The God Who Comes Near

A reflection from Luke 1:26-38

The passage in Luke 1:26–38 is one of the most important moments in the entire Christian story. It is often called the Annunciation of Mary, the moment when heaven announces God’s plan of salvation through the birth of Jesus. This passage carries enormous significance, especially because many of our Catholic brothers and sisters hold it in deep reverence and build some of their devotion around it. The familiar phrases Hail Mary and Ave Maria trace their roots straight back to Gabriel’s greeting in this scene. And because this text has shaped centuries of Christian practice and sometimes even led to the worship of Mary herself, it becomes all the more important for us to understand the passage correctly, appreciate its beauty, and see clearly what God is revealing through it.

Who Was Mary?

Mary Was Ordinary

Mary wasn’t a princess, a priest’s daughter, or someone with status. She was an ordinary village girl from Nazareth, poor by every social measure, and most likely a teenager between twelve and eighteen years old. She was pledged to marry Joseph, a simple carpenter. Nothing about her background suggested greatness. And yet, God stepped into her quiet, hidden life. One fascinating detail in this passage is the contrast with Gabriel’s earlier visit to Zacharias. Both Zacharias and Mary respond with a similar question, “How can this be?” but the outcomes could not be more different. Zacharias’ lips are sealed while Mary receives a gentle, detailed explanation. The difference lies not in the words but in the heart. Zacharias questioned in doubt, almost with a hint of disbelief, while Mary asked out of genuine confusion and a desire to understand. God sees the intention behind our questions, and Mary’s honest, humble curiosity opened the door for reassurance rather than rebuke.

Mary Is Not What Some Claim

While Mary is honoured in Scripture, she is not portrayed as divine. Gabriel’s greeting, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured,” has often been lifted out of context, especially within Catholic tradition, to give Mary a status Scripture itself never assigns. Mary was favoured not because she was sinless but because God chose her by grace. She needed a Saviour just as much as any of us. She says so herself later in the chapter: “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Mary is also not a mediator between us and Jesus. The Bible is explicit: “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). So while we deeply admire Mary and learn from her humility, faith, and obedience, we do not revere her or direct our prayers to her. She points us to Christ, not to herself.

The Christian life is often described as a journey, and like any journey, we need direction. These days, we rely heavily on GPS to help us navigate unfamiliar roads. In a similar way, this passage offers us a spiritual GPS that guides our walk with God. The reflection is broken down into three simple points that are easy to remember: G for Grace, P for Promise or Purpose, and S for Spirit. Just as God provided Mary with His Grace, gave her a divine Promise and Purpose, and empowered her through His Spirit, He offers the same to us as we navigate our own path. No matter how uncertain or overwhelming the road may feel, God goes before us, journeys with us, and equips us with everything we need to follow His calling.

God comes near through His Grace

Grace That Chose Us

The first thing we see in this passage is the Grace of God. Grace chose Mary. Verse 26 and 28 tell us that God sent Gabriel to Mary and greeted her saying that she was highly favoured. Mary was not chosen because of any merit, qualification, reputation, or achievement. If God were selecting the most qualified person for the birth of the Saviour, He could have easily chosen the daughter of the High Priest, perhaps someone from the household of Caiaphas. Instead, He chose an unknown girl from Nazareth. That is what Grace does. Grace chooses us. The same pattern appears repeatedly in Scripture. Abraham did nothing to earn God’s calling. Moses was tending sheep in the wilderness when God called him. David was a young shepherd boy forgotten even by his father. The disciples whom Jesus chose were the least qualified men to change the world. In our weakness, God is glorified. If there is anything we can notice about Mary, it is her humility, both in background and in character. James 4:6 says, God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.

Grace That Removes Fear

Grace does not simply choose us. Grace also removes fear. In verse 30, the angel tells Mary, Do not be afraid. Grace speaks peace into trembling hearts. Fear is something many of us struggle with today, whether fear of the future, fear of reputation, fear of failure, or fear of expectations. Mary was troubled and confused, yet the angel gives her assurance that she does not need to fear. Scripture reminds us that the God who has begun a good work in us will bring it to completion. We see this theme throughout the Bible. God tells Joshua repeatedly, Fear not. David declares in the Psalms that the Lord is his light and salvation, so he will not fear. Grace gives us strength to stand, courage to trust, and peace to move forward. Grace helps us overcome fear.

God comes near through a Promise/Purpose (P)

The second thing we see in this passage is that God comes near through His promise and His purpose. Every time God chooses a person, He gives them a purpose to live for and a promise to hold on to. This is a consistent pattern throughout Scripture. When God chose Abraham, He promised that He would make him into a great nation and that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:2-3). When God chose Moses, He gave him the purpose of leading the people of Israel out of slavery. When God chose David, He anointed him to be king over His people. When Jesus chose the disciples, He entrusted them with the Great Commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. God never calls without giving direction. He never chooses without giving purpose. And in the same way, when God came near to Mary, He gave her a promise that carried eternal significance and a purpose that would change the world forever.

