The Gospel of Luke - Week 2

Definitely. We will be in Luke chapter 1 still will be in verses 26 through 38 if you want to go ahead and turn their will. We'll get started. I would encourage you to use either the scripture journal or your Bible. Not your device. We're going to be there most of the sermon. So if you want to keep waking up your screen, so if you remember recently watched through the Creed, right and we said as we were doing so that we're really trying to accomplish multiple things, right or rejecting The Narrative of society and we're also joining with the rest of the church in all of history and proclaiming the truth scripture. And so as we started out we talked about the importance of holding the tension regarding the attributes of God. I don't know if you guys remember that and it's okay. I won't make you stand up and read the creek today. It's okay. I promise but we talked about how we can't separate God's Wrath from his Justice or from his Mercy. From his love for his compassion for his Perfection by we have to hold these things in tension with each other. Similarly, we have to be careful separating the persons of the Trinity too much that we talked about God the Father God the son God the Holy Spirit and that Lisa's three-in-one and we have to hold these intention so that we're not over here believing in three separate gods and we're not over here believing that yeah. I can only feel one of these persons at a time. And finally, we also found in Jesus this perfect blending of two Natures of Jesus being fully God and fully man, right? We talked about that a hypostatic union. And so this concept this dual nature of Jesus is hard for us at Christmas. It's hard for us to keep that in mind as we walk into Christmas and there's a lot of good questions that cause that and then we may never really have the answer to right where we are. We don't really know we can see Jesus in his ministry. Is he performing Miracles and we can wrap her head around Jesus being fully God and fully man. We don't really know how it worked with Jesus in the manger being fully God and fully man. I really told that and Christmas in and of itself is difficult for us to hold appropriately. It's it's the most celebrated of the world holidays, right? We're spanning different cultures and traditions, there's countless stories and folklore. There's numerous claims to what was the original purpose of Christmas in the original concept of the celebration and the observation and in this Melting Pot of cultures and beliefs. It becomes difficult for us to reject The Narrative of everything that isn't found in scripture. It's hard to navigate through it sometimes Most holidays commemorate a significant historical event or person and while this is true of Christmas, right? We have a historical event in historical person with a service in Christ. It's supposed to commemorate and remember a Divine person and a Divine event the most significant events in human history.

Does you take a look at the announcement of the coming of Jesus today? I want you to hold in your head this truth that there is nothing man-made about the story of Christmas. There's nothing man-made about the story of Christmas. It is the most miraculous compelling narrative in all of history as the Holy Spirit relates the dramatic story of the birth of Jesus.

And as we read about this announcement, we have to remember that to celebrate Christmas Is To Remember the profound reality that God sent his only begotten son to die for the sins of all who would put their trust in him. And so we have to hold this deity of Jesus in this time. We're talking about the birth of Jesus. So with that ring to go ahead and read in Luke, chapter one starting in verse 26 In the six months the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee names Nazareth to a virgin but Rose to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David and the virgin's name was Mary and it came to her and said Greetings or favored one. The Lord is with you, but she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be an angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your room and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and we will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom, there will be no and And Mary said to the angel, how will this be since I'm a virgin? An angel answered her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you there for the child is born will be called. Holy the Son of God and behold your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son and this is the 6-month with her who was called Barren for nothing will be impossible with God and Mary said behold. I am the servant of the Lord let it be to me according to your word and the angel departed from her.

Alright, so there's a quite a bit that we're going through in the section of Luke, right? So I want to take a minute and break some of these things down. Start back over in verse 26 and moo thrill slowly. I wanted to wanted to give you. Some some time to see what the full text was going to be. And before we do that right now.

Tell me how they got me. Thank you for this announcement of the coming of Jesus that we have in scripture Lord. We pray that you would open our hearts and Minds to your truths today and that you would guide us as we walk through your word. Pray these things in your heavenly name. Amen. alright, so in the six months is specifically talking about being in relation to Elizabeth pregnancy, and we see that a little further in as well. So we're roughly six months after Gabriel visited Zakaria and we have this identifier right at the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee and Nazareth. And look for the sin because he was concerned that the reader might not know where Nazareth was. Wright's Nazareth a small town maybe a few hundred people And there's nothing exactly special about Nazareth off the beaten path. There's no reason to drive through on your way to somewhere else. Right? It's kind of like trying to tell somebody about where everybody knows if they're not from this area. You say Aberdeen and then come look at you and you say okay. So if it's near American Falls I give you a look case near Pocatello. Give you another left of okay. It's kind of where I-15 and I-80 6 come together. Okay, I guess that's what we're looking at it and so we have this relatively nondescript town. That this is happening on. And it says Gabriel went to the city of Nazareth to a virgin but Rose to a man whose name was Joseph not going to spend a whole lot of time on Virgin. I think we all kind of know what that means. But betrothal was something is different than today. To be betrothed in this time. Was typically a year-long engagements, right? But they were kids in our estimation who were kids 12 to 14 years old. I'm very different than what we knew it to be what you know, what today it was a legal agreement that could only be broken by divorce or death. Write a little more serious than an engagement that we talked about and if its soon-to-be husband were to Die the girl would even be considered a widow. And after this year long engagement there be a week-long wedding feast and after the wedding Feast the marriage was consummated lights up until that time there was no they wouldn't they didn't live together. They were just the trolls.

