3: The Lord’s Servant (Luke 1:26-38)

2 weeks ago we began the Journey through the Gospel of Luke to explore the Greatest Story ever Told. Our BIG TRUTH for this entire series is simple and powerful:

BIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

We saw in Luke 1:1-4 that Dr. Luke writes this letter to Theophilus, a non-Jewish man, so that he may know the certainty of the things he has have been taught (Luke 1:4). This is not a fairy tale, but an account of faithful eyewitnesses. Luke had invested much time in reading eyewitness accounts and interviewing eyewitnesses and authoring this letter all to communicate…

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

Last week TJ did a wonderful job helping us to see the significance of the angel Gabriel’s message to Zachariah. For 400 years God was silent as the Jewish people held onto the last prophetic message from Malachi - that Elijah would return to prepare the way for the Lord. Seeing as how Elijah the prophet lived about 450 years BEFORE that promise (850 B.C.), this was going to be a miraculous event. The Jewish people waited generation after generation, for 400 years with no sign of Elijah’s return. Then the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and revealed that this promise was about to be fulfilled. A baby was to be born to this old couple…

left6350Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)

16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:16–17 (NIV)

In their day the messenger would enter the town before the king and herald that the King is coming. But what of the King he prepares the way for? When we HE be here? Today we hear what is likely the eyewitness account of Mary as she tells the story to Dr. Luke.

left6350Luke 1:26–27 (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.Luke 1:26–27 (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.Luke 1:26–27 (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.Luke 1:26–27 (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.The word angel is the Greek angelos means ‘messenger’. In the Scripture there are 2 types of angelos meaning ‘messengers’ - earthly messengers like John the Baptist & heavenly messengers like Michael & Gabriel (the only 2 names of angels mentioned in Scripture).

Luke 1:26–27 (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.

Luke 1:26–27 (NIV)

But the angel is NOT the focus of the story. He is only the messenger of the most wonderful MESSAGE: The King is Coming. You would think this would kind of announcement would be trumpeted from the temple of God in Jerusalem, for small and great to hear. But instead, of all the places God could’ve sent this angel, Gabriel makes the trip from heaven to a young, peasant girl in an insignificant town.

Let’s explore 4 Facts we learn about Mary & Joseph

Mary lived in Nazareth and this is where the angel Gabriel is sent.

No one would have guessed that the Messiah would come from this small village. This town is so obscure & insignificant that never mentioned in the Jewish writings of the Old Testament, the Talmud, nor the writings of Josephus.

There are no major trade routes there. It was far away from the important centers of Jewish culture. The Temple was over 70 miles away in Jerusalem. It was even referred to as “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isa. 9:1; Matt. 4:15) because it bordered Gentile regions.

Nazareth did not have a good name among most Jews as they thought interaction with Gentiles meant contaminated morals. Years later when Phillip tells Nathanael that they have found the Messiah, who is from Nazareth, Nathanael says, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-46) Others were shocked to hear that Jesus had come from a town in Galilee (John 7:41). Of course, Luke was a Gentile writing to Theophilus, another Gentile. This message was for all nations…it still is.

Mary was a virgin. It was the norm in their day that a woman would remain a virgin until her marriage ceremony. Although this is not the norm for our culture anymore, it is still God's will that those who are unmarried remain sexually pure, even during engagement. Sex is a beautiful gift from God, but it has been drug through the mud. What was intended to be a righteous act - a source of blessing to protect mind, body, & marriage, but it has been distorted into a random act that can damage mind, body, & marriage. Sex is a great gift, intended for marriage alone. Mary believed this…so Mary was a virgin.

3. Mary was pledged to Joseph.

Joseph's father would have approached Mary's father and struck a deal, a formal agreement. After the payment and signature or verbal oath, the couple was engaged. So too, some of us Dads at Fellowship are wheelin’ and dealin’ - ready to trade some cattle for your daughters to be pledged to our sons.

