Son of God Luke 1:26-38

-Jesus is the Son of God and has authority over us.

On a plaque marking Abraham Lincoln's birthplace near Hodgenville, Kentucky, is recorded this scrap of conversation: "Any news down 't the village, Ezry?" "Well, Squire McLain's gone t' Washington t' see Madison swore in, and ol' Spellman tells me this Bonaparte fella has captured most o' Spain. What's new out here, neighbor?" "Nuthin' nuthin' a'tall, 'cept fer a new baby born t' Tom Lincoln's. Nothin' ever happens out here." Some events, whether birthdays in Hodgenville (or Bethlehem) or spiritual rebirth in a person's life, may not create much earthly splash, but those of lasting importance will eventually get the notice they deserve.

The Son of God is...

I. Sent vv. 26-29

As we continue the story of the birth of Jesus, the scene shifts from Zechariah and Elizabeth to a new scene:

The Lord sends out Gabriel again, but this time to a young cousin of Elizabeth’s: Mary

Again, this is an incredible intersection as God sends out good news of the things that are to take place

Every form of communication has a sender and a recipient:

God takes the initiative and sends His message from His messenger to His people; He wants us to know what He is doing!

God has a destination for His message:

This message is sent to a real place

They are in a moment in time, an uncertain situation

They are a people waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise

There are two particular people who have been found faithful and are going to be used by God for His glory

We don’t need to miss the power of this moment: God is going to speak to His people and it is a message about a message of Good News! What is it?

He is good and loves us; He is working to rescue us from sin, separation, and death and will bring us into His family forever

He has accomplished this by sending His Son to live, die, and live again as the greater conqueror of every consequence of evil

When I want to know what God thinks about anything, I look to the Son that He sent!

God has come to us

He is here and it is good news

He is not here to condemn but to rescue!

John 3:16–17

[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (ESV)

II. Sovereign vv. 30-33

The scene shifts to Mary and she is a little troubled by the messenger and the entire situation

Gabriel wants to make a few things clear to her about the coming of Jesus:

His coming is a sign of God’s favor on her- He sends His Son because He does love us

He is coming as a Savior- He will be Jesus who saves God’s people

He is the presence of God among us- He is the Son of the most High God

He is an eternal King- He will reign forever and His kingdom will not have any ending

This King who is coming ought to bring us to a place of hope because God is acting on our behalf

God is for us.

Pastor James Moore of Houston, Texas, tells a story about a young man whose wife had died, leaving him with a small son. Back home from the cemetery, they went to bed early because there was nothing else he could bear to do.

As he lay there in the darkness, grief-stricken and heartbroken, the little boy broke the stillness from his little bed with a disturbing question, “Daddy, where is mommy?”

The father got up and brought the little boy to bed with him, but the child was still disturbed and restless, occasionally asking questions such as, “Why isn’t she here?” and, “When is she coming back?”

Finally the little boy said, “Daddy, if your face is toward me, I think I can go to sleep now.” In a little while, he was quiet.

The father lay there in the darkness, and then in childlike faith, prayed this prayer: “O God, I don’t see how I can survive this. The future looks so miserable, but if Your face is toward me, somehow I think I can make it.”

That’s what the Messiah came to teach us: that God’s face is always toward us. Nothing ever will be able to separate you from His love. Now, that’s real security.

III. Supernatural vv. 34-37

There is a very serious problem here: the whole situation is impossible, because Mary has not been with a man

I think it’s worth noting here that Mary is not ignorant

The entire situation is built on a supernatural premise

In fact, the impossibility of the situation ought to draw our attention to its importance

Every time in the Scripture we see a child born in unlikely circumstances, it is a sign of the child’s role in the life of God’s people, whether Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, or John the Baptist

If it is true in those circumstances, it is much more so the case here

The supernatural aspect of the conception of Jesus shows that He is “of the Lord”

He has a particular nature: He is fully man, yet He is also completely God

He has a unique relationship: He is the Son of God in a way that no one else can be

He has a divine power: His is the power of God on display in the course of human events; nothing is impossible for Him!

God is with us

IV. Supreme vv. 38-39

Mary makes a full circle here, from troubled questions to quiet commitment:

She is a servant, taking a posture of humility

He is the Lord and and has authority over her

She is ready to receive whatever His Word promises!

If the Son of God really has come in this way, I’ve got questions to answer!

What is He saying? He did not come to condemn the world but save it!

What does it mean? I do not have to die in guilt or shame, separated from God

What must I do? Believe in His Son Jesus!

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Three Types of Belief

[We] use [the] word “believe” loosely to convey several shades of meaning, for example:

(i) I believe in ghosts, fairies, God = Belief in Fact

(ii) I believe in aspirins, communism, Christianity = Belief in Value

Both [of the above are] intellectual.

(iii) I believe in Dr. Jones = such a belief in his existence (fact) and competence (value) that [makes one] ready to trust him.