Christmas Greetings

Can you think of a better way to share Christmas greetings, than with the very first greeting of all? 

This particular greeting is an answer to the first question in Seven Questions for a Pregnant Virgin where we go behind the scenes of the Christmas story.  

This is not one of those Christmas greetings you will read and put away in a drawer and it is not just for Christmas.  It is for the rest of your life.

Study "Seven Questions" if you are seeing a closer walk with God.

Greetings You who are Highly Favored-The Lord is With You.

Some of you are now looking at your screen sideways with one eye partially squinted, as if to say “what in the world is she talking about.” Some probably uttered a quick “yikes, she can’t be talking to me.” Some of you may have had a fleeting thought of your mom or aunt, or some sweet little lady in the church. You know the one. She attended every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and back again on Wednesday. She is the one who wears her little navy blue, sailor dress with white pumps and white beads (but never after Labor Day). She is the one who cooks for the church luncheon and cleans up afterward. She teaches your daughter’s Sunday school class. “She” does it all, and “she” does it well. But, is “she” you?

Trust me, when I put that greeting at the top of my page, I was well aware that I may not be writing to “she.” I was well aware that I may be writing to some Christian ladies who have faced far more controversial issues in their lifestyle than “she” ever thought about. Issues that some of you have never even spoken about to your sisters in Christ; after all, what would “she” think if “she” knew?

Whoever you are, or whatever your walk has been in the past, your response to the greeting above was probably the same response that Mary had when the angel, Gabriel, said those words to her. Luke 1:29 - And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. (KJV)

Given the fact that I am not “she,” I find it very intriguing that Mary had this response to Gabriel’s words. After all, Mary was perfect wasn’t she? Mary had to have been the ultimate “she” right? Wrong. Mary was a virgin, and yes, God needed a virgin, but do you think they were as difficult to find in Mary’s day as they are now? I don’t think so. So, what was it about Mary that made Gabriel greet her in this manner and what was it about Mary that made her respond with such fear and confusion to Gabriel’s greeting?

I’ll start with Mary’s response. If Mary had been perfect, she would not have been surprised by Gabriel’s greeting. She would simply have said “Hello.” Or “Yes, that’s me, the highly favored one, how can I help you?” Since there isn’t much about Mary in the Bible, I studied commentaries about her background and learned that the people of Nazareth were not considered very highly by the Jews. Nazareth was not a town rich in religious tradition and was, as a matter of fact, a place where Gentiles intermingled with the Jews. That made the people of Nazareth the “dregs” of the Jewish society. Mary would have been one of those dregs and, since we already know that Jesus was the only person without sin, Mary was not perfect. Mary was the same as you and I; obviously without some of the mistakes and consequences, but nevertheless, “she” was you. “She” was me. “She” was simply, a believer.

Christmas Greetings to You!

Now, about the greeting; Luke 1:28 - The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (NIV) The Greek word charitoo translated to highly favored in this famous greeting to Mary, is found one other time in the New Testament. Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (KJV) Here, charitoo is translated into “hath made us accepted.” Now, who was this greeting written to?

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (KJV) The Faithful in Christ Jesus! In both scriptures, it was God who carried out the action. It was He who favored her and it is He who favors us. It is He who hath made us, all believers, accepted.

Now, let’s try again. So you have things in your past that you regret tremendously; things you can’t seem to let go of. Maybe you were not a virgin when you married. Maybe you’ve had an abortion; perhaps a divorce (or two) Now, you have decided to change your walk; to walk with God. Let go of the past because...

 “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!”