JESUS’ CHARACTERISTICS REVEALED TO MARY
Angel Gabriel foretold to Mary about Jesus to be born from her: “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end” (Lk 1:32-33).
1. He will be great.
Jesus shall be greater even than his illustrious ancestor the powerful King David (Mt 22:41-45), wiser than wise King Solomon (Mt 12:42), and greater as a preacher than Jonah the prophet who converted the sinful city of Nineveh (Mt 12:41).
2. He will be called Son of the Most High.
The angel uses “Most High” as a title for God and “Son of the Most High” for Jesus. He has no earthly father in the manner of the flesh. Since Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, he has the ‘Son of God’ title. Adam, whom also God directly created, has the title ‘son of God’. However, Jesus is ‘God who became man’, whereas Adam is a ‘man in the image and likeness of God.’
3. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor.
This is the fulfilment of God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-14.
4. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end.
The people of Jacob mean the twelve tribes of Israel. Exiles and unemployment made these tribes scatter all over the world and mingle with the Gentiles. Jesus extended salvation to all humanity, spread throughout the world, beginning with the Israelites. So, the Church is universal and open for all willing to accept Jesus as their saviour. Even majestic kings of undivided Israel, like King Saul, David, and Solomon, ruled only 40 years each. Jesus, the new king, will rule over the world for eternity.
5. He will be holy (Lk 1:35).
Since Jesus is God incarnate, he is holy. He has no sin by birth or by action.