Overshadowed

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit willl come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

Have you ever stopped to ponder this verse.. especially the word "overshadow" as it applies to the virgin birth. What is the need for this "overshadowing"? Why did the Spirit of God use this word? Why did Mary need to be overshadowed?

This year we read completely through the Bible..cover to cover. I remember it was in Exodus that all of the detailed instructions for the tabermacle and the ark of the covenant and all the other Holy objects associated with it were given to the Israelites. How elaborate were these instructions to keep the Holy Ark of the Testimony from the contamination of the world. Coverings upon coverings and a final covering of blue linen. Even those who had the responsibility of moving and ministering with it were to have special clothes and coverings. And this Ark was only the representation of God’s presence with the children of God...and the instructions were for how it was to be set apart even into the Holy of Holies as separated from sinful man by a thick veil, unto the Lord.

Then.. finally when the fulness of time had come..we see the story in Luke, not of the representation or the type,..but now it is time for the real thing, the substance to come into the presence of sinful men. It is Immanuel..it is God with us. It is the Lord of Glory coming as a baby, overshadowed in Mary’s womb from her worldly contamination and sinfulness wrapped in the protective coverings of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. Then later she wraps the child in swaddling clothes or clothes that would restrain one from freedom of movement indicating His humanity and self-limitation. How typical this is of the Lord of Glory who came into the world unstained by it and who made Himself of no repute, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, humbling Himself in the likeness of a man and obedient even unto the death of the cross for the believers salvation.

The Apostle John sums it up for us: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life...and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us...what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 Jo 1:1-3)

Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men. Merry Christmas 2009.