God of Israel,with expectant hearts we your people await Christ’s coming. As once he came in humility, so now may he come in glory that he may make all things perfect in your everlasting kingdom. For he is Lord forever and ever. Amen.[1]
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 8
“Of Christ the Mediator”
The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.[2]
The Annunciation
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 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; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. [3]
St. John the Monk
Today is the beginning of our salvation, God is come among men; He who cannot be contained is contained in a womb; the timeless enters time. A great mystery! His conception is without seed, his emptying past telling! So great is this mystery! For God empties himself, takes flesh, and is fashioned as a creature when the angel tells the pure Virgin of her conception: “Rejoice, you who are full of grace; the Lord who has great mercy is with you!”[4]
The event known as the Annunciation is a central moment in Christian belief, signifying the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. At this moment, Mary becomes what is known as Theotokos, or “God-bearer,” often translated as “Mother of God.” The title emphasizes Mary’s role in giving birth to Jesus Christ, who is recognized as fully God and fully human in Christian doctrine. By calling Mary the Theotokos, the Church affirms the belief in the divine nature of Christ from the moment of His conception.[5]
Mary’s Magnificat
My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever. [6]
In the 20th century, it became fashionable to question the Virgin Birth, but such a rejection would fundamentally undermine the Christian faith for several reasons. First, both Matthew and Luke clearly teach the Virgin Birth, so rejecting this doctrine also means rejecting the authority and accuracy of the scriptures. Second, the Virgin Birth testifies to the dual natures of Christ: conceived in Mary, he is human; conceived by the Holy Spirit, he is divine. The virgin birth shows Jesus to be both the Son of Mary and the Son of God.[7]
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his Cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[8]
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] The Worship Sourcebook, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, 2004, p. 427.
[2] R. C. Sproul, Truths We Confess, p. 189.
[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 1:26–38.
[4] Stichera of the Annunciation, St. John the Monk. https://anglicancompass.com/the-liturgical-home-the-feast-of-the-annunciation/
[5] https://anglicancompass.com/the-liturgical-home-the-feast-of-the-annunciation/
[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 1:46–55.
[7] https://anglicancompass.com/the-annunciation-a-rookie-anglican-guide/
[8] Collect for the Annunciation, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
