12/16/18
verses 26 through 38 reading in our lord Jesus name In the six-month God sent an angel Gabriel to Nazareth a town in Galilee to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph a descendant of David The Virgins name was Mary the angel went to her and said greetings you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at that is words and what it what kind of a greeting this might be. But angel said to her do not be afraid Mary you have found favor with God you will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high the Lord. God will give him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever his kingdom will never end. How would this be married as the angel since I am a virgin and the angel answered the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you so the Holy One To be born will be called The Son of God even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age. And she who was said to be Barren is in her sixth month for Nothing is Impossible with God. I am the Lord's servant Mary answered may it be to me as you have said then the angel left her? Stanley father today as We Gather to better understand your servant Mary and how you used her to be a major part of Salvation history. Just like you use us today. Help us to better understand this in Jesus name. Amen and may be seated.
As I said, I was doing the three part Series this is the end of it as we're getting into Christmas. I wanted to focus on The Innkeeper then I wanted to focus on Joseph but my goal for today was to focus on Mary and Mary has always been one of those touchy things, you know within Christianity. There's really three different ways that they approach Mary and the first approach is that we get married as somebody who's very special chosen by God, but even more than that, they go so far as to try to answer. How is it that Jesus is without sin. So therefore she had to be sinless and then if she is sinless and she gets raised to a point of say sainthood and because she's Jesus's mother she didn't become intercessor for you to Jesus that she's some sort of a vehicle being used to bring your prayers to him directly to his ear and within that setting comes with Cold mereology marriages where people worship they pray to Mary they ask for her help intercession. And so here we have Mary being raised to the highest point that any person could be Ever Raised to that. That's human. Okay, but then there's another side within Christianity that has Mary at the other end where she's not even mention. We don't talk about Mary with it with no we talk Jesus. That's all like, he just appeared without the Virgin birth. We don't talk about Mary. Don't say anything about her. David. We don't want to deal with that because there's such a high standard over here. We want to be the complete opposite. We don't want any part of that. Well, guess what? You came to Lutheran Brethren Church today and you're going to find yourself where we always are right in the middle. Why do you think I'm Lutheran? I don't like radical anything. I love the way Lutheran theology approaches this topic one. Mary was favored by God. It says it in scripture the way it is. What should unique in God's eyes? Yes gifted and able to accomplish the task he set forth for her to do and that's the race Christ. So she was special. She was unique, but she was also called God closer to this purpose. We don't focus on what Mary does we focus on what God does through Mary? That's what's important. She was giving something. That's life-changing. world-changing for everybody a task to carry godson to give birth to God's son to raise God Son and in the midst of all of that she was human and I'm going to deal with that today that she was real. She had real feelings. She had real fears. What did the angel say? Do not be afraid? She was wondering what kind of greeting this was. She thought it was going to be a Heavenly Host going. You know Angels only come for what bring me home. So let's explore today. The lessons we can learn from Mary as God called her into the ministry now, forgive me. When I put this together, I realize it I'm taking a risk. I do not want you to hear my sermon as an allegory using Mary. I don't want you to hear that all I am going to take things with in Mary's life and apply them to our life as we are called the Christian service. Okay, you understand. I'm Mary's a real person. I believe in the Virgin birth. But yet I also believe we can learn a lot from somebody who was flesh-and-blood called by God for a specific task in the world. That didn't really want to hear it. Okay. Now with that disclaimer out I can go forward with my sermon. What I love about this Mary is our first one frightened got the angel Gabriel there that comes and talks to her. She is kind of like I don't know what to do with this. What kind of a greeting like this thing? And then finally it's starting to sink in what's going on and what the angel was saying to her and would I love really about the story is like she's asking the right questions. How will this be since I am a virgin and even an angel answers or questions to calm her and then you'll see at the end of the text that I read. It was kind of like whatever you want. Lord is kind of a paraphrase. Yes, This is wonderful. I just take a moment God intervened in Mary's life. Mary had set plans. She was betrothed to be married to Joseph. Everything was being put into place. We can only say that a few months with into this are engagement if you like is taken place and things are going forward. You have to understand that this time. It was very important for a young girl to be married. That was her identity. That was her who was going to provide for her who was going to protect her. It was a big deal. Like today. What marriage is where it's 50-50 or whatever and everybody shared responsibility. You didn't get married. You have a problem because your family can only provide so much and so it was very important. This is going to be your identity everything your economy. Everything's there and hear her future is set. She is going to be married and better than that who she going to be married to Joseph a descendant from David. This is a big deal to him as being a carpenter forget that Jesus descended from Abraham a descendant from David. This is a big deal. Gabriel shows up a God shows up to speak through Gabriel to Mary and what he has to say. Is I have a plan for you have a plan for your life.
