The Announcements

Introduction: For hundreds of years prophets had been foretelling the birth of the seed of the woman, who came to be called the Messiah. It was predicted that he would be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem and be a descendant of King David. This is the story from God’s Word. Luke God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man

named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel

said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the Kingship of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow

you. For nothing is impossible with God." Luke Mt When Mary’s betrothed husband Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he planned to send her away

secretly. But when Joseph had considered this, an angel appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.