will be the Son of the Highest, denoting his being. He will be the last and forever King upon the throne of David, denoting his office. His kingdom will go on ‘ through the eons,’ vast segments of time that represent the ‘endless now’ of eternity. This kingdom is available to all spiritual descendants of Jacob, both Jews and the Gentiles. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.