And I'm going to accomplish it through you. Wow, now, let me just start with that. God still calls people today. I know you might not be called for a virgin birth. You might not be called to be a pastor. You might not be called to be a missionary but God still goes people to Faith in Jesus Christ. He still calls you to believe he still calls fisherman to come follow me and this is your wife your set apart your gifted by God to be used by God to live for God. You understand that that's the cooling that each and every one of us has it might not be as unique is married, but it's just a special. You are set apart to be used by God to proclaim the glory of God. No matter what. I love that. I remember the first time in my life that that became real for me. Yeah, they call the conversion experience, you know that, you know, you were kind of a nominal or you know, not really a Christian then all sudden to the light comes on. I think they like a mother Mary. Let me share with you why I say that if you read a little bit further into Luke what you think you have Mary song. Have you ever read that? I've been favored. I've been blessed. She's she's having a mountain-top experience. She met God voice. She knows what's going on. She's excited. Have you ever been excited about your faith ever? Isle of Youth Ministries for one reason they get a chance to go to Bible Camp to get a chance to go to a cabin to get a chance to get away. They finally hear the God's word without all the mumbo-jumbo that's all around us in the everyday and we'll send the light bulb comes on and they have a Mountaintop experience then come back and walking on air and that's what it should be if I marry and she had a mountain-top experience. But guess what? This is real life and no one can stay on the mountain. You got to come down. You can't live up there. Guess when Mary came down the mountain.
When Joseph found out she was pregnant. Wow there what that experience there. Would that song? Think about it. One day you're singing for Jesus and the next day you're going why are you doing this? What just happened? I'm afraid. It was scary. I said I said this before and I'll say it again. I said last week we don't understand the implications of Barry being pregnant before being married. I mean, this is a big deal number one. If Joseph was not a generous guy and a good guy honorable guy. He could have easily went to the elders and say she's found with child. She's an adulterous and what would have happened to be stoned? I'm not joking. She would have installed. Let me tell you the next case scenario. They don't Stone her and somehow there's a little bit of money changing hands and then go will let her live but she still has to be divorced because it's not his child. Right? She ain't now has lost everything one. She lost her husband. She lost her identity. She lost her income next she will never be married. No one wants her now. They don't want to stay, she has to live a life of being alone and not only that but being really killed by her community.
People think that when we become Christians we stay on the mountain and it's always great and it's always sunny and it never is she got to come down. And sometimes when you come down people aren't as happy about your experience. Life can throw you a curve. Find yourself. no longer rejoicing but afraid questioning confused if you like Tough, this is tough stuff.
But you're supposed to good guy. Once he was a really good guy. an angel had to come you know, what's interesting is that angel didn't come what would happen he would have divorced her. You do realize that he was set in his mind what he was going to do. God had to intervene. in the bath
What would be the bed?
One imagine trying to tell your neighbors family and friends. Oh, I'm pregnant by God. Just think I'm really serious as Christian. We are made fun of today because we say we believe in the Virgin birth one of your diversion. Think about how people would have been like yeah, I buy that one.
