December 19 | Luke 1:26-38

Jennifer Jerrome
Dec 19, 2025
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

By Jennifer Jerrome

God knows the whole story – beginning, middle and end. Much of the Bible is Him trying to tell people, “Here’s what’s going to happen.”

The word foretold is used sixteen times in the NIV – eleven in the Old Testament because that’s where most of the “foretelling” takes place, the bulk coming from the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 45:21

Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord?

Isaiah 48:3

I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

Isaiah 52:6

Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.

Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that foretelling is NOT fortune-telling. It’s not predicting or forecasting, making educated guesses about the future. To foretell is to tell before – this is what’s going to happen. There’s no guesswork or uncertainty. It’s not soothsaying. It’s truth telling.

Not surprisingly, The Book of Acts in the New Testament (also written by Luke) uses foretold several times to remind readers of what was said in the past about the Christ who came to fulfill God’s promises.

Acts 3:18

But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.

Acts 3:24

Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.

But even when the most faithful are told things ahead of time, often they still don’t understand.

In today’s scripture God knew Mary was the one to give birth to the Savior way before she

did. He knew her heart and sent the angel Gabriel to announce, “You have found favor with God” (v. 30).

Even though she didn’t fully comprehend his message, the virtue of Mary is her openness to God’s plan, her faith and willingness to let God do what needed to be done.

“May your word to me be fulfilled” (v. 38).

Yes, Mary was troubled but ready to serve. She didn’t ask God to alter his plan. She said let it be done.

How lucky are we (though “luck” may not be the right word) to have all these years to look back on what was written and to see what was to come. Through Luke and other writers, the Bible tells us Jesus’ story so we can witness the miracle of his birth, life and death for ourselves.

PRAYER

This Advent season, may we bask in the joy of knowing exactly what is to come. And may we have a heart like Mary to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your will be done through me.” Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNIFER JERROME

I have known I was a child of God from the beginning. I was baptized and raised in the Catholic church and began attending UALC about 18 years ago when my husband I were searching for a place to worship and serve as a family. UALC has helped shape our faith over the years. We have been through several seasons of life and the constant has been our faith and family.