Luke 1:5-56

Review:

1. The story of Jesus stands on the word of God

Jesus fulfills the Old Testament word of God.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Prov. 8:21

2. The story of Jesus stands on contemporary historical accounts

3. The story of Jesus stands on Reason

Has not been refuted for thousands of years

This is not an abortion is evil message.

But abortion is not biblical or christian.

A little background on the book of Luke:

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

In the first section of Lukes account we see two parallel stories taking place

I. God’s Plan Revealed - Doubting Response (1:5–25).

A. Introduction of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–7

Luke 1:5–7 (ESV)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Serving God through disappointment

Righteousness and blameless does not mean there will be no challenges and no suffering

No child

No spouse

No house

No dream job

God is Good and will still bless us ( not always the way we would have expected) and expects our faithful obedience

He understands, cares about, and does not expect us to hide our feelings of disappointment and sadness

NON-IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR SINFUL LIVING

B. Gabriel’s visit and prophecy (Luke 1:8–17)

Luke 1:8–17 (ESV)

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

This was a huge honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Notice his response is fear because angels are powerful shocking and downright scary!

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

This is the first of several mentions of the personhood of a fetus.

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will 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 for the Lord a people prepared.”

Not only are you going to have a son but he is going to be a man of immense significance

C. Zechariah’s response (Luke 1:18)

Luke 1:18 (ESV)

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

this is me. “Ok God cool but we’ve been trying that and nothing works”

Give me a sign, prove to me that you can and will do this

In his eyes, his problems were bigger than God’s plan

God has no problems, only plans.

- Corrie ten Boom

D. Gabriel’s rebuke (Luke 1:19–25)

Luke 1:19–25 (ESV)

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.

And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

II. God’s Plan Revealed - Faith-Filled Response (1:26–38).

A. Introduction to Mary and Joseph (Luke 1:26–27)

Luke 1:26–27 (ESV)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

B. Gabriel’s greeting (Luke 1:28–33)

Luke 1:28–33 (ESV)

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And 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 bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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.”

C. Mary’s response (Luke 1:34)

Luke 1:34 (ESV)

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Contrast between Zechariah’s response and Mary

This cant be because we are old.

This is not a doubt. Mary says “how WILL this be”. In her mind it is a done deal, she’s just trying to wrap her head around the science.

D. Gabriel’s explanation (Luke 1:35–37)

Luke 1:35–37 (ESV)

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

importance of the virgin birth

miraculous

fulfilled prophecy

A word about Mary: Not perfect, not a perpetual virgin.

significance of the incarnation

New Adam - perfect Substitution for us

Hypostatic union

Fully God, Fully Man Forever

E. Mary’s faith-filled response (Luke 1:38)

Luke 1:38 (ESV)

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

“Alright, Bet”

III. We Should Praise God for His Work Even Before It’s Completed (1:39–56).

Luke 1:39-40

Luke 1:39–40 (ESV)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

A. Elizabeth’s confession (Luke 1:41–45)

Luke 1:41–45 (ESV)

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

The first PERSON to identify Jesus as God, the Savior was the pre-born John the Baptist.

B. Mary’s song (Luke 1:46–56)

Luke 1:46–56 (ESV)

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

“Teen Mom”, This was setting her up for a LIFETIME of hardship

What is the logical Response?

worry, fear, full freak-out, anger, indignation, “why me”, self-pity, wallowing

instead what does she do? She gives beautiful praise to God

Humility, dependance, his greatness, his justice, his mercy, her joy at having a part in his great plan

So What?

When God pushes you out of your comfort-zone Is your response more like Mary or Zechariah?

Don’t let your faithfulness get in the way of your faith-filledness

Are you joyfully praising God in the middle?

Who is the real Jesus?

virgin born

fully man

fully god

without sin