No one would believe you people think you're crazy. People don't want anything to do with it because of the story. Let me bring it to today how many of our Christian students are in school and they're ridiculed because they go how can you believe that? You know, it's not true. Are you foolish? You must be dumb. following mixed
See what I mean? It's a lot of connections here connections that we don't normally make unless we take time to look at this story. God continues to be faithful when Mary is at a low God intervenes. She's about to get divorced the worst case scenario is about to happen in her life and God steps in. It says no.
Have you ever had God stuff in? Have you ever had. Step in your case? Scenario is going wrong. It's outside of your control things have already happened. I can't fix this then God steps in. Infectious it takes care of it. Makes it better in some way. God still does that today? If you're sitting here today, and you just going everybody celebrating Christmas, everybody's having a good time. Everybody's looking forward to this at the other thing. I'm alone. I'm tired. It's just not there for me. Just not happy. God can still interview. God can still intervene. God cares for us and he cares about our trials he cares about our tribulations. He cares about our worries. He cares about our fears.
But just like Mary. You can be honest about him. And even ask what kind of a greeting is this? What are you doing? What would you have of me? We can still do it today. And God doesn't get mad. He answer in his word his purpose for you his desire for you. You know, I love to text do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God. Let me just stop right there. I said that there's a camping within Christianity that has favor with God is something because you're unique you're the only one that will never happen again everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is favored by God because you are now a child of God. You are favored. God is your father we can say Abba. Any comps calls answers for pairs provides? Our father loves us. Our father cares for us. Our father does everything for us? Why cuz we're down with favor because of Christ. Isn't that cool? I'm favorite. That's not mad at me God's not after me God's not punishing me because I texted me. I have to Haver his favor because of Christ. I love that. I absolutely love that. But like I said Mary was human. I'm from a different part of New York and we use the word human and everybody makes fun of me when I say that's why I really have to work on my HP. All right, so if it comes out every now and then you know where I'm from. So anyway, I was perplexed. I have to tell you I love taking on challenges and I will share that in. My Sherman said I would like to really explore the scriptures and I probably asked a question sat there. Like I loved doing that and then I get on these little journey sometimes funny true, but I get on a journey and I got to know I got to know so I guess I'm going to search I was flabbergasted when you look at the story of Mary from the very beginning of the gospels of genealogies her side to in that Matthew Wetzel Joseph side. It's like you get all this stuff like she was Blue Bloods got this we figure she's very young and took forever by God Mom at all this year and then, you know later on to see Jesus at the temple at the teachers of the law about Mary is probably like I'm so proud. Can you imagine I was thinking about this how many of you have ever driven behind a car and it says the mother or father of an o person on the mother of God only one bumper sticker that gets out and it would be hard but could you ask Trump to everybody? I that one my son is son of God. But she was human. Later on in story. As Jesus is getting older and 30 years old is called into the ministry. We know things get a little crazy and you know in the very beginning everything from yesterday healings in the beginning, but you know what the biggest item was, who was he fighting all the time? Just curious. Do you remember what you fighting Romans was he fighting pilot was he fighting politicians? Who was he fighting?
Well, that doesn't seem right and so I go what is going on then add to it later on in in the text you start to see something happened his family thinks he's crazy. You remember that? I looked at the line as I have to read it. So you don't think I'm crazy Mark 3:21 when Jesus and family heard about this. This is him in a sense teaching the Sadducees and Pharisees that they're dumb. Okay. Are you like he's putting it in a really strong text heard about this went to take charge of him before they said he is out of his mind. Just walking about Jesus. This is his family now, wait a minute. I go locations brothers and sister probably said that people that are are people telling them then Jesus's mother and brothers arrived standing outside a crowd was sitting around him and they told him your mother and brothers are outside looking for you and Cheese's replaced who are my mother and brothers. He asked then he looked at those she did in the circle around them and said here or here are my mother and my brothers whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother. I bet that just verified that okay. Jesus isn't on the same track. How do you say thank you to all that can't be true. Cuz Mary is all knowing. Right? No, she's not she's Flesh and Blood now. Can I do something and I got to love the disclaimer. I did not read this. I did not find this. This is my own personal journey of research. I am not saying it's absolute. I'm just saying it's possible. So please if you quote say it was a crazy Pastor from faith and that that's what he said could happen, but he's not saying this is exactly what happened. I was this crazy thing drove me crazy. Like how could you after this? Great Mountain Top experience this miracle a virgin birth seeing how God is work. We have Angels talking to you. How is it possible that later on years later that you can come to my place and think that maybe Jesus is in right? Maybe this isn't working out the way I thought I'm going to share with you what I came to conclude.
