Being Submissive to God's Will (Mary's Encounter with Gabriel)

Luke 1:26-38

L/W-We learned of Zacharias and Elizabeth—the parents of JTB—and learned of what Scripture teaches about living godly lives—especially in the context of parenting.

T/W-We learn of Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, God’s messenger angel, who is delivering the greatest news in the history of the world—that she would bear a Son—and not just any Son—but God’s Son—God’s only begotten Son, who would come with the distinct and imperative mission of saving man from his sins (Matt 1:21)

As we read and study the conversation that takes place between Gabriel and Mary, we will learn of an essential trait every believer MUST possess: Submissiveness to God.

(READ LUKE 1:26-38)

The hinge of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul in

1 Corinthians 15:14–15--And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.”

Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ—faith is in vain, thus the resurrection is a foundational truth of Scripture, one which must be believed in order for a person to be saved.

So it goes with the crucifixion—the death of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of our sins: John says in

1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Yet none of this could be fulfilled apart from Jesus Christ stepping out of glory and into our humanity as the Incarnate Word of God: Note John and Paul again:

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Philippians 2:5–8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Outside the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the birth of Jesus Christ serves as the single most important moment in the history of mankind. Jesus Christ, the Word whom John says, “was with God,” and Who is God, Who is the only begotten Son of God, Who is the express image of God, Who is the author and finisher of our faith, Who is the Alpha and Omega, Who was, Who is, and Who is to come, and is the Great I AM…humbly and meekly stepped into our world, took on flesh, for the sole purpose to save man from their sins, He was born for the express purpose of death.

Jesus could not enter this world as every other man has.

Man, when he enters this world, enters with a sinful nature, a nature already at odds with God.

Jesus, as God’s only begotten Son, is perfect and without sin, perfect in righteousness and holiness, and the means by which man is reconciled to God.

God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, so that man might be freed from the wages and bondage of sin, would send the ultimate expression of His mercy and grace to this world---His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ----through the means of a submissive and obedient young woman, Mary

Today we will learn of the message of Christ’s birth, given to Mary by Gabriel. Woven into this message, is the doctrine of the virgin birth. And in all of this, through the example of Mary’s submissive heart, we will realize/see our need as believers in having a submissive heart; a heart of obedience towards God.

I. (v.26) Mary was visited by Gabriel

Luke 1:26 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,”

A note on Gabriel—whose name means, “the man of God,” or “the hero of God, “the mighty one of God.”

He said two things about himself:

He is the one who actually stands in the presence of God

He is the one who brings good news to men

He shared the restoration of Israel with Daniel

Daniel 8:16 “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.””

He shared the birth of the forerunner with Zacharias

Luke 1:13 “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

He shared the birth of the Messiah with Mary

Luke 1:26 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,”

(CONTEXT)

Gabriel’s message was given to Mary six months after Elizabeth conceived of JTB

Gabriel’s message was to be delivered to a woman who lived in Nazareth of Galilee (which borders Gentile nations)

Nazareth (a city never mentioned in the Old Testament) was a despised city—considered inferior by the rest of Israel, probably because of the Gentile influence within the city

The people of Nazareth were a conquered people, highly despised by Rome and the object of deep-seated prejudice by both the Jews and the Romans

Nazareth, you might say, had a lowly and poor reputation, as understood in Nathanael’s comment to Philip in John 1:46:

“And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.””

Nazareth, however, was the location God chose, because within the walls of this faithless and unfavorable Galilean town, lived a faithful and favored young woman.

God’s message had not so much to do with the town—as it did with the faithful heart of Mary

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION---YOU and ME)

God is not a respecter of people and places

Paul says in Romans 2:11 “....there is no partiality with God.”

Peter stated in Acts 10:34 “...In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”

God sees not as man sees, not

The Babels we build for ourselves

The fringes we find ourselves living in

The name we try and make for ourselves.

The religious activity we take advantage of, in order that we might manipulate God to use us

God sees, rather

The faithful hearts of believers, who entrust Him to build them up

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The submissive hearts who trust Him regardless of where they live

Daniel 3:17–18 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

The surrendered hearts who carry His name within themselves

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The obedient hearts who serve Christ in the disciplined pattern of self-denial

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

God seldom uses influential people but more so uses people and places that live meek, humble, unassuming lives—who live contrary to the world.

What—or who--the world views as weak, God uses for His glory

1 Corinthians 1:27–28 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,”

II. (v.27) Mary; a virgin who was pure

Luke 1:27 “to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

(FIRST) As we walk into this, it’s important to understand the unbelief and distrust (rooted in the lies/deceit of the enemy) try their best to add whatever it can to disprove the divinity of Christ

(SECOND) As we walk into this, the doctrine of the virgin birth must be understood and believed, for if Christ came into this world as every other man—He would be no more divine than we are, and we aren’t.

