Week 2 - Luke 1:26-45 | God’s Sure Promises

Merry Christmas, everyone! A warm welcome to all the relatives and grandparents visiting this morning. We’re glad you’re here and hope you leave more encouraged and filled with the joy of Christmas than when you arrived.

We’re in an Advent series in Luke’s first two chapters, unpacking the Promises of God. Last week, Wes highlighted how God fulfilled His promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth. Despite their pain and waiting in infertility, God’s answer revealed His glory and brought joy. As Romans 8:18 reminds us, all our suffering pales in comparison to the glory God will reveal.

This week, we’ll look at another promise fulfilled in Luke 1:26-45—the announcement of Jesus’ birth. Hidden in this familiar story is the fulfillment of a promise God made 950 years earlier to King David in 2 Samuel 7: that one of David’s descendants would establish an eternal kingdom.

Gabriel’s declaration in verse 37 sums it up: “No word from God will ever fail.” If Christmas teaches us anything, it’s this: God keeps His promises. The question is, what does that practically look like? What does it look like for God to make good on His promises? How does this truth get lived and worked out in our lives on the daily?

You see, how we understand that, and what we expect in regards to God making good on His promises, well that will make or break our faith and experience in Jesus.

So lets explore that together and let’s do that by way of this as my big idea from Luke 1:26-45: God makes good on His promises in ways that can shock us, confuse us, challenge us, and ultimately lead us to obedience, strength, and joy when we trust Him.

Let’s read how God fulfills His promise to David—and to all humanity—through Mary. As we look at her response, we’ll see how we too can trust God’s promises by stepping into obedience, seeking strength from our faith community, and experiencing the joy and hope that comes through the process.

Luke 1:26–45 (NIV)

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Again: God makes good on His promises in ways that can shock us, confuse us, challenge us, and ultimately lead us to obedience, strength, and joy when we trust Him.

How did this get worked in Mary’s life?

1. Shock and Awe: God’s Promises Can Be Overwhelming (Luke 1:26-30)

In the beginning of the encounter, Gabriel, an angelic being shows up and greets Mary with quite a greeting! Hey there young lady! You are highly favored by God!

I’ve never met an angel Church, but every time one shows up in the Bible, it is as Wes said last week. Shock and Awe! People hit the deck in fear. These must be majestic and fierce looking beings of power. Doesn't matter what they say! As in this case, the words Gabe says are awesome, but Mary can’t process them. She’s in shock and awe of what’s said, of what she sees!

Luke tells us in v. 29, Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

And here’s my point, sometimes God’s Word to us—through Scripture, through prayer, through the Holy Spirit, an angel or our circumstances—sometimes God Word to us feels bigger than we can handle.

Sometimes God’s Word and His making good on His promises to us in Christ are shocking and AWE-some and hard for us to receive and process.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed by God’s power, by His ability to deliver in ways that so far exceed our expectations and ways that are hard to wrap your head around!

The shock and awe of God’s making good on His promises at times remind us of how big God’s plans are and how small we are.

And this glimpse we’re getting behind the Spiritual curtain that exists, it should be a reminder to us all, don’t ever count God out of the fight or think something to too big or too impossible! Just because you can’t make the math work, doesn’t mean God can’t make good on His promise! God is a God of shock and awe! He can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can dream to ask or imagine!

The first response to God making good on a promise in Mary’s life is shock and awe. She then moves on from that emotion to another emotion, one for which I am quite well acquainted with, confusion!

Could be cause I’m a man married to a woman and have 2 female daughters in my house and because I’m a man, the women in my life often confuse me. Could be that, or could be because I just ain’t that bright, but confusion is an emotional state I frequently find myself in.

2. Confusion: God’s Promises Can Seem Impossible (Luke 1:31-37)

In vv. 31-34 Mary hears the promise: She will conceive and bear a Son—the Messiah. Her response? “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Mary’s confusion is grounded in logic. She’s not like Zachariah who’s questioning was grounded in doubt and unbelief. Remember, God sent an angel, this same angel actually to Zach to tell him a similar thing. Your wife is about to have a baby and Zach asks this angel sent from heaven for a sign from heaven that would confirm the message from that angel… from heaven.

