Eyewitness Bible Series is pleased to present the Christmas Series. This series is a collection of ten new episodes designed to be watched on the three Sundays prior to Christmas week, plus the seven days of Christmas week, ending on Christmas day.
The Third Sunday Before Christmas Week: Episode One is narrated by the prophet, Isaiah. He explains how the prophets of the Old Testament foretold the coming of mankind’s savior, Jesus, long before he was born.
The Second Sunday Before Christmas Week: Episode Two is narrated by a Magi, a wise man from the East. He explains why the wise men of Babylon have been looking for a new king of the Jews for the previous several hundred years.
The Seventh Day before Christmas: Episode Three is narrated by Elizabeth, a close relative of Mary. Elizabeth miraculously conceived of John the Baptist, so she was completely prepared for Mary to have a miraculous birth, too.
The Bible does not say how old Mary was when she became pregnant with Jesus. Based on customs at that time, it is likely that she was between thirteen and sixteen years old. For her entire life, her physical and sexual well-being would have been closely guarded by her parents.
It is not out of bounds to guess Mary had never even been left alone with a man, and that she had been kept away from them in almost any situation for the previous several years.
With that in mind, imagine her shock when the unthinkable happened. Take a few minutes to re-read Luke 1:26-38 with fresh eyes.
The Bible doesn’t say what form Gabriel took when giving the announcement to Mary, or where, when, or how he did so. What did Gabriel look like, and what kind of voice or thought transmission did he use? Did Gabriel come during the day, or during a dream? Did it take place at Mary’s home or in a public place?
The Bible does say Mary was troubled about how Gabriel’s words first struck her. But we don’t get any information as to emotions after the conversation ended, or how she felt for the next three months.
It seems unlikely that Mary would not have had some sympathy for her parents, and some trepidation about the social and religious implications of her sudden pregnancy.