(CONTEXT)—That Mary was a virgin who was pure means she had never been touched by a man, not immorally. This is emphatically and unmistakenly stated by Scripture and by Mary herself

Luke 1:34 “Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?””

“Virgin”—the Hebrew word here in “alma,” and speaks of a young woman as a virgin; this word is used only 6 times in all of Scripture and ALWAYS refers to a woman with pure character

Mary was “betrothed”—this was similar to an engagement, it was considered as binding as marriage in Jewish culture

It lasted one year and taught us two important truths related to Mary’s virginity

Sexual contact was considered adultery during the espousal period and would result in stoning

Betrothal, or the espousal period, was such a serious matter, if it were broken—divorce had to be secured

God choosing Mary to bear His Son and choosing Joseph to be His Son’s earthly father, indicates that both parents were godly, so much so that God blessed them as the parents of His Son.

For such a miracle being promised, it would be impossible for God to choose an immoral man & woman to bear and raise His Son

In the validity of Mary’s virginity & purity, in the devoutness of both Joseph and Mary, we can grasp an understanding of the means and mode God was choosing--their faithfulness/submissiveness/obedience--but in order we might understand the weight of this doctrine of the virgin birth, we need to know the WHY? Why would God’s Son have to enter the world through a virgin? Why was Christ born of a virgin? Why was the virgin birth even necessary?

We must think about this, both honestly and deeply. We must engage in concentrated thought and meditate on this, through the lens of God’s Word

We must do so, b/c to not accept this doctrine & truth is to refuse the divine nature of Christ, not to accept Him as deity, and not as the Incarnate Word of God, and

If one cannot accept Him as divine/deity/and the Incarnate Word—Christ’s death was merely an act of martyrdom and to you, the grave still holds a body.

But to those who do accept and believe this truth, we know...

Christ’s death was not mere martyrdom, but an act of sacrificial substitution—where our sins have been loosed our debt was paid in full,

In His resurrection, He secured for us abundant and eternal life, defeating forever the sting and pang of death.

We know the cross is where He went, but it’s not where He stayed and we were brought back to life when He rose out of that grave

--------

The birth of Christ required a miracle---b/c He could not be born the natural way, as other men are.

If Joseph had contributed to the conception of Christ—then

His birth would indicate He was no more a man than we are

His nature would have been no less sinful than ours

Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.”

Christ is eternal, therefore He could not enter into this world as anything less

Christ is perfect, therefore He could not enter into this world less than perfect

The birth of Christ required a work of God and the submissiveness of a woman

So that Christ might identify with man (bear our humanity), He would have to come through the process of conception through a woman…b/c man can only come through a woman

Note, however, that in order for this to occur, God would need to cause Mary to conceive via His divine power

The birth of Christ required a miraculous nature (divine and human)

Christ had to be born of a woman to partake of human nature (see Hebrews 2:14-18)

Christ had to be born by a miraculous act of God so as not to partake of man’s corruption--this truth is critical if man has any hope of escaping the corruption of sin and living forever

The birth of Christ required the birth of a perfect nature, b/c true Biblical atonement requires a perfect sacrifice, which can only be through a life of perfection...what we call an Ideal Life (a perfect & righteous life),

This was necessary b/c no man has been or is perfect

Our works are cannot meet God’s standard

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”

Our wisdom is cannot meet God’s standard

1 Corinthians 2:6 “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”

1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;”

1 John 2:15–16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Our religiosity is cannot meet God’s standard

Matthew 23:25–26 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Our sense of goodness cannot meet God’s standard

Romans 3:10 “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;”

Simply, man falls woefully short

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

“But God...”

God acted

God took every step

God performed every act necessary to save man from their sins and death

God accomplished this from beginning to end—from the birth of Christ to the exaltation of Christ

“But God...”

Did so b/c He is rich in mercy

“Rich”—means “abounding with,” and “abounding” carries the meaning “enough and to spare,”—

“Mercy”—(the Greek word is “Eleos”)—

God’s mercy carries the meaning of “active compassion” and

God’s mercy “denotes the free gift for the forgiveness of sins and is related to the misery sin brings”

God’s tender and active compassion toward our misery displayed itself:

In the birth of His Son

In the crucifixion of His Son

In the resurrection of His Son

In the ascension of His Son

Did so b/c His love is great towards us…despite being dead (separated) b/c of our sins

“Love”—(in Greek means Agape); the sacrificial covenant-bearing and keeping love of God

Agape love is the attitude of God towards His Son—towards the human race—and particularly towards believers in Jesus Christ

Agape love is known only by the actions it prompts (sacrificial—other’s centered—etc)

Agape love is not love drawn from some “excellency” in its objects (meaning His love is not an extension of our goodness, it’s an extension of His divine will and nature)

Agape love is of God’s diving will in deliberate choice (God set His will and mind to love us)

Did so b/c of His amazing grace towards us

Grace (the Greek is “Charis”)—(1) act of God’s divine influence upon the heart; (2)

Grace is the attitude of God that is evoked related to our sins (which is undeserved)

Grace is divine favor, and in this sense, stresses its freeness and universality, its spontaneous character (as in God’s redemptive mercy), and the benefactor of pleasure and joy.

