Because God’s abilities are unmatched, nothing is impossible with Him.
34 Mary asked the angel,
“How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
35 The angel replied to her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 And consider your relative Elizabeth ?- ?even she has conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.”
Then the angel left her.
Overshadow
The Holy Spirit would cover Mary with divine power.
The Greek word for overshadow (episkiazo) means to block the light and so “cast a shadow” on something (Acts 5:15).
In the Greek Old Testament, the word was used for God’s glory filling the tabernacle (Ex. 40:35).
Mary was going to be enveloped in God’s glorious presence like the tabernacle had been.
In the Gospels, episkiazo is used to describe Jesus’s transfiguration (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34).
Mary may have reflected on how God’s Spirit empowered individuals throughout Israel’s history
(Num. 11:25; Judg. 3:10; 11:29; 14:6,19; 15:14; Isa. 11:2).
The Spirit also was said to have been poured onto individuals (Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28-29).
In each case, these Spirit-filled servants of God were enabled to do things that otherwise would have been impossible.
This was evidently all Mary needed to know.
verse 34 (PSG, pp. 42-43)
identify the contrast between Mary and Zechariah.
Emphasize that Mary’s question did not suggest a lack of faith.
she was seeking clarity and information.
Use “Key Word” to explain the concept of being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit (v. 35).
what would be a good 4 to 5 word summary of Mary's response in verse 38?
nothing is impossible with God. The phrase Might have encouraged Mary to embrace His plans for her.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 45 of the Personal Study Guide:
Challenge the group to determine which of these statements evokes confidence in the Lord. Talk about how that kind of confidence affects our obedience.
Encourage members to share their responses to the last two questions on page 45 of the PSG. Lead a brief discussion on what it looks like to have a servant’s heart and identify some practical steps for developing that kind of heart.
Distribute copies of Pack Item 9 (Handout: Praying Scripture in Exodus and Leviticus). Lead adults to continue reflecting on Luke 1:37-38 using the prompts on the handout. Close the session in prayer, asking God to help adults follow Mary’s example and surrender themselves completely to God.
Reinforce the session this week by sending a special Christmas text or email to each person in the group. Challenge them to use the holiday as a time to reflect on Jesus’s role as Savior and King, as well as their own responsibility to submit to His leadership in their lives. Encourage them to share any prayer requests or goals related to the new year and commit to praying about those things with them.
God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. (See John 1:1-18; Galatians 4:4-5.)
Create a chart that compares items in a particular passage.
Luke 1-2 describes three human characters who responded to a messenger from God: Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Create a chart with three columns. List the roles, qualities, and characteristics of each person. Which one person do you resonate with most closely and why?