THE CHARACTERS OF CHRISTMAS
(Mary's response to the Good News - December 10, 2023)
Series Big Idea: "Mary and Zachariah represent two responses to the Good News of Christ"
Sermon Big Idea: “Mary’s response shows the willing acceptance all people should have toward God’s will"
Key Scripture (Luke 1:26-38)
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be since I have not been intimate 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 “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Luke wrote two similar but distinct accounts of the response to the news of Jesus' birth. Some responded with unbelief, others with faith, and yet others with joy and praise. Zachariah, John the Baptist's father, experienced a moment of doubt. Mary’s, the mother of Jesus, response to the angel shows the willing acceptance all people should have toward God’s will for their life.
It was in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy that the angel Gabriel brought a second birth announcement. This one to a Jewish virgin from Nazareth. The people of Judah despised the Jews of Galilee. Partially because of their contact with the Gentiles (Matthew 4:15). Galileans themselves despised the people from Nazareth (John 1:45-46). Now in God’s amazing grace, He had chosen a girl from Nazareth to be the mother of the promised Messiah.
Mary was probably a teenager when Gabriel appeared to her. She was from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of King David, and a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). She was engaged to Joseph who was a carpenter in Nazareth (Matthew 13:55). Both were probably poor (Leviticus 12:8/Luke 2:24). Although they were not living together or sleeping together, their engagement was binding as marriage. They were already called husband and wife and the only way the engagement could be broken was by divorce.
When Gabriel appeared with this news, Mary was confused and scared. Why had an angel appeared to her? And why would he say she was highly favored by God? Although Mary was possibly thinking these things, the way she responded reveals something about her humbleness and integrity before God. She never expected to see an angel and receive special favors from God. This seemed to be a complete surprise to her.
Gabriel gave the news that she would be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah and she was to call him Jesus (Matthew 1:21). In this, the angel acknowledged the deity and humanity of Jesus. As Mary’s son He would be human but as Son of the Most High, He would be the Son of God (Luke 1:35). The emphasis here is on the greatness of the Son not the mother. He would also someday inherit King David’s throne and reign over Israel forever. Jesus came to the earth to be the Savior of the world, but He also came to fulfill the promises God made to Israel (Romans 15:14). One day Jesus will return and establish His righteous kingdom on earth and these promises will be fulfilled.
Mary knew what would happen, but she didn’t know how it would happen. When she asked the question “how can this be?” in verse 34 it was not a question of unbelief like Zachariah. It was an example of faith. She believed the promise, but she didn’t understand how a virgin could give birth to a child. Gabriel explained that it would be a miracle. It would be the work of God the Holy Spirit. Although Jesus would be legally identified as the son of Joseph, he would not be the father of the child (Matthew 1:18-25).
Gabriel made sure to point out that this baby would be holy. He would know no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He would do no sin (1 Peter 2:22). And He would have no sin (1 John 3:5). His body would be prepared for Him by God who would “overshadow” Mary. This word is applied to the presence of God in the holy of holies in the Jewish tabernacle and temple (Exodus 40:35). Just think, Mary’s womb would become a holy of holies for the Son of God!
Conclusion:
The angel ended his message by encouraging Mary. He told her that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, and this proved there is nothing impossible with God. The ASV translation says, “For no word of God shall be void of power.” My friend, God accomplishes His purposes through the power of His Word (Psalm 33:9).
Mary’s response was to surrender her life to God as His willing servant. She experienced the grace of God (Luke 1:30) and believed the Word of God, and now she could be used by the Spirit of God to accomplish God’s will. She belonged totally to the Lord in body (Luke 1:38), soul (Luke 1:46), and spirit (Luke 1:47). This is a wonderful example for each of us to follow (Romans 12:1-2).
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.
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Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon 1977: 77. Print.
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