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Luke 2:1-20
INTRO
Today, we’re kicking off our Christmas season with a message called INVADE.
I know that may seem weird but let me illustrate.
[Leader Note: share a story or illustration of an invasion.]
Mockingjay movies – these are so good!
The scene where they invade the Capitol and knock out the power that allows them to launch a secret mission.
When you look at Scripture and read about baby Jesus - we don't normally think of an invasion.
Most of you probably think of Ricky Bobby's prayer to sweet little baby Jesus.
[YouTube clip is here: https://youtu.be/VQmz5699DPQ]
This ain’t yo grannies Christmas message.
When Jesus came as a baby, I wonder if Satan himself was asked, “Are you kidding me?
A baby?” Then he probably roared with a boastful evil cunning laugh, thinking this plan of God would be easily foiled.
I imagine the enemy himself shouting lies and accusations at Mary and Joseph, messing with the chosen parents of the Son of God.
As this Christmas season approaches, we celebrate the moment God invaded human history.
We see in Colossians 1 that Jesus has always existed.
He is God.
He is not a created being but creator of all things.
In order to restore people and reconcile them to Himself, God had to dwell among his broken creation to be their sacrifice, to pay the ransom for their captivity to sin.
What kind of invasion was it?
Surely it was an epic Hunger Games type invasion of the King!
The invasion of such a great King and his Kingdom should surely need incredible force and an entry of great magnitude to announce His arrival and His authority.
And yet, this miraculous invasion included the very broken people He came to save.
Who was the woman to bring forth the King?
A woman like Katniss Everdeen?
A bow and arrow slinging lady warrior?
No. Instead, we see a young teenage girl, Mary.
What was the setting for the King’s coming?
A quarter quell of majestic wonder?
No.
An insignificant town.
Bethlehem.
A stable.
A food trough baby bed.
It was epic only in its humble surroundings.
But this was God’s plan.
It was His chosen cast and setting for the most epic invasion of all time.
Luke 1:26-38 sets the stage for the greatest invasion of all time.
“This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough (manger).”
(Luke 2:12 HCSB)
In 1 Corinthians 1:27, God’s Word says, "God has chosen the world's foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world's weak things to shame the strong.
God has chosen the world's insignificant and despised things - the things viewed as nothing - so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence."
A baby in a manger, a seemingly insignificant young girl, a small town Bethlehem?
All of these aspects don't make sense to be the recipe for a great invasion.
Tonight, we’ll look at the response of Mary of this announcement of the King coming to earth.
Not only was this about God invading human history but God invading the personal lives of people like you and me.
How do you respond when God wants to invade your life and completely change your plans?
What we see from this passage is that God's plan comes when God wants it to happen.
It's on His timetable.
1. God's plan to save the world is perfect timing – even when it doesn’t make sense.
Luke 1:26 - "In the 6th month the angel Gabriel was SENT BY GOD."
This declaration was first foretold 900 years earlier to King David.
2 Samuel 7.
For the World:
This invasion reflects upon God’s past grace and points to a future sacrifice that was promised.
The coming of a King to save the world had been mentioned in the Old Testament and this was Him.
Surely, he would be in a palace with servants and have the best of the best?
For Israelites:
This moment was a long-awaited moment for the people of Israel.
It was their King coming to save them!
He was not just a physical King who would reign on earth and help them, but a spiritual King that would take away their sin problem and restore them to God.
God gives exact coordinates for this amazing invasion of a King.
Isaiah 7:14
For Joseph and Mary:
This invasion involved totally wrecking Joseph and Mary's plans.
They were engaged and looking at which venue to hold the wedding, planning the decorations, selecting the menu, tasting cakes.
And God just wrecked their plan.
Or, so it would seem.
Some of you know that God is leading you to follow Him.
Some of you have never surrendered your life to Jesus and yet you know He is inviting you to follow Him and write a blank check to let Him do whatever He wants with your life.
You know what He has done for you and your need for Him.
It can seem as though He is invading your space and wrecking plans, but understand that He has the very best plan in mind for you.
Some of you are already following Jesus, but you are scared that your plans and desires and dreams aren’t going to work out if you really follow Jesus with all that you are.
I’ve been there.
WE have to trust that God knows more, that God is good, that He will be with us no matter where He leads us or what He calls us to.
Mary was risking her life to go along with this plan.
She could be killed for this.
Being pregnant before marriage would be grounds for execution.
Joseph planned to divorce her secretly and not cause any shame to her when he found out she was pregnant.
Then, an angel came to him and explained.
(Matthew 1:18-21)
But the angel explained the plan to save the world.
The invasion had a purpose.
Matthew 1:21: “He will save His people from their sins.”
2. God’s plan to save the world involves people.
The amazing reality of this is that Joseph and Mary didn’t deserve to have this happen to them.
They were sinners like all other people.
Yet they found favor with God.
Luke 1:28 “favored woman”
Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid Mary – for you have found favor with God.”
Her response?
Luke 1:29: “But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.”
I'm so glad we see this in Scripture: Mary is SO human!
Don't we all respond this way when we know God is telling us to go or do something that can wreck our plans?
When the human factor is in play, there will be questions and concerns.
She asked a question, but she doesn’t question the plan.
We don’t see her say that she can’t do it or that she doesn’t want to.
She asks about the process: “how can this happen?”
The angel answered this question with more evidence of God’s power and with a statement:
Luke 1:37 “FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD”.
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