Three Responses to the Announcement: Mary and Joseph

Mary’s Response: Trust and Surrender

Luke 1:26–27 NASB95

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

The sixth month of what?

Calendar: In the Jewish calendar the first month always contains Passover

Mary would have had to conceive in the first month, not the sixth month by the calendar

Elizabeth’s pregnancy: Go back to verse 24

Luke 1:24 “After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,...”

The Descendants of David

Why is this important?

This is what we learn about Mary.

She was engaged to a man who’s name was Joseph

She was of the house of David

Her name was Mary

What all do we know about Mary and Joseph before Jesus?

She was a Jewess of the tribe of Judah

She was a descendant of King David

She was a virgin

She was betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph

They were poor

They are from Nazareth

Their ancestors were from Bethlehem

How many prophecies are fulfilled about the Messiah just in this list?

...to a virgin

Why is this important?

Divine intervention

Mary’s virginity relates to Jesus’ divinity through a profound theological understanding that emphasizes divine intervention and Mary’s unique role in the incarnation.

The virgin birth is as critical to God’s plan of redemption as the cross and the resurrection!

Mary was chosen by God to carry and protect His Son. For that alone she is to be revered and respected. BUT, she is not to be considered divine!

Thru the Bible Vol. 37: The Gospels (Luke) Gabriel Appears to Mary and Announces the Virgin Birth of Jesus

This passage is quite literal. Those folks who deny the virgin birth also do not believe that the Lord is going to sit on the throne of His father David

Luke 1:28–29 NASB95

28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Mary the Ponderer!

The account of the birth of Jesus is bracketed by Mary:

Perplexed and pondering

Treasuring and pondering (Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Pondering isn’t a bad thing - we all need to try it sometime

Pondering is what we all need to do more of as we consider our walk of faith

Pondering helps us to put a correct perspective on all God is teaching us through His word

Pondering is dwelling on something and not reacting to something.

Mary pondered...Zacharias reacted!

Luke 1:30–34 NASB95

30 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 bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; 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 His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Mary the Questioner!

Mary does not question Gabriel from doubt...She questions from confusion.

What is the first thing Mary says to Gabriel?

 “How can this be, I am a virgin?”

The first person to question the virgin birth is found right here with Mary.

Mary believed the proclamation she just did not understand the performance

It is Mary’s question that gives us the understanding to move forward in faith regarding the birth of Christ.

This is still a great question today; so we are given the answer to this question.

Here we have the foundation for one of the bedrock doctrines of the New Testament.

Luke 1:35–38 NASB95

35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary’s Surrender, Mary’s Faith, Mary’s Response

Hearing this Mary’s response was:

Utter Disbelief...

Mild Skepticism...

Somewhat Doubtful...

All In!

Mary’s womb became a holy of holies for the Son of God!

When Mary couldn’t see that with God all things were possible Gabriel gave her an example she could understand;

Elizabeth

We as Protestants have to be careful not to play down the extraordinary character of Mary. The angel called her “Highly Favored of God.” Elizabeth proclaimed her as, “the mother of my Lord...”

We as Baptist need to be careful at over-reacting!

Mary’s question shows us that it is okay to question God, when that question comes from: A heart of faith

Mary’s surrender to God’s will for her life is found in her response to Gabriel as she responds:

The Bondservant of the Lord

“May it be done to me according to your word”

Joseph’s Response: Kindness and Compassion

Kindness

Matthew 1:18 NASB95

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

As betrothed Joseph and Mary were considered in almost every way as husband and wife.

The 3 stages of marriage in those days:

Engagement:

Often done for the couple by the parents during childhood

Many cases done by professional match-makers

Choosing a life partner was too serious to be left up to emotional impulse

Betrothal

A formal ratification of the agreement by the families

Lasted approximately a full year

They were man in wife in every way but one

Could only be dissolved by a legal divorce

Marriage

Ceremony followed my the consummation which was the fulfillment of the contract

So we find Joseph and Mary at stage two;

Not a good place for Mary in her condition

Compassion

Matthew 1:19 NASB95

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

Here are the circumstances at this time:

Mary is pregnant

Joseph knows he is not the father

Joseph does not accept Mary’s explanation

Joseph considers his options

Have Mary stoned

Publicly embarrass Mary

Put her away secretly - Divorce

What we see in verse 19-20 is Joseph’s character on display. Joseph chooses to send Mary away:

Remember that trip to Elizabeth’s

We don’t know exactly when Joseph sent her away

We also see Joseph in ponder mode (considered) like Mary

Matthew 1:20–23 NASB95

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Matthew 1:20–23 NASB95

But when he had considered this...

When he had considered what?

Obviously the Mary issue:

This was a lot more difficult in his day than ours

He obviously felt betrayed

He had to do something to save his good name

He seems is a kind man

He might also be in love with Mary

Remember Joseph was a righteous man (v. 19)

As a righteous man he would have taken this to God in prayer

As a righteous man he would have asked God for wisdom and guidance

As a righteous man he would have compassion on Mary

As a righteous man God would honor his earnest cry for help was answered in a dream:

The angel tells him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife

This tell us where his heart was

We see that Joseph, like Mary is a descendant of David

Joseph through Solomon

Mary through Nathan, another son of David

We see again that Mary’s Baby was conceived of the Holy Spirit

The purpose of this Son is to save His people from their sin

His name is to be Jesus

Savior ;

Jeshu-a;

Jehovah is help

Relief

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary b. The Prophecy (1:22–23)

The angel’s words must have been music from Heaven in the soul of Joseph. Surely his only regret was that he had ever doubted Mary in the first place. But all doubts were laid to rest now.

Matthew 1:24–25 NASB95

24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

The Critical nature of the virgin birth of Jesus:

If Jesus was not virgin-born, He has a human father

If He had a human father, He was not of God

If He was not of God;

The Bible is false

Jesus himself was deluded

We have no adequate Savior from sin

If Jesus was not God manifested in the flesh:

The life surrendered on the cross was only a human life

A human life could not have taken away the sin of the world

He could only have given a life for a life

As God

He laid down an infinite life more sufficient to redeem any number of finite lives

Something to Think About

Think about this:

There was nothing extraordinary about Mary and Joseph that the world could see

They were not rich or powerful

They don’t seem to have been savants or scholars

What they were were people who loved God and trusted in Him:

There were thousands of young couples just like them in Israel in that day

But God chose them to guardian His Son to adulthood

Proverbs 3:5–6 NASB95

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.