Love in The Incarnation

The angel’s announcement to Mary - Luke 1:26-33

Luke 1:26–33 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 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, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary’s Introduction: (vs. 26-27)

Mary is pledged to be married to Joseph

Mary is a descendant of David

Mary is a Virgin

The angel’s greeting: (vs. 28-30)

God has favored Mary

God is with her

She should not fear

The angel’s message: (vs. 31-33)

You will have a son

You are to name Him Jesus

He will be great

He will be called Son of the Most High

He will reign on David’s throne

He will reign forever

The angel’s explanation to Mary - Luke 1:34-37

Luke 1:34–37 NIV

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Mary’s Question (vs. 34)

She is not resisting God’s plan

She is seeking understanding

The angel’s explanation (vs. 35-37)

The Holy Spirit will be the Father - This will be a miracle of God

The baby will be the Son of God

God has given a sign in Elizabeth’s pregnancy

God is keeping His promises

Mary’s Decision

Mary accepted God’s plan - Luke 1:38

Luke 1:38 NIV

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

Mary believed God’s promise - Luke 1:42-45

Luke 1:42–45 NIV

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Elizabeth, guided by the Holy Spirit acknowledged Mary’s belief - vs 45

Mary showed great love for God - Luke 1:46-47

Luke 1:46–49 NIV

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

Our greatest responsibility is to love God with all our being - Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”