BIBLE STUDY LESSON 02

SERIES Q --- THE SAVIOUR

MARY’S CHOICE

GOOD NEWS FROM AN ANGEL

From Luke 1:26-38

Six months had passed since the Angel Gabriel visited Zacharias in the temple. Once more, the angel returned to the world with good news, this time to Mary of Nazareth, a young lady who was still a virgin. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph, who had come from the royal family of King David. The angel appeared suddenly in Mary’s room and spoke to her. [Greetings! May Adonai be with you,] the angel said, [you have found great favour with YHVH.] Mary was uneasy when she heard this. What could such a greeting mean? [Don’t be afraid,] the angel said. [YHVH has chosen you among all women to do something for Him. You will become the mother of His Son and will Name Him Yeshua. He will do great wonders and will rule over King David’s people forever.] [But how can I become a mother?] Mary asked. [I don’t have a husband yet.] [Ruach HaKodesh will come to you,] the angel answered. [The power of YHVH will come over you. YHVH will be the Father of this holy Child, and He will be called the Son of YHVH. Do you remember how people called your cousin Elizabeth ‘the childless one?’ She is now expecting a child, so never doubt His promises. When YHVH Promises something, that Promise comes true!] [I will do whatever Adonai wants,] said Mary. [Let this happen the way you have said it would.] When the angel heard that, his mission was accomplished. He went away and left Mary alone with her thoughts.

THE SONG OF MARY

From Luke 1:39-56

Not long after the angel’s visit, Mary took a hurried trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. As soon as Mary spoke to her, Elizabeth felt her baby move, and she was filled with Ruach HaKodesh. Then Elizabeth began to speak these words to Mary:

[You have been blessed more than any other woman, and the Child in you is richly blessed, too. What a great honour for me to have the mother of my Adonai, visit with me here in my home! With your greeting, my child stirred with joy inside me. What delight comes to the woman who believes YHVH and trusts Him to fulfil His Promises!]

When Elizabeth finished, Mary spoke this song to her:

[My heart overflows with praise to YHVH, my soul rejoices in YHVH my Saviour. He looked so kindly at His humble servant, that all generations to come may call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me. His Name is Holy. In each generation, His mercy comes to those who honour Him. His arm is strong, sweeping away proud and mighty men. He has demoted kings and promoted commoners and He has filled hungry hearts, while rich men live in hunger. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering the Promises He made to our fathers -- to Abraham and to his descendants forever.]


Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her own home in Nazareth.

COMMENTARY

WHAT TOWN IS THIS?

Ignored in the Old Testament, despised by its neighbours, Nazareth was just another little village to be forgotten with time. Nazareth had such a low reputation that Nathanael asked, when told about Yeshua, [Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?] But something happened that made Nazareth a place honoured by millions of people from all nations and all generations. A Child was born to a family of Nazareth. The village was the home of young Mary and her husband-to-be Joseph. Mary had grown up in the nearby village of Sepphoris, while it is believed Joseph was born and raised in Nazareth. Yeshua did not live in Nazareth until Mary and Joseph returned with Him from Egypt. He had been born in Bethlehem, spent His early childhood in Egypt, but Nazareth would he His home for many years, giving Nazareth a place in history. When Joseph returned to Nazareth, he taught the young Yeshua the carpentry trade. Joseph is not mentioned again after he took Yeshua and Mary to Jerusalem when Yeshua was twelve. Many think that he died soon after the trip. Nazareth would not accept Yeshua as the Son of YHVH. The people could not believe that the young carpenter who had grown up among them was the Moshiach. Although they had waited so long for Him, they drove Him away from their town. Yeshua left Nazareth and made His new home in the village of Capernaum, just a few miles northeast, along the Sea of Galilee.