The Birth of Jesus Foretold

A celebration of God’s covenant with David, the great king of Israel. Specifically, it recalls that God promised David that he would have a descendent sit on an eternal throne over a kingdom over all kingdoms. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of David, is the fulfillment of this promise.

Psalm 89:1–4“I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Psalm 89:19–26 “Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: “I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him; my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’”

Second Reading

Luke, chapter 1. Luke begins his gospel by providing the back story to Jesus the Messiah. Likely, he was providing information which Christians of later years wanted to know about Jesus’ origins. He specifically writes that he investigated everything carefully to set down a reliable record.

Since Mary Jesus’ mother, lived for many years after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, it is most probable that Luke interviewed her about what had happened around Jesus’ birth.

As a doctor, attentive to details, I can imagine him sitting with Mary in her later years, saying, Tell me, Mary, how it was that Jesus was born and what it was like for you.

Luke 1:26–38 NRSV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him 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 ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Introduction

The Princess trope. I don’t want to be a princess. I don’t want to marry the prince. I don’t want to run a kingdom. I want to go off on my own. Make my own way.

Developmentally appropriate. Children need to assert their independence and identity against their parents, the system.

As an adult, watch the movie — just say yes! Be a king or queen.

So what about our spiritual developmental stage? When God comes to us…are we saying “No, I want my own plans!…” Or are we saying Yes?

Exegesis: From

In the sixth month. God sent the angel Gabriel. Angel means messenger. A description of their function.

Gabriel, an archangel, entrusted with great messages for humans.

In the Old Testament, was sent to the prophet Daniel to help him understand visions about future kingdoms and even God’s plans for divine King who would come at the end of all history. Now on his greatest mission: It is time for the King to be born!

Appeared to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah. Your son will be the Herald of the Messiah.

Now sent to Nazareth. A plan was underway.

A virgin named Mary. Engaged to a man named Joseph.

He came to her. Probably appeared as a young, strong man in white. As we read elsewhere, such as at the resurrection and the ascension.

Day or night. Inside or outside.

Luke’s focus is less on the surroundings as on the focus on the message which is very full.

Do not be afraid. You are blessed by God. This is good news.

You will conceive a special Son…you will name him Jesus…which means Savior.

All the angel communicates to her about this Son.

Great. Son of the Most High. A supernatural way of referring to the Son of God by other spiritual beings.

He will sit on the throne of David. A Messianic expectation of blessing for God’s chosen people, the Jews.

He will reign over the House of Jacob. The norther tribes had been lost and become Gentile. So, he will rule over the nations.

This is a statement/request. Plan that is already unfolding.

Mary may have suspected that Gabriel was talking about a child in the due course of her relationship with Joseph. But the angel has not said anything about this. So she asks explicitly.

How can this be since I am a virgin?

The angel then reveals that it will be a miraculous birth by her as a virgin.

An action of the spirit of God. Blew into the dirt and made the first Adam. The Spirit will blow into the fertile soil of her womb to make a second Adam.

Essential Fact: He will be called Son of God. Not a later fabrication! Gabriel and Mary affirm.

As a proof he provides the example of Elizabeth a confirm barren wife of many years. For nothing will be impossible with God.

Critical Moment of Reflection; between vs. 37-38. What will she say? Mary Processing this news/request.

She had one set of plans with Joseph. Now another set with God radically involved.

The incarnation is on hold. Christmas is on hold. The salvation plan is on hold.

Current problem - do we reckon with the news?

What would you say if you were Mary?

Men, I’m asking you to use your imagination too!

God wants to come into our lives today, just as then.

God sends the Holy Spirit so that Jesus can be born in our lives.

Not physically, but spiritually. Not the womb, but the heart.

God wants to set Jesus in the center as Son of God, Throne of our heart and life.

God is already moving in that direction. The plan is already set for that to happen.

The question is whether we will say Yes.

Our lives are full of plans.

We have plans: school. job. marriage. health.

And we should ponder the news carefully.

Example: CS Lewis, author of the beloved Chronicles of Narnia, and many Christian apologetics, was not always a Christian. A confirmed atheist, did not want to believe in God…and especially not the Christian God…Christian God the most horrible— “I had always wanted, above all things, not to be ‘interfered with’. I had wanted (mad wish) ‘to call my soul my own’. —Lewis, C. S.. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (p. 278) HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

God comes with good news, and offers a future with him at the center — do we way YES?

Hinge

Amazing thing about Mary. She said YES.

Mary chooses to be present and available.

Ancient Solution

Here I am the Servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.

Here I am (Present)

An ancient biblical form. I am present and attentive. “Present and accounted for” “Listening”

Angel called to Abraham: “Here I am!”

Moses at the Bush “Here I am!”

Samuel and Eli “Here I am”

A Servant: Let it be to me according to your word. (Available)

Not my plans, yet but yours.

My body, yet your body.

My heart, yet your heart (Simeon’s prophecy)

So a new future opened up for her.

the angel departs because the news is received and the plan charted.

There is nothing more to be said. His will is to do God’s will: to share the message. Her will is to do it.

Her future: now is bound up with Jesus.

Her decision to say Yes to God contained the ministry of Jesus in seed form. Jesus would later make it explicit:

I am the Son of God. You were conceived by the HS.

I have come to bring healing and forgiveness. This is why I named you Jesus.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Let it be done to me……

I am a king, but not of this world. She told him about the throne of David.

I will sacrifice myself for the sins of the world. I sacrificed my plans for you.

When he rose from the dead, out of the tomb, where there was no life. It was a miraculous birth like his first!

Mary saw Jesus’ ministry up close and personal, like no other. A gift that cannot be taken away.

Even today, mother of the Lord. Mother of God. Permanent bond with God, with the Son of God. His flesh and her flesh.

The Girls Who Said Yes to God’s plan. I want the King, Kingdom.

Current Solution

Mary is an example to all of us.

When it comes to God, we should say Yes.

Feel that pull like an angel announcing the news.

Big News: God loves us so much, he wants to give us the King and the Kingdom. Developmental need: Say Yes. We are children of the Kingdom, we should want the Kingdom and the King.

Receive the Lord Jesus into our lives.

Say Yes the same way:

Here I am. In the PRESENT moment.

Here and Now I want to commit. I don’t know what the future holds, but I want to know the one who holds the future.

AVAILABLE:

Let your will be done in my life, not my own. I want my life to be shaped around Jesus.

NOTE: When our plans aren’t working…a good time…when our plans are working this can be harder.

Saying YES will lead to Kingdom of God.

CS Lewis, through the help of his friend JRR Tolkien, and others, eventually said Yes to Christ. He continued his excellent career as an academician, married, suffered griefs, he obtained a vision of a greater reality. One that was greater than any earthly plan:

Authored Chronicles of Narnia. The Last Battle. A Unicorn, among the other heroes, surveys Aslan’s Country: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now...Come further up, come further in!” ― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

Jesus wants to lead us into his Heavenly Kingdom. He starts by coming to us. The journey starts with saying Yes.

Conclusion

At all stages: student, married, job, facing an illness, a loss. Comes to you. Come further up and come further in.— always say YES—