I recently saw one that I thought was a worthwhile candidate. When I asked my son about a approaching her dad to make a deal, he responded, “Make it happen!”

This engagement was legally binding, and any sexual contact by the daughter with another man was considered adultery. The engagement could not be broken except through divorce (Matt 1:19), because the couple was considered husband and wife at this point (Matt 1:19–20, 24).

The normal age of the woman for engagement at this point was 12-13 years old. Can you imagine that? Think of a 13 year old girl you know…SHE would now be engaged with just 1 year until the marriage ceremony & moving in with her husband. During that year, Joseph would have been preparing a home for his new bride while Mary was living in purity & preparing to move away and invest her life in her husband.

That’s a LITTLE more responsibility that we give our teenagers today isn’t it? Parents, are we allowing our teenagers freedom without responsibility or are we using each day to train them to become husbands, wives, daddies, mamas - responsible members of society?

4. Joseph was a descendent of King David

This fact will become very significant to this story. The Jews believed the Messiah would have to come from David’s family. Matthew notes that Jesus asked the Pharisees this question:

They understood that the Messiah was to be in the family tree of David.

Gabriel is given the command carry the long awaited message to this young lady.

left6350Luke 1:28–29 (NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”Luke 1:28–29 (NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”Luke 1:28–29 (NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”Luke 1:28–29 (NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”What greater greeting could there be! Gen. 6:8 says Noah “found favor in the eyes of the Lord” and so had Mary. Like Noah, God was about to use Mary to provide a way of salvation. Noah built an ark that provided salvation. Mary would bear a child who provided salvation.

Luke 1:28–29 (NIV) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary, You are highly favored. God LOVES YOU personally. God LOVES YOU passionately.

The Lord is with you! You are a simple girl in an insignificant town…but You aren’t alone…and YOU are NOT insignificant. The Lord is with you!

On a side note, this is where Catholics get their prayer to Mary, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee…” But the Greek text doesn’t speak of Mary being the dispenser of grace. Mary can’t offer you forgiveness. She was a godly young lady, but she was not and IS NOT our redeemer. To say she is would hurt her heart, for she was humble & recognized she too needed the Redeemer.

At this point, young Mary - like Zechariah from last week’s teaching - was in a state of spiritual shock. No one had heard from God in 400 years - this time of silence. And now, this peasant girl was being pursued by an angel sent by God? What is going on here?

left6350Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)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.Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)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.Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)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.Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)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.In Hebrew, Jesus would be ‘Yeshua’ (pronounced Ye-shU-a). In Greek it is spelled Iesous (sounds like ‘Yea-soos’). In English, Jesus. In Hebrew the name Yeshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation.’ As we have learned before, this name was very common for men at that time…but the following description of THIS Yeshua was absolutely UNIQUE.

Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)

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.

Luke 1:29–31 (NIV)

left6350Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)…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.”Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)…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.”Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)…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.”Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)…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.”

Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)

…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.”

Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)

He will be great; the Son of the Most High. John the Baptist was to be a “prophet” of the Most High in Luke 1:76, but Yeshua would be the Son of the Most High.

Several years ago we took some young leaders to Europe for Student Leadership University where we heard several incredible speakers including Sir Nicolas Soames, the grandson of Prime Minister Winston Churchill - Britain’s great leader of WWII. We had toured London and been in Churchill’s bunker - where he led from as London was being bombed daily. Now the grandson of Churchill was there to give his perspective on his grandfather. We sat intensely listening to him share of things we have never seen nor experienced.

Much more importantly, Jesus - the Son of the Most High - was about to put on skin, live as a human, and tell us about the Father we have never seen nor experienced.

He will reign on David’s throne forever. God had promised David that his throne would continue forever if his son Solomon was faithful to the Lord and His laws. (1 Chronicles 28:7). Sadly, Solomon failed and by 586 B.C. - ever since the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took many of them captive - no Davidic king had sat on the throne in almost 600 years. But what Solomon had failed to do, the coming King of Israel would FULFILL. His reign and his kingdom will never end.

