For with God nothing will be Impossible
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 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. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Christmas, it really Happened!
Christmas, it really Happened!
(Slide)
Good morning again
How was your week so far?
Thank-you Justin for the Children Story
Thank-you Janna for playing
We have some folks away today.
Christmas Series
Christmas Series
(Slide)
Welcome to the second part of our 4 part Christmas Series.
Christmas, it really happened!
Last Week - Birth of John the Baptist Foretold ()
Today - Birth of Jesus Foretold ().
Next Week - Birth of John the Baptist (). Pastor Walker.
22nd - Birth of Jesus (). Joint Service at GY
As I started to study for this series it became clear we could have started some time ago.
There is just so much in each of these passages!
Luke draws so many parallels in these accounts between John and Jesus.
The birth announcement for John parallels the birth announcement of Jesus
The birth of John the Baptist parallels the birth of Jesus
This is deliberate by Luke who carefully investigated these matters.
Even the ministry of John the Baptist parallels the ministry of Jesus in Luke, until John’s death.
(Pause)
The Wife and Mother to Be
The Wife and Mother to Be
(Slide)
We can only imagine her excitement.
She was young.
Probably around 15.
She was betrothed.
Betrothal was normal at that age in first century Israel.
She was betrothed.
Step 1 of being married.
One author describes it this way,
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Mary and the Angel’s Arrival (1:26–28)
Betrothal in the ancient world was part of a two-stage marriage process. The initial phase, the betrothal, involved a formal, witnessed agreement to marry and the giving of a bridal price (Mal 2:14; m. Ketubot 4:4–5). At this point the bride legally became the groom’s and could be called his wife. About a year later the actual marriage followed, and the husband took his wife home. In the first century betrothal could take place starting at the age of twelve. Mary’s age is unstated. It is during this betrothal stage that Gabriel breaks the news.
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Mary and the Angel’s Arrival (1:26–28)
Betrothal in the ancient world was part of a two-stage marriage process. The initial phase, the betrothal, involved a formal, witnessed agreement to marry and the giving of a bridal price (Mal 2:14; m. Ketubot 4:4–5). At this point the bride legally became the groom’s and could be called his wife. About a year later the actual marriage followed, and the husband took his wife home.
She was young.
Probably around 15.
Betrothal was normal at that age in first century Israel.
It was so much more than we think of “being engaged”.
Her whole life was ahead of her.
She had waited for this.
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Dreamed of it..
Kept herself for it.
And now, it was all happening.
Life was going to plan.
The wedding planning was happening.
Her Family were excited.
It was all falling into place.
Her Friends were excited.
Life was all going to plan.
Her plans.
And the plans of Mary
Her Father’s plans
And the Wedding plans
(Pause)
Her name was Mary.
And her life was about to change completely and for ever!
Her life was about to change In a way she could never have imagined!
(Pause)
She was probably around 14 or 15 years old.
The typical age of betrothal in 1st Century Israel.
Mary’s Family Line
Mary’s Family Line
Her Father was Heli
(Slide)
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
If you will accept Luke’s genealogy of Christ is through Mary. Rather than Matthew’s account, which is through Jospeh.
Rather than Matthew’s account, which is through Jospeh.
She was a descendant of David.
The Desire of Ages says,
Desire of Ages Chapter 4—Unto You a Saviour
She is of the lineage of David, and the Son of David must be born in David’s city. Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth … that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2
Her husband (to be) was Josepth
Also a descendant of David.
(Slide)
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Her name was Mary and she was probably around 14 or 15 years old, the age of betrothal in 1st Century Israel.
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Mary and the Angel’s Arrival (1:26–28)
Betrothal in the ancient world was part of a two-stage marriage process. The initial phase, the betrothal, involved a formal, witnessed agreement to marry and the giving of a bridal price (Mal 2:14; m. Ketubot 4:4–5). At this point the bride legally became the groom’s and could be called his wife. About a year later the actual marriage followed, and the husband took his wife home. In the first century betrothal could take place starting at the age of twelve. Mary’s age is unstated. It is during this betrothal stage that Gabriel breaks the news.
Both from the house of David and lineage of David
They both had the right family name.
They both had the right resume.
Nazareth, a City of Galilee
Nazareth, a City of Galilee
But they lived in the “wrong place”.
In Nazareth, a city of Galilee.
They did not live together yet, that would come soon.
That was step 2 of this first century marriage
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
That was step 2 of this first century marriage.