This is not that. Mary isn’t questioning Gabriel’s message with unbelief. She’s not asking for a sign of confirmation. The poor girl is confused. And rightfully so. Logically, we all know about the birds and the bees, she’s confused about how exactly this all is going to work. Now I’m really trying to be delicate here, because I don’t want to be disrespectful to Mary, but folks, God is announcing to this young probably 13-16 year old girl who’s betrothed but not yet married that He is going to put a baby in her belly!

And astonishingly Mary is not objecting to that but in her confusion is simply seeking a bit more clarity about how that all is going to happen.

And here’s my point. When God makes good on His promises in our lives it doesn’t mean that it will always be super clear and that we won’t have any questions about it. Sometimes seeing God make good on a promise may seem improbable or even impossible according to reason and logic, in might be down right confusing and confounding.

You see faith does not mean we won’t every have any questions. Nor is God offended by our asking for clarity.

But look at the text. The answer Mary gets doesn’t exactly clear things up does it?

Mary, full of faith, wants to understand the how this might be since she is a virgin.

God isn’t intimidated by our honest questions.

And the angels response shows that while God may offer us reassurance, He might not always give us the complete clarity our hearts and questions desire.

The angel responds with reassurance “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.” and the reminder, that as the English Standard version puts it in v. 37 “nothing is impossible with God.”

Friend, you may be wrestling with a how right now in your life. How can God make good on some promise you’re trying to claim from Him. And while it’s ok to be confused and to ask honest questions, there may come a point like Mary where you simply have to accept the answer, as vague as it may be that the Lord is giving you and just trust and obey!

And folks, that may not look like rainbows and unicorns?

which brings us to my 3rd point:

3. Acceptance and Obedience: God’s Promises Require Our Willingness (Luke 1:38)

God begins to do what most of us would like for him to do in our lives. He begins to make good on His promises in the life of Mary and that process starts out as shocking and awe-inspiring. It moves then into a time of confusion. How could this possibly happen and from there then Mary moves into a time of acceptance and obedience.

Church do you know what Mary is saying yes to? Not only is her body about to change in crazy and unfamiliar ways. Not only is she going to start to be insanely uncomfortable from the new life, forming itself inside of her body and pushing on all her organs, but this woman is not yet married.

I know in our culture, people have sex out side of marriage and babies outside of wedlock, and it sadly isn’t really considered much of a thing, but in Mary’s culture this was a potential death sentence. If Joseph wanted to make a public stink about this, he could have her brought before their Church and stoned to death for the sin of adultery.

And I researched this at length this past week in my Bible Software. This was a very very real possibility. It’s not just something to say in a sermon to up the stakes, Mary by saying yes to God was putting her life into God’s hands and into the Joseph’s hands!

That’s the worse case scenario, and it’s real and it’s bad, but the best case scenario isn’t very good either. The other option Joseph has is to divorce her quickly at which point she becomes a single mother in a culture where she will forever wear the shame of conceiving a child out of wedlock and no man of integrity is going to want to marry her. Which means she becomes her father and mother’s responsibility. There was no welfare system. The family unit was that system and a child out of wedlock and divorce meant a life of destitution, shame and abject poverty.

Apart from God’s intervention, that is the best case scenario. Death or abject poverty and in either case, shame and scorn from your community.

Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord has look upon you with so much favor! Here’s what He’s calling you to!

Don’t just read over it cause you know the story! Slow down. Take it in.

God is this a blessing or a curse? Fair question!

Church, God will make good on all His promises and a lot of times that will shock us, confuse us and challenge us to our cores!

After hearing the angel’s explanation, Mary responds with incredible faith: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Here’s the deal Church, true faith God, isn’t just believing God’s promises but surrendering to His plan even when it costs us something, even if it costs us everything. Mary’s “yes” to God is an example for all of us. She accepts God’s plan and obeys His will come what may!

And this is the invitation of Christmas to you and I. Jesus has come as God and He invites us to surrender everyone and everything to Him! He intends to be the Lord of our lives! That may shock you. It may confuse you. It certainly challenges us. But I’m here to tell you that acceptance and obedience in trust is what saving faith looks like!

What promise is God inviting you to receive by saying yes to Him? Is there area of your life, a plan, hope or dream, a sin that God may need you to surrender to Him so you can say Lord, may it be to me as you have said? What step of obedience is He calling you to, even if it feels costly?

