A heavenly messenger
A detailed Account - Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:44
0 ratings
· 12 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Another proclamation
Another proclamation
A detailed account for Theophilus (1:1-4)
A given prophesy to Zacharias (1:5-25)
Now, a heavenly visit to Mary (1:26-38)
That is where we have come from thus far in the detailed account.
Has there been a time in your life when you got a very special announcement to you?
Mary gets one, but from an unlikely source, in an unlikely place
In our passage today we see the same announcement “birth announcement” as before, but with different reaction to
I will break this into two
The setting and the announcement (1:26-33)
The reaction to the announcement (1:34-38)
The Announcement
The Announcement
Of course, like always we want to start with the passage, glean from the passage and then go from there.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him 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 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
We learn the when, the who and the where (vv.26-27), what are they?
Sixth month, ask sixth month of what?
Gabriel, angel sent by God is the who
Galilee of Nazareth is the where
Why was Mary perplexed, or left pondering the salutation (v.29)?
Only way to know the answer is to bring in (v.28) An angel with a specific greeting. (favored one, Lord is with you)
Gabriel makes some very bold statements in (vv.30-31); what are they?
You have found favor with God, so don’t be afraid
You will conceived in your womb, bear a son, but don’t be afraid
You will name Him Jesus
The bold statements continue (vv.32-33) what more do you learn?
He will be great
He will be called Son of the Most High God
He will be given throne of His father David
He will reign over the house forever, kingdom will be without end
Galilee of Nazareth map picture inserted here.
Galilee of Nazareth. This place had not been mentioned in scripture as of this time, not in the Old Testament. There is no mention in the Apocrypha, or even in the writing of Josephus.
People of Judah hated the Jews in Nazareth. Felt they were not kosher in being in such close proximity to Gentiles.
Nathaniel in Jn1:45-46 asked Philip if anything good could come from Nazareth.
Galilee is about 15 miles away from the Sea of Galilee, according to earlier writing six miles from closet major road (may bring in Pax Romana)
Though from this point forward Galilee and Jesus would be synonomous. For Jesus would be known as Jesus of Nazareth; The apostles would also be know as Nazarene’s.
Betrothed picture inserted here
The virgin was betrothed (engaged) to a man named Joseph.
Betrothed: According to Jesus custom there were stages to a Jewish wedding.
Engagement: Normally arrangement was made between the fathers
Betrothal: that is the ceremony where mutual promises were made between the couple. This would happen one-year prior to the the marriage itself. Though at the betrothal they would be considered married but without consummation of the marriage. It would still take a certificate of divorce to break the betrothal.
Marriage (as mentioned about 1 year later) when the bridegroom would come for the bride at an unexpected time after preparing a place for them.
What can we know about Joseph: He was a descendant of David (1:27): He was a carpenter (Mt13:55)
55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
What about Mary? - Descendant of David and a virgin as prophesied (Isa7:14); name in Hebrew “Mariam” and means ‘exalted one.’
14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
then comes the greeting
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Gabriel’s greeting
Favored one! - Greek word “charitoo” means highly blessed, much graced.
Did you know that you too are favored?
Not because of who we are but because of Christ’s gift of grace, and blessings to you (consider Eph1:6, 3)
The Lord is with you
Did you know this same thing is true for you too (consider Mt28:20)?
No wonder with that type of greeting Mary would be perplexed (NASB); troubled (NIV); greatly troubled (BSB); confused and disturbed (NLT); startled (GWT)
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
You have found favor with the Lord
Important side note: the passage (v.28, 30) says she is favored “among” women, not “above” women. We need to be careful when anyone tries to exalt Mary, worship Mary, pray to Mary for they then make Mary an idol. - it is true she is blessed among women, but she is only a woman.
Gabriel’s announcement
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
You will conceive, bear a son, call Him Jesus
Jesus, this is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua and it means “Jehovah is Salvation.”
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
He will be great, called the Son of the Highest, or Most High (also consider Isa9:6).
As you can see as we look at this passage in context it is about Jesus not Mary, Mary is God’s instrument to bring Jesus.
In Gabriel’s address he notes both the divine nature and the humanity of Jesus, drawing back to
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Child born (Humanity)
Son given (Divine)
He will reign over the house in a never ending kingdom (consider the fulfillment of 2Sam7:12-16)
A good question
A good question
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will 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.
36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
In (v.34) you have Mary’s question, (v.35) you have Gabriel’s answer, there are some significant points made, what are they?
Holy Spirit will come upon you.
Power of Most High will overshadow You
Since these things, The holy Child will be called THE Son of God.
Gabriel offers proof that nothing is to difficult, what is it (v.36)?
Elizabeth is having a son in her old age.
Mary’s response shows the state of her heart, what is it (v.38)?
A humble bondslave
Believing and receiving what was told to her
Mary, Zacharias similar questions “how?” Both had logical questions
Zacharias in what seemed to be skeptical unbelief
Mary in wonder-filled faith
Zacharias ended in being muted
Mary in a proclamation of praise (hold on for more on this next week).
Mary did not know how it was going to happen, did not understand, but had faith that it would if Gabriel said so.
Before closing out this morning, I want to pause on the phrase “for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.”
HOLY CHILD SLIDE INSERTED HERE
Gabriel is a messenger sent from God (v.26) He is bringing God’s message not his own.
The child Mary will have will be “Holy Child”
Jesus totally fits that bill
He knew no sin (2Cor5:21)
He did not sin (1Pt2:22)
He had no sin (1Jn3:5)
Because of the Holy Spirit Mary would be overshadowed. - - - take a journey back to the tabernacle (expand on this; presence of God overshadowed).
The Holy Child would be called “the” Son of God.
This separates out from any other, this gives place of preeminence. Not just a son of God like angles had been referred to, but “the” Son of God
No wonder why Mary breaks out in praise just after this, she did not fully understand, but she fully, faithfully, submitted to the words spoken!
Words matter! Specific words from God through the angel to a teenager who would forever impact history and eternity.
His Word has not changed, it will accomplish it’s work.
Mary was fully surrendered body, soul and spirit and set’s an example for us. She is not the Holy One, she was entrusted to bring “the” Holy Child in who would be called “the Son of God.”
(Prayer) (Exit)