Sermon Tone Analysis

(NIV)

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.

The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!

The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on 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.

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Then the angel left her.

Many people have this belief that since we live in a nation of freedom, a newborn child can grow up to be anything that they want to be.

I don’t know that I completely agree with that belief.

I realize that children from very diverse backgrounds are not limited by class distinctions, race, or financial status as to what their possibilities are, but certain professions and jobs cannot be done by everyone.

Example: A child born to a father who is six foot five and a mother who is five foot ten probably isn’t going to have much of a chance being a jockey in the Kentucky Derby.

Nevertheless, the parents and grandparents of newborn have much hope and aspirations for the newborn child.

We may even pray for and work toward making dreams come true by providing the resources and opportunities which will pave the pathway to success.

You may have watch professional sports long enough to recognize the last name’s of current NFL players because their own father’s played in the NFL.

As Packer fans we are most familiar with Clay Matthews.

Last week’s game against the Caroline Panther’s reminded us of how Christian McCaffrey’s father was a wide receiver in the NFL about 25 years ago.

They booth have genetics and the opportunities to succeed at a high level.

Even two our US Presidents had fathers who had also been US Presidents.

So have hope and pray for young children that they will be able to succeed at life.

Certainly, Mary, the mother of Jesus, had hope for the child that she would give birth to as we celebrate on Christmas Day.

On what was her hope based?

Well, it wasn’t based on normal circumstances by any means.

Her hope was based on the promises of God spoken to her from the angel Gabriel.

The announcement of Jesus’ birth ought to be familiar to us.

Luke is detailed concerning this event.

It takes place six month’s into the pregnancy Elizabeth whose story is told earlier.

From this we conclude that John the Baptist is six month’s older than Jesus.

Gabriel (one of three named angels) is sent by God to Nazareth, Galilee to the home of a virgin named Mary.

He is engaged to a man named Joseph.

“A descendant of David” most likely goes with Joseph although grammatically it could be either one.

See parallel passage.

Luke is detailed concerning this event.

It takes place six month’s into the pregnancy Elizabeth whose story is told earlier.

From this we conclude that John the Baptist is six month’s older than Jesus.

Gabriel (one of three named angels) is sent by God to Nazareth, Galilee to the home of a virgin named Mary.

He is engaged to a man named Joseph.

“A descendant of David” most likely goes with Joseph although grammatically it could be either one.

See parallel passage.

It is unfortunate that Jerome translated the Greek word here as he did.

28.

highly favoured—a word only once used elsewhere (, “made accepted”): compare , “Thou hast found favour with God.”

The mistake of the Vulgate’s rendering, “full of grace,” has been taken abundant advantage of by the Romish Church.

As the mother of our Lord, she was the most “blessed among women” in external distinction; but let them listen to the Lord’s own words.

“Nay, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”

(See on ).

28.

Thou that art highly favored (κεχαριτωμένη).

Lit., as Rev. in margin, endued with grace.

Only here and Eph.

1:6.

The rendering full of grace, Vulgate, Wyc., and Tynd., is therefore wrong.

All the best texts omit blessed art thou among women.

Mary’s favored status (v.

28) does not imply any intrinsic worthiness; it merely means that she has been a recipient of God’s gracious activity.

Nevertheless, Mary’s obedience and faith (v.

38; cf.

v. 45) are clearly a model for Luke’s community.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol.

2, p. 97).

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol.

2, p. 97).

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

St. Paul sheds light on why God chose Mary.

It was because she fulfilled the requirements of God plan.

(NIV) 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Mary was naturally in awe of what was happening.

Gabriel continues with making some astounding predictions of who Jesus is and what he would do.

A possibly life long decision that parents make at the birth of a child is what they are going to name that little bundle of joy.

Mary would have no such decision to be made.

God chose the name for his child.

It was a common name but it was still full of meaning.

“Jesus” which means “The Lord saves.”

It indicates what he would do.

Gabriel also predicts that he would be great.

Even today, Jesus is the most well known and respected person who has ever lived.

Meaning of “Son of the Most High”.

The “Most High” designates God in his supreme majesty.

(Hebrews 7:1; Genesis 14:18) Therefore the son of Mary would also be the very Son of God.

He would be called “the Son of the Most High,” not mistakenly, but rightly, because that is exactly who he is.

1:31 Jesus From the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “Yahweh is help (or, salvation)” (see Matt 1:21).

1:32 Son of the Most High Highlights Jesus’ divinity and royalty (compare Luke 1:35, 76).

give him the throne of his father David Gabriel implies that Jesus will fulfill the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:12–13).

Jesus would also be a ruler.

This prophecy became one of the most contested aspects of Jesus’ life.

Couched in the terminology of being an earthly ruler (throne of his father David, reign over Jacob’s descendant forever), we believe that as Jesus would later tell Pontius Pilate — his kingdom is not of this world.

Jesus would also be a ruler.

This prophecy became one of the most contested aspects of Jesus’ life.

Couched in the terminology of being an earthly ruler (throne of his father David, reign over Jacob’s descendant forever), we believe that as Jesus would later tell Pontius Pilate — his kingdom is not of this world.

Mary’s reactions is well known.

Although modern scholars who try to explain away miracles would argue on the meaning of the Greek word here, the context makes it obvious that Mary knew where baby’s came from and that it was impossible for her to be expecting a child.