Have no fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God.—Luke 1:30.
How Mary must have been encouraged and strengthened by these words that assured her of divine favor! Then the angel Gabriel, who was sent forth from God, said to her: “You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) Another instance of angelic support occurred after Jesus resisted the three temptations that Satan placed before Him in the wilderness. The account tells us that at the conclusion of the tests, “the Devil left him, and, look! angels came and began to minister to him.” (Matt. 4:1-11) Something similar happened on the night before Jesus was to die. In anguish, Jesus bent his knees and began to pray, saying: “‘Father, if you wish, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”—Luke 22:42, 43.