In other words, God’s grace brings total and universal freedom from sin

In other words, God’s grace is the spontaneous reflection of His redemptive mercy

In other words, God’s grace is designed to afford us immeasurable joy and pleasure

Grace is set in definite contrast to the debt that sin levy's

In other words, God’s grace is the solution to our sin debt

What does all of this say:

From the root of God’s great love, grow the immeasurable fruits of His mercy and grace.

In His mercy—God withholds what we deserve in order He might afford us what we don’t deserve—His mercy

Yet there’s more; Sin brings both guilt and misery, yet in the context of God’s grace and mercy, we also find joy in knowing:

His mercy removes the misery!!

His grace removes the guilt!!

Taking all of this, listen again to what Paul says, listen again with hopefully more crisp understanding of how God acted for us...

(Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

The birth of Christ required the creative Word of God

God creates with His Word—He did so in Genesis 1, therefore when God chose to create a body for His Son, He did so through His Word

Hebrews 10:5 “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.”

God creates with His Word—is also the means by which we are born again, taken from our old self to new life

Man is born again, simply by God speaking the Word

Spiritual birth is not re-creation—it is not seen/felt/touched in the physical sense, yet man is re-created. How? At the very Word of God

1 Peter 1:23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

The birth of Christ required the virgin birth b/c Christ is the only begotten Son of God.

Again, Christ had to be different, had to enter the world differently—b/c He is different by nature, by His being

Christ had to enter this world in such a way as to proclaim His divine nature, while also partaking of human nature

Christ—His birth had to involve both the act of mankind (Mary’s submission) and God Himself

There is no salvation apart from Him being the Son of God

There is no salvation apart from His being proclaimed as the Son of God

The birth of Christ required a second Adam, a second man; born to

Become what the first Adam failed to become—the Representative Man—the Ideal Man, the Pattern, the Perfect One

Become what Adam failed to be—the Man who always chose to love and obey God in all things, passing this nature on and standing/covering for all men

Become what Adam failed to pass on to man: the Way to God, the Truth of God, and the Life of God

Offer what Adam failed to pass on: the nature of righteousness and life, both life abundant and life eternal

The birth of Christ required an espoused state/betrothal

Coming from a single mother would raise questions, far more questions and heap more contempt upon Christ and His followers

III. (v.28) Mary was highly favored by God

Luke 1:28 “And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!””

An interesting perspective related to verses 28-33 in remembering how Luke went about recording his gospel (details, interviews, eyewitness accounts, etc.)---many scholars believe that Luke would have learned of these details from Mary herself

(CONTEXT) Three things to see here

Mary was to be highly favored by God

Note Gabriel’s statement, “…highly favored...”)

“Highly favored” term used of all believers (Eph 1:6) and is translated as “accepted”

Note what this means:

This portrays Mary as a recipient of grace, NOT a dispenser of divine grace

Mary is just like anyone else in this world,

Created in God’s likeness and image

Fearfully and wonderfully made

With a fallen and sinful nature in need of God’s grace, someone in need of a Savior.

Therefore Mary is not to be prayed to…she is imperfect

Therefore Mary is not part of the monarchy of heaven

Therefore Mary is not to be deified…she is not God, or as God

The Lord was also with Mary

Mary was to be blessed among women

“Blessed among women,” does not mean Mary was/is of higher status/statehood/nor a “saint”…it does set her above other women,

“Blessed among women,” is simply, “a foreshadowing of her unprecedented role in history

IV. (v.29-30) Mary was very human

Luke 1:29–30 “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.”

(CONTEXT) Mary was both troubled and stricken with fear.

Mary’s fear was understandable—for an angelic being stood before her—in all the dazzling splendor necessary to reveal he was truly from God

Mary’s feeling “troubled” needs some brief understanding/consideration

Mary was “troubled as his saying”—it was the message that caused her to be troubled, the message

She was highly favored

The Lord was with her

She was blessed among woman

Mary was troubled b/c she did not understand how God could so greatly favor a person like herself

There was no expectation or assumption from Mary that she should be favored by God—and this shows her deep humility

There was no pride, self-centeredness, flighty, or frivolous consciousness from Mary about herself

There was no idea or thought in Mary that she had merited/deserved the attention

There was, however, a young lady who loved God and was determined to live a pure and responsible life

There was, however, the response of a young lady who had a sweet spirit, full of softness/warmth/tenderness, a response that was willing, subjective, and giving

V. (v.31-33) Mary was told she would bear the Messiah

Luke 1:31–33“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.””

