The Birth Announcement of Jesus

This morning we will be in Luke 1:26–38. And you might wonder, is it already Christmas time that we are going through the Nativity story? No, do not worry, you still have plenty of time until then. But just as we just celebrated Easter and were reminded of our Risen Lord, these are not only things that we preach only at advent or during holy week. Every Sunday should be about our Savior Jesus, who was born in real time, into our real world to one day die and raise again for us. We can celebrate Christmas and Easter every Sunday because he has come into the world and he is risen.

So this Sunday and for the next few to follow we are going to be in the Christmas story, but I think it is a special opportunity for us to listen in and not just tune out like is easy at Christmas time as we approach advent. Being only at the beginning of our series in Luke this is a chance to look at the Nativity with fresh eyes and to also be struck with awe as we are shocked and amazed at our Lord Jesus being born into this world in the most surprising way as he fulfills all of God’s promises.

And our passage today is such a rich passage for exploring the tension between surprise and sovereignty—how God’s long-awaited plans often arrive in the most unexpected ways. This is part of the story that we celebrate at Christmas time. We gather to celebrate the best gift of all: Jesus being born - the gift of God himself, who is worthy of our praise and adoration. His birth in a lowly human condition is surprising when we consider the fact that he is the son of the highest God. And already, where we left off with the foretelling of John the baptist, we have embarked on the Christmas story, and we haven’t even made it to Bethlehem yet.

New International Version (2011) Chapter 1

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

Pause for Prayer

An Unexpected Party

Illustration: Perhaps some of you have heard of a somewhat popular book called The Hobbit written by J.R.R Tolkien. In this fantasy adventure novel the story opens on a seemingly normal character: Bilbo Baggins. He is minding his own business in the comfort of his hobbit-hole when a wizard - Gandalf the Great shows up. Then before he knows it he is hosting a whole troop of dwarves for dinner. He did not expect company, but he begrudgingly hosts the messy crowd for a party while putting on his best manners, much like many of us who put on our midwest nice when we really don’t want to. But Gandalf has not visited Bilbo for a dinner party, what he actually has in mind is an unexpected adventure to offer Bilbo Baggins. And so, Gandalf and his dwarves offer him the adventure of a lifetimes but to come along Bilbo must leave the Shire.

His life was neat, predictable, and comfortable. Yet, Bilbo was being invited into a story much older and grander than he could imagine—a tale of reclaiming lost kingdoms and confronting ancient evils. When Gandalf and company appeared on his doorstep he was not expecting a party let alone an invitation to leave the Shire for a perilous adventure. In The Hobbit Bilbo didn’t feel ready or worthy to be a hero—but there was a bigger story already in motion that pricked the sense of adventure buried deep inside him. And his small "yes" mattered more than he realized.

In our story this morning, Mary is visited by an angel without warning, being greeted as one who is “highly favored” with God. She, too, was being summoned into a divine plan set in motion long before her time—a plan to bring heaven’s King into the world through her own body. She was afraid and uncertain. But she responded in courage and faith saying, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” (NET)

Last week we began our story in the Temple with Zechariah and we saw that God is actually fulfilling something rooted in the Old Testament. And that is because we need the fulfillment of Elijah before we can get to the fulfillment of the Messiah. In his gospel, Luke is laying a foundation set in real time with real people to support the gospel that we believe. Most of us already know where the story is going but we cannot get to the cross until we have built on the pieces to get us there. We have all these details forming the bedrock of the Christian faith so we can believe in the story of Christmas.

And in our previous knowledge of the gospel story we can miss out on the unexpected scenes that are recorded in Luke’s gospel. We can miss out on the wonder and the surprise that are baked into these stories. So let’s look with fresh eyes at the surprise and mystery of the Christmas story, that is only just beginning in Luke chapter one.

