***Luke 1:26-27 Submission to God’s Will,

Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Submission to God’s Will,

There’s a word from the lord coming from the book of Luke

Luke Chapter 1 verses 26-17

And you should find these words as printed

Luke 1:26–38 (NRSV)

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 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.

That’s enough, I want to talk for the next fleeting moments with the help of the holy spirit and your prayers

I want to talk about

(1:26–38) Introduction: little information is given about Mary in the Bible. However, what is said is striking and sets before us a tremendous example of submissiveness to God’s will. Submissiveness to God is an absolute essential for every believer.

1 (1:26) Nazareth—Gabriel: the angel Gabriel was sent from God. This was Gabriel’s second mission surrounding the birth of Jesus (see DEEPER STUDY # 1—Lu. 1:19). Note the time is given. It was six months after Elizabeth’s conception that Gabriel was sent to an obscure village, Nazareth of Galilee. Galilee bordered Gentile or heathen nations; therefore, it was sometimes called Galilee of the Gentiles. Nazareth was a despised city, considered inferior by the rest of Israel. The people were a conquered people especially despised by the Romans. The city and its citizens were the object of deep prejudice by Jews and Romans alike (see Jn. 1:46

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Thought 1. God is no respecter of persons or places. He sends a message to Nazareth as readily as He does to Jerusalem (see Lu. 1:5–25), to a believer in Nazareth (Mary) as quickly as he does to a believer in Jerusalem (Zacharias).

Thought 2. A place, whether city or nation, is not judged by its institutions and advantages, but by the righteous people within its borders (see Ge. 18:23

Genesis 18:23 (NRSV)

23 Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

2 (1:27) Jesus Christ, Birth—Mary—Betrothed—Espoused—Purity: Mary was pure, a virgin. She had never been touched by a man, not immorally. This is unmistakably and clearly stated. She confirmed the fact herself (see v. 34)

a. The argument that the Hebrew word alma means a young woman who could have a questionable character is weak (Is. 7:14). When a Hebrew spoke of a young woman (alma) he meant virgin. This is clear when the word alma is studied. The word is used six times in the Bible, always referring to a young woman with pure character.

⇒ Rebekah, the young woman, was certainly a virgin (Ge. 24:43). The whole context verifies the point.

⇒ Miriam, the young sister of Moses, was also pointed to as a virgin by the context (Ex. 2:8).

⇒ Young women of pure character were those who were worthy to participate in the worship of God (Ps. 68:25).

⇒ The young women who were worthy of Solomon’s love were not of impure character (Song 1:3).

⇒ There were young women who were compared with queens and concubines (Song 6:8).

⇒ The maiden (young woman) of Proverbs was contrasted with the adulterous woman (Pr. 30:19–20).

In view of the heavy weight of this argument, the logical translation of alma is virgin. Of course, the virgin birth does not rest on this argument. However, we need to realize that unbelief snatches at every little gnat, trying its best to add every thing it can to disprove the divinity of Christ.

Thought 1. Man desperately needs to turn from his unbelief and to trust Christ with all his heart. There is little time left for any of us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (He. 9:27).

b. Mary was espoused to Joseph. Being espoused was something like an engagement, except it was more binding. It lasted one year. Two matters are important in discussing Mary’s virginity.

1) In the espousal period sexual contact was adultery and resulted in stoning.

2) The espousal was so serious a matter that if it were broken a divorce had to be secured.

c. Mary and Joseph were both godly, so godly that God could choose them to be the parents of His Son. It was impossible that God would have chosen an immoral man and woman to bear and rear His Son, not when He had the power to control the events.

Thought 1. There are two striking lessons in the purity of Mary.

(1) God expects both women and men to be sexually pure, untouched by a man or woman until they are married.

(2) God is looking for pure women and men to use in the ministry of the gospel and in meeting the desperate needs of the world.

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.… For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Th. 4:3–4, 7).

3 (1:28) Grace—God, Call of—Favored by God: Mary was highly favored by God. Three simple, yet meaningful, things were said to Mary.

a. She was to be highly favored by God. Note the angel did not immediately tell Mary how she was to be favored by God, that she was God’s choice to bear and to be the mother of the Messiah. That came later in the conversation. The angel had to give her time to adjust to the shock of his spectacular appearance. For right now, he simply announced that she was to be highly favored by God—a unique privilege.

Thought 1. Just think! God does favor us: He saves us, gifts us, uses us. We are favored by the God of the universe—a phenomenal privilege and an awesome responsibility to make ourselves available to receive His favors.

b. The Lord was also with Mary. She did not walk through life alone. God was with her. Mary’s life had pleased God to the point that He could favor her and be with her. She allowed God to walk with her and look after her life, so God was able to be with her. This means that God …

• had been with her (past)

• was with her (present)

• would be with her (future)

No matter where Mary had to walk or what she had to do, God promised to be with her.

c. Mary was to be blessed among women. It should be noted that this clause is not in the oldest and best manuscripts. Nevertheless, the point is made in v. 48. Mary was to be blessed and to be called blessed by men of all generations (see Jud. 5:24 for a similar declaration by Deborah concerning Jael).

