Good News-Part 3

Luke 1:46–55 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. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

This is called ‘Mary’s Song’ in the text.

People wanted a warrior king

John 6:14–15 NIV

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Could you imagine that, king by force?

Jesus came as the sacrificial lamb, rather than the warrior messiah they wanted, but

He was still there to roll heads

That gives us a bit of a…different perspective when it comes to the Christmas story.

We picture peaceful. Snow, quietness, animals sitting around peacefully, not bleating or smelly or anything. CAROLS - ‘no crying he makes...’

the better word is powerful

Psalm 97 has an interesting illustration of the impact of the coming of the Lord

Psalm 97:1–6 NIV

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.

We’re just seeing the natural side of it. In heaven - there was amazing things going on.

We see the physical side of it at the death of Jesus -

Matthew 27:45–54 NIV

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Jesus was there to change everything

Mary says - God performed mighty deeds - but he’s also scattered the proud.

God lifted up the humble - but also brought down the rulers.

He filled the hungry with good things - but he also sent the rich away empty handed.

SIDEBAR - this sounds like a poor vs rich issue. But it really isn’t. The conversation is about who we trust.

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

and mary nails it in verse 51. ‘he scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts’.

Christmas is about the story of God coming to earth - to fight for us!

Nest week we’re talking about the shepherds and the angels, and the actual birth of Jesus. And we’ll get a little bit of a portrait of the majesty of what’s going on in heaven during this.