The idea of why Mary was there with her son's was to take him away from that setting. What was the setting he was rebuking the Pharisees and teachers of the law. That's what he was doing. Why would that upset Mary? Why would that upset Jesus's family? Let me explain something in the very beginning of the text. Remember what the angel told her that he is going to take the Throne of what David and he is going to rain on Jacob strong and it's going to be forever his kingdom remember that. So let's move it up a little bit. What was the problem that the disciples had while following Jesus? How did they understand the word Messiah? What's Jesus are to forgive their sins or was Jesus there for something else in their mind. Do you remember to take over Israel to get thrown out of there and to become a great nation again? He'll be the king and they're going to be the followers, right? This is what they expected. Do you think they were unique? I think that most of the people of that time but the same thing of the coming Messiah that one would be sent by God to redeem the people and now I'm going to tell you what my research did and you can correctly. Like I said, I'm just processing but I'm going to share what I've included in the Old Testament whenever Israel sinned, what did God do Do you remember took the land? He didn't say they repent and what would happen when they confess their sin they have to go back. I got to go back. Now wait a minute. What's going on at the time of Mary who's in control room skull and he'll forgive them their sins right? Human thinking wait a minute. He's a descendant of David King Jacob King write all this thing. We got it all down a ruling body whose now is coming to forgive their sin, which would mean what in the context of what I just said they get his real back. They're throwing out of Jerusalem, then they'll put in the power and maybe just maybe Mary's going. Why are you arguing with the Pharisees when you should be arguing with pilot? Do you see what's going on? There's a possibility. I can't say. It's for sure. I would never do that. But boy in the context, it makes perfect sense in mind that this is exactly what's going on. That she was able to be confused though saw and experienced God work in incredible ways. How many of you can testify that God's been good to you God has provided for you in the past. God has been there is done miraculous things and now today or because it happened so long ago.
That you question you doubt you're confused. It happens. I'm here to tell you what happened. I know people that have had incredible Mountaintop experiences and Faith only two years later start to question the goodness of God. Cardinals hat God knows he knows where week. He knows that were frail. He knows not all-powerful. So we sent an angel. He speaks to us through his word. Sent another Christian to come alongside to say he still there. You still in control? Hang in there?
In the end of the Mary story. Is one of the things I think is very beautiful. Jesus and his last breath for Phil's a commandment. Welcome amateurs. What honor your mother and father?
Well, you see his mother. It was not really anyone to provide for her care for her. And so Jesus tells John.
care for her carefor
so that in the hard times to come when Jesus does die. In the Lost feel so heavy John will be there with you.
Christian If God has called you to believe in Jesus Christ, he's called you to be a witness to Jesus Christ, even if people think you're crazy. You're called to be a witness to Christ. Even when times are hard. You're the be a witness for Christ. Even when what God is doing is quite confusing.
But you're also called to be a John. Come alongside those especially this time of year. Might be grieving. Might be lonely. Might be hurting. To take them in. Put your arm around them. I love them. Just some lessons learned from Mary. Like I said, I didn't want it to be an allegory just some lessons we can learn let's pray. Heavenly Father Do you be the glory? Thank you for still calling people to your service as well as to Faith and may wheel or God be found faithful. Just as Mary was to fulfill her calling. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.