What an incredible promise…but Mary has a rather significant question…

Greek text here is, “have not known a man.” This is an expression for sexual relations.

Unlike Zechariah who asked for PROOF, Mary requests information. After all, Mary didn’t have a husband to go home to. Joseph was still making preparations. Her parents were likely to need an answer to this one too…”No…really Mom & Dad…I’ve never…”6350191298Luke 1:35 (NIV)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.Luke 1:35 (NIV)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.Luke 1:35 (NIV)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.Luke 1:35 (NIV)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.

Luke 1:35 (NIV)

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.

Luke 1:35 (NIV)

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.

Do you see God in 3 persons in this passage? Take a minute to read through it again…Do you see it? The Holy Spirit will come on you, God the Father - the Most High, will overshadow you, and the holy one will be IN you - that’s the Son of God.

And as further proof, since Elizabeth had not called nor updated her Facebook page, Gabriel tells Mary of her miraculous news.6349199761Luke 1:36–37 (NET)36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”Luke 1:36–37 (NET)36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”Luke 1:36–37 (NET)36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”Luke 1:36–37 (NET)36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:36–37 (NET)

36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:36–37 (NET)

Old women can’t have children…unless God says it is so.

Virgins can’t have babies…until the day Mary met the angel of God.

For nothing will be impossible with God. This is an echo from God’s words to Abraham & Sarah almost 2000 years previous, when they struggled to believe God would give them a son in their old age.

Genesis 18:14 (NIV)

14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?…

Now the barren senior old was pregnant & the virgin was about to be…impossible? Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Later people would tell that grown Baby, “Jesus, Lazarus has been dead for 4 days…it’s too late.” He could have asked the question “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Others thought it was too late for a cheating lying tax collectors & prostitutes. They thought it was too late for lepers & those possessed by demons. But Mary’s Baby would ask and answer, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

God still does what man struggles to believe. God still heals body & soul. God still mends relationships. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Is anything too hard for the Lord?…Listen as Willy shares about a chapter that he thought would never be written.

Willy shares

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Like many of us, Mary doesn’t have all her questions answered yet.

What will Joseph think? She is not told.

How will her community respond to her? Will they think she committed adultery & have legal grounds to stone her?

The future isn’t clear, but the Father’s will is: She will conceive and give birth to a son, and call him Jesus.

With all these questions, and facing this uncertain future, Mary responds…6350201217Luke 1:38 (NIV)38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.Luke 1:38 (NIV)38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.Luke 1:38 (NIV)38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.Luke 1:38 (NIV)38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38 (NIV)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38 (NIV)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

What a great example this teenager is for us. She demonstrates the heartbeat of the Lord's servant. With humility & wonder she understands that the God of the universe wants to use her to accomplish His mission. With that in mind she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

“Whatever You ask and whatever the cost, whatever You want is what I want. I don’t understand it all, but I trust You. Use me to accomplish your plan.”

Since then, many servants have responded in kind: “I am the Lord’s servant.”

“Whatever You ask and whatever the cost, whatever You want is what I want. I don’t understand it all - this illness, this circumstance, this opportunity - but I trust You. Use me to accomplish your plan.”

Are you the Lord’s servant? Men: Would you literally bow your knee daily; Ladies: Does Jesus have your heart…or does someone else? Teenagers: Will you be the example to the next generation?

Pray it. Live it. Check it.

PRAY IT.

Start your day praying...

“I am the Lord’s servant. Whatever You ask and whatever the cost, whatever You want is what I want. I don’t understand it all, but I trust You. Use me to accomplish your plan.”

LIVE IT.

It's one thing to say it and another thing to do it. Attempt to BE the Lord's servant throughout the day. Serve Him with each decision & situation.

CHECK IT.

Before you go to sleep, ask yourself: "Have I been the Lord's servant TODAY?" Then wake up tomorrow (Lord willing) and Pray it, Live it, & Check it again.

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