Mary

Humble Mother of Jesus

Intro: Malachi 3:1 ““Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.”

The revelation of God finds its culmination, that is its full complete understanding in Jesus Christ. All the previous announcements , prophetic words, prior to Christ were only previews of Him to come.

All the methods and modes of God’s message prior to Christ pointed to his coming. All that Jesus said and did, all that He is doing and will do are the thoughts of God in action.

The Jewish people were anticipating a Messiah but gave little thought to needing a Savior to rescue them from sin. When the Messiah came to earth, He came as the Savior of the world, because that is what the world needed.

The incarnation was God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Jesus is God, this is the high point of biblical truth. The fact that God chose a humble young women to bear His Son, that would bring such a great salvation to all the world.

Jesus was born into a world of spiritual darkness and physical oppression under Rome’s dominion. Yet, in that dark time, the birth of Jesus occurred. The Apostle John declared, John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST FORETOLD

The Ancient Prophecy

Genesis 3:14–15 NKJV

So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

The battle has been declared, the spiritual conflict between God and Satan. This enmity, hostility has continualed between the seed of Satan, and the seed of the women.

I really want us all to understand the analogy of the bruise, head and heel. Because we could surly shout with this understanding.

The woman mentioned in Genesis 3:15 is Eve. The serpent, addressed directly, is the animal that Satan used to deceive the woman. Here, some of the curse was directed at the animal (verse 14); at the same time, and at the same time Satan, who had taken the serpent’s form or body in the garden of Eden.

The curse, enmity mutual hatred and ill will exist between the woman and the serpent. And has continualed between the woman’s seed her offspring, mankind in general, since Eve is the “mother of all living,” Genesis 3:20 and the serpent’s seed. The serpent’s (metaphorical) offspring are demonic forces and all those people who follow the devil and accomplish his will.

Jesus called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” in Matthew 12:34 and said they belonged to their “father, the devil” in John 8:44. God says that Satan will always be the enemy of mankind. People who side with Satan will be at perpetual war with God’s elect and that we are engaged in a very real battle between good and evil (Ephesians 6:12).

The first messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 is that “he will crush your head.” That is, the seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head. The Amplified Bible makes it clear that “the woman’s seed” is more than mankind in general; it is an individual representing all mankind:

The second messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 is that “you will strike his heel.” That is, the serpent will bite the heel of “the woman’s seed.” The heel-bite is set in contrast to the head-crush, as the Amplified Bible brings out: “And you shall only bruise His heel.”

This passage points to the promise of Jesus’ birth, His redemption, and His victory over Satan. The woman’s offspring is Jesus. Being virgin-born, He is literally the offspring of a woman (Matthew 1:25; Galatians 4:4; cf. Isaiah 7:14).

Being the Son of Man, He is the perfect representative of humankind. The devil’s offspring were the evil men and demonic forces who, like a snake, layed in wait for the Savior and struck at Him. Their venomous conspiracy condemned Jesus to be crucified.

But the serpent’s strike did not spell the end of the Offspring of the woman. Jesus rose the third day, breaking the power of death and winning the ultimate victory. With the cross, Jesus “crushed” the devil’s head, defeating him forever. So, now we see in Genesis 3:15, the crushing of the serpent’s head was a picture of Jesus’ triumph over sin and Satan at the cross.

The striking of the Messiah’s heel was a picture of the wounding and death of Jesus on the cross. Satan bruised Jesus’ “heel,” but Jesus showed complete dominance over Satan by bruising his “head.”

The Coming of Immanuel

Isaiah 7:10–14 NKJV

Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Two enemy kings had combined forces to attack Jerusalem. God instructed the prophet Isaiah to meet Ahaz withe message, to not be afraid.

the Lord sends the word before the attack

must be willing to receive

don’t be afraid, the answer to the problem is already provided

Isaiah asked what sign would Ahaz want to show the proof of his words. In arrogance Ahaz declares, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”  Why, because Ahaz wants to continue on the course he has already chosen not to trust in the Lord, but to make a military and political alliance with Assyria, which will require him to worship Assyrian gods instead.

In response to his non answer, God announces a sign anyway, “a virgin would conceive and bear a son, his name Immanuel, God with us.

GABRIEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT: MARY’S RESPONSE

Christ Birth Announced to Mary

Luke 1:26–38 (NKJV)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

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

The scriptures tell us that Mary was espoused, betrothed to Joseph. In their day and time, this was much more thaan be engaged. It was as if they were already married, but not living together. This was not some shack up arrangement.

Gabriel the angel, tells her she Mary was highly favored by God. Meaning she had found grace with God and was chosen to bear His Son. Unparalleled honor, never before has happened, blessed are you among women.

This sons name Jesus,the New Testament version of Joshua meaning, the salvation of Jehovah.

NON LIKE HIM In Luke 1:32-33 Gabriel give five truths about Jesus.

he would be great

called the Son of the Highest

given the throne of His father David

His reign would be forever

His kingdom would never end

Mary asked how shall this be? Sense I’ve never been with a man, sexually active. This would happen by a sovereign act of God, by way of the Holy Spirit, whop would overshadow her.

Gabriel reminded her of her cousin Elizabeth, who was pass the age of child bearing, but yet, here she was preparing to give birth.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

The Song of Mary

Luke 1:46–55 (NKJV)

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

When Mary greets Elizabeth, she is filled with the Holy Spirit, and she declares “the mother of my Lord”. Mary breaks out in a song of praise, know today as “Magnificat”, meaning “my soul magnifies the Lord”

“My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The birth of Jesus would be the fullfillment of the covenant promises given to Israel.

MARY GIVES BIRTH TO MESSIAH The Birth of Jesus Christ

Luke 2:1–7 (NKJV)

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus was born during the rule of Caesar Augustus. He maintained peace, through military action and political actions.

Galatians 4:4 NKJV

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Meaning Jesus was born at the right time in history. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census. In Micah 5:2

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

They ended up being quartered in a cave where animal were kept. Baby Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough, tightly wrapped in strips of cloth, common for that day for infants to protect their limbs.

Glory in the Highest Luke 2:8-19

Luke 2:8–19 (NKJV)

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Conclusion With Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she was chosen to give birth to the Messiah, God was fulfilling His covenant promise to the nation of Israel.

The long awaited salvation of mankind, first spoken of way back in Genesis 3 was now beginning to take place. Mary recognized this a began to sing. If God fulfilled all these things concerning the first coming of Christ, we can be assured of the promise of His second coming.

The birth of Jesus was miraculous in its divine purpose. That purpose was the salvation of lost people. God planned it in eternity past, for Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8)

God put His divine plan into motion even in Eden. God enlightened His people during the ages through His prophets, priest, kings and patriarchs. He raised up and brought down nations and kings to serve His plan.

And finally brought His plan to fulfillment in a lowly manger in the humble village of Bethlehem, all of this was for our salvation and God’s glory.

A Common Birth For An Uncommon Child!