But Nazareth was not popular.
(Slide)
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
For those of you of the older generation, maybe you know the phrase, “Sent to Coventry”.
That was Nazareth.
And no good thing, especially no Prophet or Messiah, came from Nazareth.
Remember
(Slide)
They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
But for Mary and Joseph, Nazareth was home
And there is just no place like home.
(Slide-Off)
Gabriel’s Second Visit
Gabriel’s Second Visit
Two Cousins
Two Cousins
Two Miraculous Conceptions
One well advanced in years, and past the age of child bearing.
One, so young..
The Relatives
The Relatives
Mary had special relatives.
That is what last Sabbath was all about.
Elizabeth, from the Tribe of Levi.
Mary, from the Tribe of Judah.
Elizabeth, from the Tribe of Levi.
They were relatives
Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron.
We spoke about this last week.
Mary, from the house of King David.
One, the descendant of the Priesthood.
The other, the descendant of the promised King and Messiah.
The Priesthood pointing to the coming Messiah.
The Type pointing to the AntiType.
Two Ministries
Two Ministries
As it was in the family line, so it was in the Ministry of John and Jesus.
The House of Levi pointing to the House of David.
Eventually, The House of Levi must become less, but the House of David will become greatest.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was well advanced in years, and meant to be past the age of child bearing.
One, so young..
Miraculous for Elizabeth and Zacharias was the conception of John.
Elizabeth was now in her 6th month of pregnancy.
It was a miracle!
Elizabeth, the one well advanced in years, and meant to be past the age of child bearing.
Truly, it was a miracle.
But now something even more miraculous was about to happen!
Nazareth, a City of Galilee
Gabriel visits Mary
Gabriel visits Mary
The Greeting
The Greeting
It all started with a greeting.
(Slide)
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
“And having come in”, Where had Mary been?
Gabriel was waiting for her.
Think about that next!
The one who stands in the very presence of God was waiting for Mary to “come in”.
Pause
“Rejoice, Highly Favoured One, the Lord is with you” (point)
Not a bad way to be greeted.
Would you like to be greeted this way?
Did Mary merit this greeting in some special way ?
Because Mary was super holy?
Is Mary
Mary is troubled by this greeting.
The same greek root used for “Favoured” (point) can also be translated “accepted” , as in (point)
(Slide)
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
eph 1:6
Mary is highly favoured because of her faith in the Messiah.
We are accepted or highly favoured by our Faith in the same Messiah.
Mary did not merit this honour.
Don’t get me wrong, Mary’s response to Gabriel is magnificent (we will come to that)
But, We do not merit God’s favour.
Are we troubled by such a greeting?
From first to last that favour is because of the work of the Messiah .
And Gabriel is about to give that very Messiah’s birth announcement.
The Trouble
The Trouble
(Slide)
Luke’s account continues.
(Slide)
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
Really, you don’t say… reflect Luke’s way of under stating some things...
Mary saw him.
Mary was troubled
But Mary then considered the matter.
Remember how it says “Mary stored up these things in her heart”
This shows remarkable character.
Remember how it says “Mary stored up these things in her heart”
Compare this to Zacharias,
(Slide)
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Zacharias saw him
Zacharias was troubled
BTW, Luke is deliberately using the same words here.
Luke wants us to get the parallelism here in the accounts (and also the key differences).
BTW, Luke wants us to get the parallelism here in the accounts and the key difference.
But we can only see these things if we dig into our bibles.
But fear fell upon Zacharias.
And this is not healthy fear.
It is doubting and Fear.
I would suggest Mary reaction is healthy fear.
They both saw, they both were troubled, but only one considered these things in wonderment.
BTW, Do we still have a sense of wonderment about the Lord God and what He can do in our lives and the lives of others?
Mary kept her presence of mind to consider what manner of greeting this was.
Zacharias just fell into fear and doubt.
Luke is using the same words, Trouble. Luke wants us to get the parallelism here and the key difference. But we can only see these things if we dig abit.
BTW, Do we still have a sense of wonderment about the Lord God and what He can do in our lives, and the lives of others?
The Right Question
The Right Question
Let us continue .
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
(Slide)
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 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. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Look at Mary’s question (point)
Compare this to Zacharias..
BTW, Luke wants us to compare, note the same words...
(Slide)
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
How shall I Know this? vs How will this happen?
Both questions start with How.
BTW, again Luke wants us to compare, note the same words...
But after the How there is a world of difference in their questions.
