Page 23 - Life of Christ - textbook (3)

During the betrothal period, the man and wife were legally and permanently bonded. While waiting to
receive his bride, the “husband” constructed a future house for the two in which to dwell. Then father
of the groom verified that the house was worthy of a bride, giving his son permission to go get his bride.
On their “wedding day,” the groom would simply gather his friends, march to the house of his bride,
blow a trumpet, and take her to the home he had prepared amidst much rejoicing and merry making by
all observers. There was no official ceremony where they said vows. Their vows were recorded when
they were betrothed. The bride did not know when the husband would come; she had to be ready for
his arrival. Here only forewarning was the sound of the trumpet.

It is hard to imagine how shocking the angelic visit must have been and, even more shocking was the
message concerning the child to be born to her. Consider the cost to be borne by Mary. It was an awful
disgrace in that culture to conceive a child before the wedding day and could result in the loss of life.
She knew that she would be accused of adultery. All the joy and delights of the wedding day,
anticipated by every young woman, would be forfeited by Mary. Much was being offered her by the
angel, but much was being asked of her as well.

It is also important to note that just a few miles away in the city of Sepphoris, there was a garrison of
Roman soldiers. The soldiers were known for their drunkenness and for their moral infidelity. It
appears that the local cities had women of ill repute living close by to “service” the troops. It was
without question that many of these women lived in the vicinity of Nazareth. That may be why
Nathanael said to Philip, upon finding the Messiah, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John
1:46). The townships surrounding the Roman garrison had a poor reputation among other people living
in Palestine.

The angel Gabriel told Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, a relative of Mary’s mother, was pregnant in her
sixth month. Almost immediately, Mary decided to go visit Elizabeth, a trip of almost 80 miles. After all,
Elizabeth, of all people, certainly would understand the miraculous announcement from the angel
Gabriel. Mary certainly did not travel by herself, so she probably joined a caravan traveling in the same
direction. That distance would take around 4 days or more to make the journey, mostly on foot.

Mary probably conceived shortly after the announcement from Gabriel. She was a virgin which is
extremely important. A right view of the incarnation of Christ hinges on this truth. The Messiah would
have NO physical father through which the sin nature was passed. The Holy Spirit wrought the
conception through supernatural means. His conception testifies of both His deity and His sinlessness,
both required for the substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all men.

Mary departed from the “city in Judah”, probably a neighborhood city of
Jerusalem after a stay of about three months. That would put Elizabeth at
full-term and probably about the time of John’s birth. Upon returning
home, Mary prepared for the cruel taunts and slander. She would have to
stand on her own spiritual feet, lonely, misunderstood, rejected, but trusting
in the Lord in faith.

Birth of John (Luke 1:57-80)

Everyone who knew Zacharias and Elizabeth knew beyond a shadow of
doubt that this birth was miraculous. They had heard that the child’s birth
had been announced by an angel. And Zecharias mysteriously could not say

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