Advent Week 3: “Behold!” Luke 1:26-38

INTRO> On October 15th 2018, Kensington Palace, the Royal Residence announced via social media, “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.”Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.” Prince Harry and Megan are of the British Royal family.” A Royal announcement, from a Royal family at the Royal Residence!

CONTEXT> In a way, that’s like our text today… except not. The passage today is known as “The Annunciation” When the angel comes to announce the news to Mary. But it’s not in a Royal Palace or a Royal family..In These few verse our word “Behold” is used 3x! The summary of this passage in found in v37 “For nothing is impossible with God”

Big Idea> Behold, nothing is impossible with God.

1. The impossible in the insignificant. v26

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

• • • • It might as well read, “Gabriel went to Doniphan.. Puxico, Fisk, Naylor…”
      • “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:45-46
      • The population in Jesus’ day wouldn’t have been over 500 people, largely poor, illiterate, hard working people. This little village would have been in-between other major towns. Jesus spent 30 years in this no where town!

*ILL> I think if Jesus had a theme song it would be this one, “Got nothing against a big town Still hayseed enough to say Look who’s in the big town But my bed is in a small town Oh, and that’s good enough for me”- John Mellancamp

APP> What you think is insignificant, God thinks is important.

2) The impossible with the inadequate.

• • • • v27 “to a man whose name was Joseph..” We don’t know a lot of Joseph but he is a great guy. He is a blue collar carpenter, he is last mentioned when Jesus is around 12years old, he probably died at some point. Betrothed- is a legal binding engagement between two families. Jospeh has ever legal right to break off the engagement because Mary ends up pregnant, he wanted to still honor her, angel tells him to keep the engagement going.

APP> The life of Joseph teaches us that God doesn’t use us based on our abilities, he uses us based on our availability.

• • • • • v27 “to a virgins name was Mary..” I need to do some work here, there is a ditch on both sides of the road, Mary has been made too much of and too little. “The Roman Catholic Church pays an honor to her hardly inferior to that which it pays to her blessed Son. She is formally declared to be “conceived without sin”. She is held up as an object of worship, and prayed to as a mediator between God and man, no less powerful than Christ himself. For all of this, be it remember, there is not the slightest warrant in Scripture. But while we say this, we must in fairness admit that no woman was ever so highly honored as the mother of our Lord. By the child-bearing of one woman, life and immortality were brought to light when Christ was born.” – Bishop JC Ryle
        • She was not sinless Luke 2:24, She wasn’t perpetually virgin, James, Jude, Sisters.

APP> Mary is not the object of faith, she is an example of faith.

1. 1. 1. 1. Mary’s sobriety of thought. v29
         2. Mary’s sincerity of heart. v34
         3. Mary’s submission to the word. v38
         4. Marys sacrifice of reputation. v38 “to me” (*Adapted from Tim Kellers sermon “Mary’s Son”)

*ILL> Famous drawing of Eve and Mary “O Eve! My mother, my daughter, life-giving Eve, Do not be ashamed, do not grieve.
The former things have passed away, Our God has brought us to a New Day. See, I am with Child, Through whom all will be reconciled. O Eve! My sister, my friend, We will rejoice together Forever! Life without end.”

3) The impossible and the infinite.

• • • • Let us not get carried away here, the focus isn’t on Mary, the focus in on the baby that Mary will carry! We see here 5 descriptions of this baby:

1. This baby is the Savior. v31“you shall call his name Jesus” you don’t get to name Jesus, Jesus names you!
2. This baby is great. v32 “he will be great”
3. This baby is the only son of God. “the Son of the Most High” This is the mystery! Jesus was fully God and fully man!
4. This baby is King. “throne of his father David” The good true king!
5. This baby is eternal. “there will be no end” because there has been no beginning.

“Have you ever stood in Westminster Abbey when some great warrior was being buried, and when the herald pronounced his various titles? He has been greatly honored by his queen, and by his nation, for which he has fought so valiantly, and he is prince of this and duke of that, and count of the other and earl of something else, the titles are many and brilliant. What a parade it is! “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” What use is it to the senseless clay, that it is buried with pomp of heraldry? But I stand at the tomb of Christ, and I say of His offices that they are superlatively grand, and moreover, that they are not buried and neither is He among the dead. He lives and still bears His honors still in the fullness of their splendor. He is still all to His people, every office He still carries on, and will carry on till He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, and God shall be all in all. Oh, the splendor of this Christ of God in the mighty offices which He sustains! He is the Standard-bearer among ten thousand. Who is like unto Him in all eternity? “The government shall be upon His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.” “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!” Let our hearts give Him our adoring praise tonight, for He is great in the glorious offices which God has heaped upon Him.” Spurgeon 1883 “He shall be great”

Big Idea> Behold, nothing is impossible with God.

CLOSE>

• • • • What insignificant situation are you overlooking?
      • Do you think that you are so inadequate that God can not use you?
      • Are you trying to consult with the King?