Luke 1:28-30 – The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”

An Unexpected Grace

Mary is visited by an angel and told that she has found favor with God. But what here in Mary’s circumstances is favorable? She is from a small, unknown town called Nazareth, and planning an ordinary wedding. I, like Mary, am from a small podunk town that no one has heard of: Tomball, TX. It is a town that is North West of Houston. And much Nazareth, some may wonder “what good can come from Tomball, TX?” But growing up I remember riding my bike to our most stunning attraction in Tomball: Sonic. Not the movie, the burger place. And during happy hour in the summer time you could get a big ole cherry limeade for 42 cents. We didn’t have much in Tomball at the time, but on a 100 degree summer day when you’re out riding your bikes with your friends there was nothing more glorious than that ice cold treat.

And so here Mary is, probably not much older than I was when I was out riding bikes with my friends, in a middle of nowhere town. But the difference is that the though of marriage was far from my mind… But then an angel shows up to speak to her. And she is terrified wondering why such an aweful thing would happen to her. Because angels are not cute like we usually portray them in our Nativity musicals. They are terrifying. In Isaiah they are described has having six wings to cover all the parts of their bodies so that they do not radiate their awesome light.

But in our story the angel is not here to consume Mary. In fact the angel has appeared to her and is blessing her with this greeting saying she has received the favor of God’s grace upon her. The greek word here is derived from the word “grace” and more closely means that she “has been favored with grace.” The Lord’s grace. God is declaring that He is with her.

She is the recipient of God’s unexpected and undeserved grace. And it is because of God’s overwhelming grace and favor that she is about to receive the commission of a lifetime. Only because she is a recipient of this undeserved favor and because God is with her, can she be called to the journey before her.

And later it will be said of her, “blessed are you among women!” She is not only blessed because she has found favor with the Lord but because of all the women throughout time and history she will bear the Lord Jesus. She has the high privilege of being the Virgin Mary in whom the Holy Spirit will conceive the Son of the Most High.

She is told, “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.”

When we look back all the way to Genesis, we see that the seed promise given to Adam and Eve, has still yet to be fulfilled. Through one woman all of humanity was thrown into sin and the grave, and up to this point all humankind is still waiting for the Son of Adam who will crush the serpent’s head and inaugurate the kingdom of God. Finally, the seed promise has arrived! And now through one woman the Redeemer of all creation will be born. Through her child-bearing, the light of the world was born. She has found innumerable grace because she is the mother of Jesus.

But how will this happen? 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.”

An Unimaginable Miracle

It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is involved in every part of Jesus’ life and ministry. All the things Jesus does are done with and through the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 9:14 tells us that in his dying to make atonement for our sins that Jesus, “through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.” And Romans 8:11 says the Spirit that brought new life to us in Christ is the same Spirit “who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.” This Holy Spirit is continuing to minister to and through his followers as a comforter, whom he promised to send us as we wait for his return.

And even here at the beginning stages of life. Life starting in the womb, the Holy Spirit is present. We must not forget the importance of the Holy Spirit in our religion. If Jesus’ very life depends on it, then we as his disciples ought to rely and lean on it for our sanctification as we walk the Christian life. Pastor Jeremy has made mention of J.C Ryle a number of times in his sermons as the man who wrote “Thoughts for Young Men.” And in his Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke he presses upon the Christian this important reminder. He says, “Let us remember that all that believers have, and are, and enjoy under the Gospel, they owe to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit.”

Every year we go to nativity plays at Christmas time or Passion plays at Easter time. And we are repeatedly reminded of the life of Jesus, but is the Holy Spirit getting his time in the spotlight? I would advocate that we not forget the Holy Spirit in all our worship of Jesus but especially here in this seen. Because we have the same Spirit of Jesus in us, and if even Jesus himself needed the Spirit’s help, then we should take heed and give the Holy Spirit the same place not only in our religion but also in our personal faith.

And so here God is going to do the impossible. God incarnate is going to come into the world, being conceived in the womb of a young virgin, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And this is a core principle of the Christian faith. The incarnation of Christ, by the Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary is something that the mind of mere humans cannot comprehend and explain.