4 (1:29–30) Humility: Mary was very human. She was both troubled and stricken with fear. The fear was understandable, for an angelic being from God stood before her. He stood in all the dazzling splendor that is necessary to reveal that he was truly from God. The fact that Mary was troubled needs to be briefly considered.

a. Mary was “troubled at his saying,” at what the angel told her. It was the message that caused her to be troubled, the fact that

• she was highly favored

• the Lord was with her

• she was blessed among women

Thought 1. Since Christ has come, every person can now …

• be highly favored by God

• have the Lord’s presence

• be blessed among all others

b. Mary was troubled because she did not understand how God could so greatly favor a person like herself. She never expected to be greatly favored by Him. This was deep humility. Mary was not a proud, self-centered, flighty, or frivolous young lady who was conscious of herself or felt that she merited and deserved the attention of others. She was a young lady who loved God and had determined to live a pure and responsible life. Apparently, from her response throughout this passage, she had a sweet spirit that was full of softness, warmth, and tenderness, and was responsive and willing, subjective and giving, thoughtful and kind. However, Mary never dreamed she was anyone special. Therefore, when she heard that God was to favor her and use her in a very special way, she was troubled. How could she, so ordinary and humble, do anything special for God? What a striking example Mary was!

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jas. 4:6).

5 (1:31–33) Jesus Christ, Deity: Mary was told by the angel how she was to be favored by God. She was to bear and be the mother of the Messiah. Note three startling and profound things about Mary’s Son.

a. His name. Mary was actually told what she was to name the Messiah: Jesus (see DEEPER STUDY # 2, Jesus—Lu. 1:31).

b. His great person.

1) He was to be called the Son of the Highest. The Highest, of course, is God. Therefore, Jesus is the Son of God, that is, of the very nature of God. He is “over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Ro. 9:5).

2) He was to be the Son of David and was to receive the throne of David. He was of the line of David. This indicates that Mary was a descendant of David; therefore, Christ Himself would become a descendant of David (see DEEPER STUDY # 3—Lu. 1:32–33).

c. His eternal kingdom. Jesus was to teach that His kingdom would not be of this earth, for nothing on this earth lasts (Jn. 19:36). Therefore, the kingdom was to be spiritual, by which it would be eternal (see DEEPER STUDY # 3—Mt. 19:23–24

6 (1:34–35) Jesus Christ, Birth; Deity; Son of God—Faith: Mary was expected to believe the miraculous, but she was puzzled. She was not doubting or distrusting the message. She was not asking for some sign or proof like Zacharias (v. 18). She was simply asking for more information. She was single and had never known a man sexually. How could she possibly bear a child without knowing a man? Note exactly what is said about her conception.

a. “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee.” The thought is not after the manner of men, but after the manner of God’s Spirit. What is the manner or operation of God’s Spirit? God’s Spirit sets apart and activates, creates and re-creates by the Word of God. God’s Spirit simply speaks and it is done (see DEEPER STUDY # 1, pt. 5—Lu. 1:27). There is no such idea as a crude mating between the Holy Spirit and Mary. God’s Spirit simply speaks and it is done, no matter what is to be done. (How foolish are the crude thoughts and unbelief of men!)

b. “The power of the Highest [God] shall overshadow thee.” God Himself was going to look after the whole matter. The child’s conception and growth during pregnancy and His birth and life were under the shadow and wing of Almighty God. It was God’s power that saw to the whole operation, not the presence or power of an angel or of a man or of any other creature.

c. The child born of Mary would be holy, “the Son of God.” Note the most critical point: who “the Son of God” is.

⇒ He is “the holy One” born by the power and the Word and the will of God through the virgin Mary.

⇒ He is “the holy One” whom “God sent forth … made of a woman” by His power, Word, and will (Ga. 4:4).

Thought 1. Believers are to believe the miraculous.

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Mt. 17:20).

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk. 9:23).

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Ps. 37:5).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Pr. 3:5).

7 (1:36–37) Faith—God, Power of: Mary was encouraged to believe that “with God nothing is impossible.” God encouraged Mary with two impossible facts.

a. The news that her cousin Elizabeth, who was beyond child-bearing age, had conceived a son in her old age and was now six months pregnant. The fact that God could take her cousin in her old age and cause her to conceive demonstrated God’s power. Visiting Elizabeth would encourage Mary.

b. With men much is impossible. To say that all things are possible with men is far from the truth. When Mary heard and meditated upon the simple statement, “With God all things are possible,” she was bound to be encouraged. The statement was simple and striking. It could be easily remembered and understood.

Thought 1. God expects us to believe Him and His power, regardless of circumstances and our feelings of insignificance.

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Mt. 19:26).

8 (1:38) Surrender: Mary was submissive. Her response was immediate and brief, only one short sentence, yet it was striking and meaningful.

a. The word handmaid (doule) means slave-girl. Mary was saying that she was a bond-slave, willing to sell herself out completely to God. She would possess herself no longer but would give herself completely to God.

b. God’s Word was her will. She surrendered totally to obey God. She would serve as He willed, being completely obedient and fulfilling His purpose entirely. She would act “according to Thy Word.”

Imagine what Mary was thinking, the enormous depth of her trust and dedication to God.

1. There was the idea of being an unwed mother (Lu. 1:26f; Mt. 1:18). Who of that day would ever believe Mary’s story? Required was a willingness to be available to God regardless of the price.

2. There was Joseph’s discovery of her pregnancy (Mt. 1:19). The shock of broken trust and of personal embarrassment were more than a person could be expected to bear (Mt. 1:20). Required was a willingness on Joseph’s part to forget self completely.

3. There was the threat of being condemned to death because of adultery (De. 22:23f). She had to face the possibility of being stoned because she would appear to be immoral (see Jn. 8:5).

Thought 1. Surrender to God is an absolute essential both for salvation and service.

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Mt. 12:50).