(CONTEXT) These are three startling and profound things about the Son Mary was to bear

His name—Mary was given the name by which she would call Him, the name above all other names..JESUS

“Jesus” (Hebrew—Joshua/Yasha) means Jehovah is salvation or He is the Savior

His name carries the idea of deliverance—of being saved from some terrible disaster that leads to perishing-sin

“Jesus”—the Son of David, or, a descendent of David—which means Mary herself was a descendent of David

His great person

“Son of the Highest”

His eternal kingdom

Jesus would teach that His kingdom would not be of this earth—for nothing on this earth lasts

Jesus would teach that His kingdom would be a spiritual kingdom—which would be eternal

(CONTEXT-2) For this context, please turn to

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

Amongst all the theology and doctrine, amongst all the debates/conversations, and all God’s Word concerning and related to Jesus Christ—it must be understood, believed, and professed

That Jesus Christ came for the express purpose of saving man from his sins

While He taught things of morality—He never taught morality brings about salvation

He came, not preaching religion…He was against religion

He came, not teaching man’s righteousness—but His righteousness

He came, not teaching man to fulfill the law, but rather the law was fulfilled in Him

VI. (v.34-35) Mary was expected to believe the miraculous

Luke 1:34–35 “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.”

(CONTEXT)—Mary’s response was different than that of Zacharias

Mary was not doubting or distrusting—she was puzzled

Mary was not asking for some sign or proof—she was simply asking for more information

Mary was not asking these from a doubting heart—rather from a submissive heart

Mary was asking from the perspective that she was virgin and had never known a man

Gabriels’ answer:

“The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee”

“The power of the Highest (God) shall overshadow thee”

“The child born of Mary would be holy, “the Son of God.”

VII. (v.36-37) Mary was encouraged to believe, “With God nothing is impossible”

Luke 1:36–37 “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.””

(CONTEXT)

Mary was given the news that her cousin Elizabeth—who was beyond child-bearing age—had conceived a son and was 6-months pregnant

Mary was told that with men, much is impossible and to say that all things are possible with men is far from the truth; but Mary was encouraged when Gabriel stated, “With God, all things are possible.”

Mary, as well as you and I, are expected to believe in God’s power and Him—regardless of circumstances, regardless of our feelings of insignificance

VIII. (v.38) Mary’s submissive heart

Luke 1:38 “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

(CONTEXT)—Mary’s simple, brief, and immediate statement is striking and meaningful, when we slow it down

“Handmaid” (doule)—means “slave girl,” Mary stated she was a bond slave (bond-servant) and willing to be completely sold out to and for God.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

God’s Word was her will—Mary was surrendered totally to obey God; she would serve as He willed, and be completely obedient and fulfilling His purpose entirely

This may sound like Mary’s decision was an “easy one”. In taking a look at the climate around her decision, her decision was not so easy as it was bold, courageous, and holistic

There was the idea of being an unwed mother (Luke 1:26, Matt 1:18)

There was Joseph’s discovery of her pregnancy (Matt 1:19)

There was the threat of being condemned to death because of adultery (Deuteronomy 22:23)

(WORSHIP/CLOSING)

Contrary to denominational history---little is known about Mary.

We find Mary in the events surrounding the birth of Christ, we see her and Joseph returning to Jerusalem to find Jesus teaching in the synagogue, we read about her relative to a few events in Christ’s earthly ministry, and the events surrounding the cross.

The world would not have chosen Mary, and the culture in which Joseph and Mary lived wouldn’t have chosen them—but thankfully for us, the Lord sees not as man sees. The Lord looks deeper, more intently, and more specifically...

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

God sending Gabriel to bring her this announcement had everything to do with Mary’s submissive heart. God saw and knew about her lowly, humble, and sweet spirit; a heart totally sold out to Him, totally surrendered to Him, and completely surrendered to Him.

It was this heart that God would use to usher in the greatest hope that man has ever needed to hear:

John 3:16–17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The direct application for us today is this:

Surrender is an absolute essential for two things:

Salvation

A person must realize they are a sinner

A person must realize their sin separates them from God and they are in need of salvation

A person must realize no amount of meriting, striving, or working can bring about salvation

A person must come to grips with the mercy, grace, and love God has poured on them through His Son Jesus Christ

A person must confess that their only way of being found, of being born again, of being “saved” is to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ—His finished work on the cross—and an empty tomb

Service

A person must understand the heart God desires of those who would choose to serve Him

Matthew 12:50“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.””

Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

1 John 2:17 “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.””