The Life of Christ

• The only thing that kept it from being an actual marriage was they didn't live together or have sexual relations.

• The only way to break this type of relationship would be to first get married, and then issue a divorce.

• Joseph considered doing this in Mt. 1:19.

• The time lapse between the betrothal and the marriage was usually a number of months.

Lk. 1:27 “…to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

Mary was probably only about 14 years old, according to the custom of when women married in Israel.

Joseph was probably in his later teens.

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Lk. 1:28-31 And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “ Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.”

"Jesus" is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word, "Jehosua," which means "Savior."

Lk. 1:32-34 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

It doesn’t appear that Mary responded to Gabriel the same way as Zacharias.

• Zacharias definitely expressed doubt when he said, "Whereby shall I know this?"

• Mary didn't say, "How shall I know?" but rather, "How will this happen?"

• She wasn't asking for a sign; she just wanted to understand the process.

Doubt is one of the most lethal enemies that prevents God’s full creation within us.

• Since Mary was not given to doubt, the Holy Spirit was free to create the fullness of what He intended.

• When we choose to believe, rather than focus upon doubt, God will also create within us!

Zacharias represents the old experienced priest who should know all about the things of God.

• Mary was just a young girl, knowing much less about God.

• When it comes to faith, however, it is an issue of just being open, rather than how much one understands.

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