The Lord sees the heart but we get a glimpse even in the questions
Zacharias asks “How do I Know?”. That is full of doubt.
Vs Mary, “How is this going to happen, as I do not know a man?”.
Take some liberty to paraphrase, “I have considered your words, but how is it going to happen, I do not know a man?”
That is not doubt but a question of Wonderment.
Are we able to look at our situations with a sense of faith and wonderment in God?
Gabriel Explains
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
For with God nothing will be impossible
For with God nothing will be impossible
Luke’s account continues
(Slide)
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
For with God nothing will be impossible.”
(Pause) For with God nothing will be impossible
Mary had that sense of wonderment in the Lord and what He can do in a persons life.
Are we able to look at our situations in life with a sense of wonderment in God?
To be able to say, “For with God nothing will be impossible”
For with God nothing will be impossible
One author writes,
For with God nothing will be impossible.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 5 31. Conceive
With what awe and reverence heaven must have watched the Son of God “step down from the throne of the universe” (DA 23), depart from the courts of glory, and condescend to take upon Himself humanity, to be made “in all things … like unto his brethren” (Heb. 2:17), to humble Himself and be “found in fashion as a man”
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
We read in the “Desire of Ages”
Desire of Ages Chapter 1—“God with Us”
In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us.
As much as the conception of Jesus is a miracle, it only makes sense in the light of Calvary, the Cross and the Resurrection
Christmas only make sense in the light of the Cross
Mary did not know that yet, but soon she would begin to consider these matters more and treasure them in her heart,
At Jesus dedication, we read,
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
What a Closing
What a Closing
Mary’s encounter with Gabriel closes with,
(Slide)
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
What a way to finish. (Slowly)
Zacharias will not speak for another 3 months.
But Mary says, “let it be according to your word” (Pause)
What a way to close.
Mary must have had questions.
What on earth will Joseph think?
What about my marriage to him? It that now over?
What about all my family and friends?
But her wonderment in God meant she trusted first and foremost
When God tells us to do something, or give up something, or change something, our first priority must be to heed the word
Regardless of consequences.
Leave consequences to God
Leave consequences to God
If we follow God it is a given that some people will think we are nuts or Christmas Crackers! Literally
Our response to the Lord is “let it be according to your word”
That is Absolute Surrender
True Discipleship
True Discipleship
(Slide)
When we come to that place of truly understanding that,
For with God nothing will be impossible
Then our response to the Lord is,
I am your servant, Let it be to me according to your word.
We can only understand Christmas in the light of Calvary.
Desire of Ages Chapter 1—“God with Us”
In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us.
As Gabriel departs, so we close the close our second part of our Christmas Series
Mary was there.
She shows remarkable Faith and Trust.
Zacharias got there eventually.
Some of us take longer then others.
But the key is we all get to that place of simple Faith and Trust.
Final Words
Final Words
So we close our second part of our Christmas Series
Luke has now given us the account foretelling the birth of John the Baptist.
(Slide)
And the account foretelling the birth of the Messiah.
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
John will be a Prophet, like none before him.
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
But there is One greater, One like no other, that is coming
The Prophet must become less, the true One must become more..
The One of who it is said ,
(Slide)
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.
John the Baptist will play his part, and then become less and less.
We don’t need all the details
Eventually John will die and sleep, waiting again for His Messiah.
Mary will play her part, she will watch her son grow up and for 3 years she will watch her son’s ministry which will lead to the cross and all that means.
Eventually Mary will die and sleep, waiting again for her Messiah
But Jesus, the Son of God, He will become more, and more, and more.
He is Joy to the World.
He is the Messiah and He is Alive.
This very day He lives and is coming again soon.
Christmas, it really happened!
What is our part?
Where is God asking us to say, “I am your servant, Let it be to me according to your word?”
We will continue next week.
Christmas, it really happened.
The New American Commentary: Luke The Lukan Message
Whereas John is later described as “a prophet of the Most High” (1:76), Jesus is the “Son of the Most High” (1:32).
Calvary, it really happened.
Jesus, our Advocate before the Father in heaven, it is happening, now.
17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
The Return of Jesus, it will happen, soon.
For with God nothing will be impossible
The Right Name
The Right Name
Remember Hagar?
Remember Hagar?
And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
NKJVNow Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.
So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”
But the Lord looked on them!In His time!
Remember Isaac and Rebekah?
Remember Isaac and Rebekah?
NKJVNow Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
The Lord looked on them.In His time.