Alright, things are starting to get a little too baaa hunbug here. Let me encourage you. This is not an easy call. God’s promises are shocking, confusing and they will challenge us, but if we obey and seek out strength and help from our faith community, immense joy and hope are possible!

Here’s where God’s grace comes in. As shocking, confusing and challenging as it can be to receive God’s promises, the reality is that He doesn’t call us to journey that process alone! Look at what Mary does next. After she commits to accept and obey God’s Word, she seeks out a faithful friend, Elizabeth, as Gabriel graciously invites her too!

4. Seeking Strength: God’s Promises Are Easier When We Seek Community (Luke 1:39-45)

Mary immediately seeks out Elizabeth.

Luke 1:39–45 (NIV)

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

What a beautiful means of grace and provision of assurance for Mary! As this dear teenage girl is making her way to Elizabeth. She walks up to the door. Knocks sheepishly. She knows what shame and mystery she’s about to unload on her relative! And before she can open the door beyond a crack, Elizabeth begins to prophesy by the power of the Holy Spirit! Mind you Mary, hasn’t disclosed anything yet. Not the angel Gabriel. Not the miraculous conception. None of it and yet Elizabeth speaks prophetically over Mary this accurate blessing by the power of the holy Spirit!

How kind and gracious is our God Church! Imagine if you can how these words would have washed over Mary!

Do you see it! Can you imagine how much strength and comfort Mary was able to draw from just this single interaction. I would bet you 1000 dollars that Mary cried, tears of joy and comfort upon hearing these words uttered from her Friend Elizabeth’s mouth.

And I’m sure there were more interactions like this that aren’t record. I’m sure Elizabeth told Mary of their recent experience with Gabriel! I’m sure they prayed together and wondered together and probably cried together as the others in the town gossiped and judged!

But here’s what I want you to see, they didn’t do any of it alone!

God’s promises are often fulfilled in the context of relationships. We’re not meant to walk this journey of faith alone. Mary found strength and encouragement in Elizabeth.

And here’s my point, seeking out a godly community helps us persevere and see God’s hand in our lives.

So here’s my question for you in light of that?

Who is your “Elizabeth”? Who do you go to for encouragement and strength in your faith journey? Who’s your fridge friend in Jesus here at Crossroads. We need each other Church. Remember, we are a people who regularly and intentionally connect with each other at a heart level.

If you will learn to trust God and work the process of receiving His promises through the shock and awe, through the confusion and challenges into acceptance and obedience finding strength to persevere in His community through meaningful heart level friendships, well then get ready to experience immense joy and hope Church!

We’re not going to read it for the sake of time, but that’s your home work for this next week. Mary wrote a song in response to her experience and the 2 best words I can use to summarize it are hope and joy! You can go read it for yourself later. Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s song starts out with this declaration. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior for He has been mindful of me!”

You see, as comforting as it is to lean on the faith and support of friends, nothing else comes close to realizing that God Himself is mindful of us. He desires to be closer to us than any earthly friend ever could.

And so, Mary sings with joy because she knows the baby she carries isn’t just her son—He is the Rescuer, the long-promised King from David’s line. And this child is here to fix everything broken by sin. God isn’t distant or detached; He is coming near, stepping into the world to save and make all things new.

God doesn’t choose a queen or a palace for this mission. He chooses Mary—a poor girl from a small town—to bring salvation into the world. Why? Because salvation isn’t about status or strength; it’s a gift of grace and favor.

Greetings you who are highly Favored! The Lord is with you!

And Mary’s humble trust shows us how to respond and receive such favor from God, even when His plans disrupt our own.

When we see that Jesus, the Son of God, comes to serve, suffer, and save, we are freed to surrender our lives with the same faith and joy Mary displays.

Christmas reminds us that as challenging and confusing as God’s promises may seem, we never face them alone. Jesus, Immanuel, is God with us! His presence transforms our feelings of overwhelm into an adventure of faith. His Word never fails—He comes, He dies, and He rises to make His home within us.

Like Mary, we can welcome Him with trust and obedience. When we seek strength in relationship with Jesus and His Church, joy, hope, faith, and love fill our lives this Christmas and beyond.

Mary’s story reminds us that God’s promises aren’t always easy to trust, but they are always true and always worth it.

Pray.

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