The Calling of a Maiden
Notes
Transcript
THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTMAS
THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTMAS
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Church family, today we begin a four-week journey toward Christmas.
But I want to start by taking you back to the beginning of Christmas.
Not the manger.
Not the shepherds.
Not the wise men.
Christmas begins in a quiet village…
In an unseen house, with a young maiden named Mary.
There were no choirs singing.
No crowds cheering.
No candles glowing.’
No decorations.
Just a teenage girl from Nazareth—
So ordinary that no one outside her village even knew her name
But God in heaven chose her for a purpose no human mind could comprehend.
So, “Christmas” began with a calling.
A calling that was unexpected.
A calling that was overwhelming.
A calling that was filled with grace.
And church, before we leave today, I want you to see this:
The calling of Mary is not just a story to admire—
It's an invitation for us to respond to God’s call on our lives.
So let’s walk through Luke 1:26–38
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 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. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
together and discover what God teaches us through the calling of this young maiden.
I. GOD CALLS THE UNLIKELY (vv. 26–27)
I. GOD CALLS THE UNLIKELY (vv. 26–27)
Verses 26 and 27 say:
“26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ”
Luke intentionally introduces Mary with simplicity.
No last name.
No lineage listed.
No accomplishments.
Just “a virgin” in Nazareth.
Nazareth was so insignificant that it wasn’t mentioned in any
Old Testament text, rabbinic writings, or major maps of the time.
Yet God sends Gabriel—
not to Jerusalem,
not to the temple,
not to king or other royalty—but to her.
Church, that is the grace of God:
God seems to delight in calling the overlooked,
The unlikely, the ordinary.
He called a shepherd boy named David.
He called an old man named Abraham.
He called a stuttering man named Moses.
He called fishermen and tax collectors.
And here He calls a young maiden most people would have dismissed.
Let this settle in your heart:
God does not wait for you to become impressive before He calls you.
He simply asks for a willing heart.
II. GOD’S CALL BEGINS WITH GRACE (v. 28)
II. GOD’S CALL BEGINS WITH GRACE (v. 28)
Gabriel’s first words are not instructions—they are grace:
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Before Mary is asked to do anything…
before she carries Jesus…
before she obeys…
before she speaks…
God declares His favor.
The calling of God always begins with grace.
You see, God doesn’t call people who are worthy—
He graciously makes worthy those He calls.
He doesn’t look for perfect people;
He looks for receptive people.
He doesn’t call the qualified, — He qualified those He calls.
And Mary’s story tells us this:
God’s call is rooted not in your performance, but in His purpose.
III. GOD’S CALL OFTEN DISTURBS OUR COMFORT (vv. 29–30)
III. GOD’S CALL OFTEN DISTURBS OUR COMFORT (vv. 29–30)
The next verse says:
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“But she was greatly troubled at the saying…”
Mary is troubled, confused, overwhelmed.
She did not wake up that morning expecting an angelic visitation.
She wasn’t praying for a miracle pregnancy.
She wasn’t asking to be the mother of the Messiah.
She was simply living her quiet life… and God interrupted it.
Church, let’s be honest—
God’s calling is often unsettling.
It interrupts our plans.
It challenges our assumptions.
It exposes our fears.
It pulls us out of the familiar.
But Gabriel speaks the words God always speaks,
When He calls people into something bigger than themselves:
Then he said,
“Do not be afraid…”
God never shames fear—
He meets us There while we’re in it.
You don’t need to be fearless to follow God.
You just need to be willing.
IV. GOD CALLS US INTO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO (vv. 31–33)
IV. GOD CALLS US INTO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO (vv. 31–33)
Then Gabriel reveals the impossible:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 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. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
“You will conceive… you will give birth to a son… you will call His name Jesus…”
What God was calling Mary into is humanly impossible.
She had no frame of reference, no example to lean on.
Church, when God truly calls someone, the assignment is almost
always too big for human strength.
God calls:
Abraham to leave everything familiar
Moses to confront Pharaoh
Gideon to fight against overwhelming odds
Jonah to preach to his enemies
Peter to walk on water
Mary to carry the Son of God
And He still calls His people today into the impossible.
I know you have just received the worst news in your life.
“Trust Me”
You are facing financial Ruin,
“Trust Me”
Or He calls you to forgive someone you could never forgive on your own.
He calls you to love difficult people with a supernatural love.
He calls you to serve in ways that stretch your faith.
He calls you to share the gospel with boldness you don’t naturally have.
God doesn’t call us to what is easy.
He calls us to what showcases His power.
V. GOD PROVIDES THE POWER FOR WHAT HE CALLS US TO DO (vv. 34–37)
V. GOD PROVIDES THE POWER FOR WHAT HE CALLS US TO DO (vv. 34–37)
Mary asks a perfectly honest question:
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
She doesn’t doubt God’s plan—
She simply admits she has no way to accomplish it.
And that’s when Gabriel gives one of the greatest answers in Scripture:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you… For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mary will not fulfill this calling by:
her strength,
her wisdom,
her experience,
or her ability.
It will be the Holy Spirit working in her and through her.
This is the heart of Christian calling:
God does not expect you to do His work in your strength.
He supplies His power to match His calling.
You may not feel ready.
You may not feel adequate.
You may not feel equipped.
But the Holy Spirit is more than enough.
VI. GOD CALLS US TO RESPOND WITH SURRENDER (v. 38)
VI. GOD CALLS US TO RESPOND WITH SURRENDER (v. 38)
Then Mary says something breathtaking:
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
This is not the response of someone who has all the answers.
It is the response of someone who trusts the One who calls.
Mary’s surrender is remarkable because:
She doesn’t know how Joseph will react.
She doesn’t know if her family will believe her.
She doesn’t know the social cost she will pay.
She doesn’t know the pain she will endure.
She doesn’t know how God will work out the details.
But she knows who is calling her.
And that is enough.
True discipleship is not measured by full understanding,
But by full surrender.
“Lord, here I am.
Use me.
Lead me.
Shape me.
Do Your will in me.”
CONCLUSION: THE CALLING OF MARY IS AN INVITATION TO US
CONCLUSION: THE CALLING OF MARY IS AN INVITATION TO US
So what does Mary’s calling mean for us today?
It means this:
Christmas is not just about a baby being born.
Christmas is about a God who calls ordinary people into extraordinary stories.
The God who called Mary also calls you.
He calls you to trust Him.
He calls you to follow Him.
He calls you to surrender your plans.
He calls you to carry Christ into your world.
As we begin this Advent season, let your heart echo Mary’s words:
“Lord, I am Your servant…
Let Your will be done in me.”
That is where Christmas begins.
Not with presents.
Not with traditions.
Not with songs.
But with a heart that says:
“Lord, I am Yours.”