I wonder at how the Holy Spirit using Mary’s DNA and reproductive system was able to do this miracle. But He is the Eternal Spirit that was there in the beginning, hovering over all the earth. He was present in creating the whole universe. And if He can do that, he can grow the Lord Jesus inside the womb of Mary, without the help of man.

But we must not forget that we believe in a God who can do the miraculous. He is other than us and our knowledge is a granule compared to his infinite wisdom. Our strength is that of a slug when compared to his mighty power. And to be honest, this is a tenant of our faith that is often questioned, doubted, and even mocked by many. People will ask how can you believe that fairy tale? They will challenge this miracle of God by saying “How can you believe the word of Mary? Surely, she was lying because she did not want to be killed for committing adultery.”

A number of objections can be made against this doctrine, and our answers are of little use in defending them. What is of more use to us is believing in the Almighty God that can do the impossible. The angel says “for nothing will be impossible with God” (1:27). None of His words will ever fail.

When He says through Isaiah the Prophet: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6), He Fulfills these things. And In the most unexpected ways!

There is no King Israel, instead there is a raving lunatic ruling as king in Jerusalem: Herod. The Roman empire is in control even in small towns like Galilee. There is no descendent of David on the throne. But God sends his Son to us in this way. Being conceived in this way, so that he can give us HIS Son. The son that will do the impossible: clearing us from our sin. But praise God that the mercy and forgiveness of Christ is greater than that of our Sin.

God does the impossible by changing our heart of stone by turning it to flesh. There is nothing to hard for God to do. And he doesn’t stop there. He strengthens the believer. He who is mighty has done a great work in our hearts and is sufficient for us to continue in Him. God is with us, Christ Came for us, and the Holy Spirit as Lord assures us. Paul says in Romans 8:15, “but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!””

Who was the first to cry Abba Father? It was Jesus, looking to the cross who cried out, weeping Abba Father. and we through the Holy Spirit are able to do the same. We who have been adopted into God’s family through the power of the son by the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus cried out to his father, we can too.

And the spirit gives us assurance as the children of God. Paul goes onto say here Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” When we are doubting, when we are questioning, when we are battling with sin and wondering do we even care about God and the weight of our sin, the Spirit says to the deepest parts within us that we are his. Even in the immense faith that it takes to believe the Christmas story of Christ being conceived in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, even in this belief the Holy Spirit is assuring and confirming in us.

So after Mary asks the Angel Gabriel, “how can this even be since I am still a virgin?” He answers her, “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.”

Mary is an amazing example of surrendering to God’s ways. When we wake up on a typical Tuesday morning and deal with the dread of the day that lies ahead. When we have to go to work or school or deal with the hurt of of loss or the hurt of words said to us. We surrender to God, who is surprising us in the mundane. Mary’s answer, 'Let it be to me according to your word,' serves as a model of surrendering to God's surprising ways.

A Surprising Surrender

Perhaps your surrendering is just that, in a mundane, boring way. Hypothetically, let’s say you wake up on a Monday morning and you find yourself irritated. You are irritated that you have to write a sermon on a passage you have heard a thousand times and you wonder why to I have to start writing this thing. Why me God. Now this is just hypothetical of course… But maybe God is calling us… or particularly me to surrender in those seemingly insignificant moments.

But here we have Mary, she is just preparing for a wedding. She is doing the ordinary. She’s picking out wedding dresses, planning bachelorette parties, picking out wedding venues, invitations, and who is going to cater the meal when all of a sudden an angel appears to her and gives her this unexpected mission. She wasn’t preparing a nursery or having baby showers and enjoying the last few full nights sleep she will get for awhile. A baby, let alone the Son of God, was the last thing she was expecting.

And in a terrifying moment of doubt and fear and questioning, she says yes to the word of the Lord. In this seemingly insignificant moment in time, she says yes not only the Lord but for our benefit. As the Mother of Jesus and as an example of faith in the least likely circumstances. She says yes for our good and God’s glory as a model for us of amazing obedient surrender and submission God.