Promise of a Saviour

In verses 31 to 35 we see God giving Mary two extraordinary promises about the purpose of Jesus’ life. The first promise is that He will be a Saviour. Jesus came to save the world from sin, something that no ceremonial law, no temple sacrifice, and no human effort could ever accomplish. The blood of bulls and goats could only cover sin temporarily, but Jesus came as the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world once for all. Through His sacrifice, He restores fellowship between God and humanity. The world did not need another teacher, reformer, or prophet. It needed a Redeemer. And God fulfilled that promise in Christ.

Promise of an Eternal King

The second promise is that Jesus would be an Eternal King. Verse 33 tells us that His kingdom will never end. Yet many times we fail to recognise Jesus as King in our daily lives. There is a story of a king who once visited his people in disguise. He stayed overnight at the humble home of an old man who welcomed him with simple food and a place to sleep. The next day the king returned in his royal garments and revealed his identity. Everyone expected the old man to request wealth, land or favour. Instead, the old man said that the greatest gift he could ever receive was that the king left his palace, stayed under his roof and considered him worthy of his presence. That is the heart we need to cultivate. Jesus left His glory to dwell with us, and that alone is the greatest gift we could ever have.

I sometimes take my son Raphael to the park to play. While he climbs slides, swings and plays with friends, I simply sit on a bench and watch him. He feels confident and secure simply because he knows I am there. I do not interfere constantly, though I step in when he falls or when danger comes near. In the same way, Jesus our Eternal King rules, watches and cares over us. He is always present. He protects, He intervenes when needed, and He also lets us grow. Just knowing that He is on the throne and that we are under His care gives us deep peace and security. His kingship is not distant authority. It is near, loving, watching and guiding presence.

God comes near through His Spirit (S)

The third thing we see in this passage is found in verse 35, where the angel explains how the Holy Spirit will work in Mary. The Holy Spirit would come upon her and make possible what was humanly impossible.

Spirit Who Works the Supernatural

Verse 35 shows us that the Holy Spirit is the one who works the supernatural. He makes possible what is humanly impossible. When the angel tells Mary how she will conceive, the answer is simple: The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Throughout Scripture we see that it is always the Spirit who brings life where there is none. It was the Spirit who enabled Sarah to conceive Isaac and become the mother of a great nation. It was the Spirit who empowered Abraham to believe against all hope. It was the Spirit who strengthened David to face Goliath and later rule as king. It was the Spirit who transformed the disciples, ordinary men with no influence or education, into bold witnesses who turned the world upside down. The Holy Spirit gives life, power, and courage to those who surrender to Him.

Spirit Who Strengthens

The Holy Spirit does not simply work miracles. He also strengthens us for the journey ahead. The path God calls us to may be difficult and the road may feel uncertain, but the Spirit helps us to trust. Jesus promised, When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power. The Spirit gives perseverance when we are weak, comfort when we are afraid, and guidance when we are confused. Mary could not have fulfilled God’s calling in her own ability, and neither can we. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to obey, endure and overcome.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

(John 14: 16 -17)

A Call to Respond: Let God Make the Move

As we reflect on Grace, Promise and Spirit, we come to the most important part of this passage, which is our response. Mary said, Let it be to me according to Your word. She surrendered her plans, her fears and her future to God. And God worked through her in ways she could never have imagined.

There is a story told about a famous painting in the Louvre Museum titled Checkmate. It was originally painted by Friedrich Moritz. The painting shows Satan and a man playing a game of chess. Satan sits confidently, smiling as if he has already won. The man on the other side looks defeated, anxious and hopeless. His face shows deep disappointment, as if the game is over and he has no more moves left. For many years people understood the painting to represent the final defeat of the human soul.

Years later, a group of chess grandmasters visited the museum. One of them, Paul Morphy, stood studying the painting for a long time. Suddenly he said, The king has one more move. The man is not actually defeated. There is still a move that can turn the game around and lead to victory. What looked like checkmate was not checkmate after all.

Many times in life we feel the same. We feel trapped by circumstances, overwhelmed by fear, surrounded by uncertainty, and convinced that the situation is hopeless. The enemy whispers that the game is over and that we have lost. But if we allow the true Grand Master, Jesus Christ, to step in, He sees moves that we cannot. He sees possibilities we have missed. He can turn defeat into victory, despair into hope and weakness into strength.

Maybe today you feel like Mary, unsure and afraid. Maybe you feel like the man in the painting, cornered and defeated. But God is saying, Do not be afraid. My grace is sufficient. I have a purpose for you. My Spirit will help you. Will you let God make the next move in your life?