The event commonly referred to as the Annunciation marks the moment the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to deliver a profound message. This narrative, found in the Gospel of Luke, describes the specific dialogue that altered the course of her life and the broader historical narrative. The exchange between the divine messenger and Mary is a detailed record of her questioning and eventual assent. This article focuses specifically on the words Mary spoke in response to the celestial visitation, analyzing both her initial query and her final, conclusive statement.
Context of the Divine Encounter
The narrative begins in Nazareth, where the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel greeted her with a startling salutation, declaring her to be “highly favored” and stating that the Lord was with her. This unexpected appearance and the nature of the greeting troubled Mary.
The angel proceeded to deliver the central message, instructing her not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. Gabriel prophesied that she would conceive and give birth to a son, whom she was to name Jesus. The angel detailed that this child would be great, called the Son of the Most High, and would receive the throne of his ancestor David, establishing an eternal kingdom.
Mary’s Key Dialogue
Mary’s response to this extraordinary prophecy was a logical question seeking clarification on the mechanics of the event. She posed a direct inquiry to the messenger, asking, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”. This question acknowledged the divine promise while pointing out the physical impossibility of the situation given her status. Her words demonstrated a rational reaction to a supernatural claim.
Gabriel then provided the specific mechanism for the conception, explaining that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. The angel confirmed the sanctity of the child, who would be called the Son of God, and offered the example of her relative Elizabeth’s late-life pregnancy as confirmation that “no word from God will ever fail.” After receiving this explanation, Mary spoke her final words of submission and consent: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Significance of Her Acceptance
Mary’s concluding statement represents a powerful moment of willing obedience. The phrase “handmaid of the Lord” signifies acceptance of the role of a bondservant, completely subject to the will and purpose of the master. Her words signify a profound act of faith and submission to a plan that offered immense personal risk and social stigma.
The simple phrase “be it unto me according to thy word” transformed the divine decree into a reality, marking her assent as the final human component in the narrative. Her acceptance was based on trust in the power of God, as affirmed by Gabriel’s earlier explanation. This verbal surrender is understood as the human consent that made the incarnation possible, setting in motion the fulfillment of the prophetic message. Her final words elevated her response into a foundational statement of faith and cooperation with the divine will.