“Then the angel left her.” (1:38)

Mary was planning a wedding and now the angel has left her with this task. She will give birth to the Son of the Most High. The Lord who’s kingdom will last forever. There are no other kingdom’s but his kingdom. He will be great and his name will be Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” And now she is left alone with this glorious mission before her. We have no idea what she is thinking in this moment, but there is no way she felt ready or qualified for this task.

Like David when the Lord told him that from him would come the eternal king, Mary must be filled with wonder and praise that she would be chosen for this task.

“Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human![?] 20 “What more can I say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.” (2 Sam. 7:18-21

Who are we Lord, that you have brought us into your story? Who are we that have received the Spirit of adoption? Who are we that we are the children of God - the heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ? He has made this great thing known to us in mighty ways. This is not a fantasy story. This is the real story of Christmas: the gift of God himself.

A Surprising Surrender to the Triune God

How can we have such immense faith such as Mary’s? It is only through knowing the full implications that Mary experienced. She has God with her. She has Jesus sent for her. And she has the Spirit working in her. We could never surrender to the will of God without the triune God leading our Spirit and renewing our wills to trust in him. We cannot set foot on the journey before us without him. This passage is a fully theological passage. It describes to us the deep work of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit - all together, working as one. And only through faith in these three can we find comfort and help in all of the perils of life.

At Christmas we like to preach joy and peace, but the story of Christmas is not about only about the joy and peace of the season but it is a reminder that not all roads are leading to the same place. Not all roads lead to God. During advent we are to be reminded that we cannot reach God on our own. And what we cannot do, God can do, and what we cannot accomplish, Jesus accomplished for us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

We can only live this faith by standing in his salvation and walking in his grace. And this is why the incarnation of Jesus must happen. He came as the only human who could do what we could not. So we have Mary as our great example of faith. She surrendered to God’s surprising, marvelous ways. And what she did we can also do as we experience the triune God at work in this world and in our everyday lives.

So if you are a christian I urge you to seek surrender, but not through your own strength but as you surrender over and over again to God. There is power in proclaiming like David, “who am I sovereign Lord that you chose me?” And that he would give us strength to believe this truth and pursue him through the working grace of the Holy Spirit and the mercy of Jesus.

And if you are not a believer then I hope that the offer of Christmas - That God would be with you, that Jesus lived, died and was raised for you, and that the Holy Spirit would enter you - That that offer is for you only in the saving act of Jesus working through the wisdom and power of the Triune God.

We all enter seasons where we feel we are being stretched beyond the limits of our strength. Perhaps you are a mother of little children and you need the Holy Spirit’s power not to react in harshness or rage. Perhaps you are the provider for your family and you are feeling lost in your job and in the mundane. Perhaps you have just received the most devastating news and don’t know how you will recover. Or perhaps you’ve been hit with countless waves of disappointment and hardship.

And in this we are told that our hope is in a person. And when going through these we hold fast to our faith by confessing the truths we stand on. Hebrews 4:14–16 says,

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Here in this beautiful passage we are reminded to hold fast to the faith we profess. And we are told we are able to hold firmly to the faith only because he is holding on to us. God is with us. Jesus is sent for us. And the Holy Spirit is working in us. All we need to do is come to God and receive His mercy and grace. And when we lose hope or are terrified or face the unknown like Mary, he helps us in our time of need.

But we can only do this through the faith we profess, not on our own strength. We can only do this because Christ is able to empathize with our weakness. He was born into the same world as us and as he grew he was tempted in all the ways as us, but did not sin. He is the only Son of God.

And so let us remind each other of this story of Christmas. Let us remind each other of the faith we profess. That God who created all things, was sent into this world conceived by the holy spirit in the womb of the Virgin. This we believe. In God the Father, Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit. Our God who is three in one. We believe in the forgiveness of sins, in eternal life, and in the resurrection when Christ will come again.

So, let us hold firmly to this faith and hope we profess, by standing now and reminding through song and worship the foundation in which our faith is grounded.