Mary

Jesus came so that our relationship with the Lord could be renewed. This relationship was broken when we sinned and Jesus came born of a virgin and was the penalty for our sin. Whosoever believes in him experiences relationships renewed.

I will never forget making a joke that almost cost me my life. Amy and I went to see the doctor because Amy was pregnant. On this particular day we were in the waiting room and it happened that many other ladies who were about to go in to labor were waiting on the doctor. The ladies were in pain and ready to meet their new child. They were hurting and you could tell. I sometimes think the Lord gets mommas ready to meet their little one and makes them miserable enough that they can endure the pains of labor because they are so miserable. So you can imagine a small waiting room and many mothers around in pain moaning and hurting.

Amy and I finished the visit with the doctor and were were leaving the office. I got to the car where we were safe and I told Amy, “Man those ladies were in so much pain before we went in” Amy responded with “I know” then I said to her, “I almost looked at them all and said ladies surely it is not that bad please quiet down”.

You can see that this would have cost me my life. Being pregnant is a tuff job. I have never been pregnant but I have survived 4 of my wife’s pregnancy and it was not easy for her.

Luke 1:26 HCSB

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

The people in Judah did not respect the Jews in Galilee and claimed they were not “kosher” because of the their contacts with the Gentiles there.

These Jews especially did not respect the people that are from Nazareth.

Grace of God

This is another beautiful picture of God’s grace. God in his grace chooses a poor teenage girl from Nazareth in Galilee to be the mother of the promised Messiah.

This is the story of relationships renewed! You see God in the middle of our messes he reaches down and chooses the unlikely girl from Nazareth in Galilee and calls her to be the mother of the Messiah.

This Christmas season God in the middle of your mess is desiring to reach down and restore His relationship with you through His son Jesus.

(Story)

Luke 1:27–30 HCSB

27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:27–28 HCSB

27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:27-

Luke 1:

As if being pregnant is not hard in itself, Mary is engaged to Joseph and she is a virgin. Imagine the ridicule she faced when others found out that she was pregnant and she was engaged to Joseph. I am sure the rumors were circulating about her. I am sure many people did not believe what she told about the angel coming to her.

The angel comes to Mary and says rejoice, favored woman.

The words favored woman mean “greatly graced”

Mary is poor, she is engaged, she is from Nazareth in Galilee. She is unlikely in the eyes of others. God reaches down to Mary and says you who are greatly graced.

I love this greatly graced! I identify with Mary here because this morning the fact that I get to hear this story and worship God freely I like Mary am greatly graced.

As we talk about Relationships renewed it would be my prayer that your attitude would be this that you recognized that God in His goodness has greatly graced you as well.

Relationship with our creator is renewed because of His great grace on us.

Mary’s response is that she was deeply troubled by this statement and wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

Notice the humility of Mary. Mary’s response to this greeting is a great example for us all. Everyone wants to be somebody and wants to get noticed.

The angel says to Mary that you are highly favored and her response is deeply troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The response is one of humility.

As we seek relationships renewed may our spirit and attitude be the same of Mary. May our spirit be one of humility.

Greatness of the Son

Luke 1:31–33 HCSB

31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name 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 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.

Luke 1:31

You will give birth to a son and you will call His name Jesus. The name Jesus literally means Savior. His name will be Jesus because he will save people from their sins.

Jesus was fully man as he was born by the virgin mother. The virgin birth and the incarnation of Jesus Christ meaning that he became fully man is essential to the Christian faith.

Verse 32 says 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.

If Jesus was not born of a virgin, then he would have been created. We believe in the Virgin birth because the word of God says this but also we believe in the virgin birth because we believe Jesus being fully God has always existed and was not something that was created to save us from our sin.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.

The focus in the verses is not on the greatness of the Mother but the focus here is on the greatness of the son that the mother will have. The focus here is Jesus.

Mary Believed the Word of God

Luke 1:34 HCSB

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”

Luke 1:

Mary asked the question of How.

This is different then Zachariah’s question last week. Zachariah’s question was one of unbelief.

Mary’s question is one of I believe but tell me how this can be since I have not been intimate with a man.

Mary’s response is the right response

She ask the question of how will this happen.

Relationships renewed between Our God and us may we learn the skill of asking how things happen verses asking if they will happen.

God how do you plan to accomplish your plan rather than asking God will you accomplish your plan.

God I believe you that it will happen but what is your plan to make it come about?

Contrast would be: God I don’t think you have heard me. God why did you do this to me.

Mary did not question that God could do this but she asked how he would do this. Mary is a beautiful example for us because she does not question she simply ask how it will take place.

Luke 1:35–38 HCSB

35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:35-

The angel answers her and says The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will over shadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

That’s the answer that Mary gets. When you think about this that is some pretty little details. Not a whole lot is there.

The angel then tells about Elizabeth and the power of God through both Mary and Elizabeth.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Mary responds to this simple explanation with I am the Lord’s slave. May it be done to me according to your word.

A “bondwoman” was the lowest kind of female servant, which shows how much Mary trusted God.

Mary believed the word of God and her response is one of humility.

This heart is key in Relationships Renewed. It is key to be humble in your relationship with Jesus. If you think this relationship with Jesus is all about you, then it is time to renew this and take the posture of Mary. I am the Lord’s slave.

Humility is key in our relationship with others. If you think relationships with others is all about you, then it is time to renew those relationships and take the posture of humility in all relationships.

Joy

Luke 1:39–45 HCSB

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: “You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! 45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Luke 1:39-

Elizabeth responds with Joy. John the Baptist as a baby leaps for Joy inside His mother’s womb and Mary is there to rejoice with Elizabeth.

Love this as it is full of Joy. Mary, Elizabeth and John the Baptist are full of Joy at the coming of the Messiah.

It could have been easy for Elizabeth to be Jealous of young Mary but she rejoices with Mary.

Relationships renewed reflect Joy.

This joy first comes from a relationship with our savior. Being with our Savior, causes us to have joy rather than jealousy for others.

Mary’s Praise

Luke 1:46–55 HCSB

46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.

Luke 1:46-

Mary’s response is evidence that she does not just have knowledge of God but that Mary experiences a daily relationship with God.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

She has little information and she says my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

Contrast: God why me, why all this ridicule, why all these people questioning me about my pregnancy.

Mary responds that she proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior

He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave.

The Mighty One has done great things for me

His name is Holy

His mercy is from generation to generation

Those who fear him He had done a mighty deed with His arm

He has scattered the proud because of thoughts of their hearts

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: Hear the Good News! (Luke 1)

She experienced the grace of God (Luke 1:30) and believed the Word of God, and therefore she could be used by the Spirit to accomplish the will of God.

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