and then we know that Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph of the House of David meaning he was a descendant of David. We got one more on that as we get into this little later and the virgin's name was Mary and this is really all we know about Mary. She was a virgin and her name was Mary. What kind of memory and we forget the fact that when we look back at the story of Christmas that we we kind of feel in some of the details that we're aware of right? But that aren't really present yet until in this moment. There wasn't anything intrinsically special to separate Mary from anybody else other than just got elected her to be. the mother refuses

and Gabriel shows up and he came here and said greetings favored one. The Lord is with you. And it's a little different than before right before was Zechariah yet. Remember that. This is like for centuries of revelatory Silence in the church, right and Darren talked about last week Gabriel shows up to decorate and doesn't really say anything and Zacharias afraid so you can get this feeling okay going to change my tactics a little bit and shows up at doesn't give any time. You just have greetings. Greetings o favored one. The Lord is with you right trying to calm the nerves a little bit.

And Mary's this young girl, right and it doesn't work. Doesn't work. She's still afraid says that she still greatly troubled.

And it's again with it being so long since there was any real revelation of God to his people. The only thing that only understanding that Mary would have had regarding the supernatural workings of God would have been from stories of events that happened centuries ago. He may have been familiar with the sun standing still. She may have been familiar with these stories that we read in the Old Testament. But none of that was first-hand. None of it was first and her parents or their parents or the parent.

Until this is frightening write the angels that we see and scripture are not like the cartoonish angels that we know from the movies and TV show Strike terrifying. It's a terrifying experience to be visited by an Angel. That's why every time they have to say don't be afraid they have to practice it every time don't be afraid.

and so as we continue

She was greatly troubled at the saying and try to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary where you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your room and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. 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 father David and Lorraine and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom. There will be no end. I'm already talked a little bit about how nobody really knew anything about Nazareth. Right but I think was maybe more important is what everyone expected the Messiah to be.

Turn Isaiah 7:14. It says that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and we would call his name Emmanuel meaning God With Us. and in 2nd Samuel chapter 7 starting in verse 12 read when your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your father's I will raise up your Offspring after you who shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the Throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son.

That's what we read about the coming of the Messiah is it will be in the line of David in the bloodline of David Wright Wichita to little bit about Joseph being in the bloodline of David. And we read that God would establish the throne forever in one particular offspring of David being Jesus. And as we look at some of the history of Israel, this is dating back right David ruled in in 1000, BC. Write centuries before this in about 9:31. Are everything is divided into two kingdoms Israel and Judah right and 722 is Siri and invaded and destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 586. The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Second temple was built and for the next Century's leading up to this moment in time of Gabriel coming to talk to Mary. There is nothing Israel is under different authorities for centuries and centuries and they may have had some autonomy more so than others but there is no Throne of David That was supposed to be forever. There is no descendant of David that was supposedly going to be the king forever. There's no davidic throne.

And so any savior that would come. Would be one that would restore the Throne of David that is what they were expecting meaning. He would be of the House of David of the lineage of David. They were expecting and Earthly King You're Expecting somebody of importance right there expecting this kind of see it coming and to see the bloodline come together and to know that the coming of the Messiah was with present.

So for the Messiah to come to an unknown girl in an unknown town in a largely insignificant area known only for the fact that it's full of Gentile centers in Galilee at significance. I mean reading the book of John at Nathaniel says can anything good come out of Nazareth? Nobody expected anything out of Nazareth. The fact the foretelling of John the Baptist came to a priest in the temple at Jerusalem. But the announcement of the miraculous birth of Jesus came to a young girl in a small insignificant Village sets in motion this great reversal right where the first will be last and the last will be first.

And it highlights God's plan for Redemption being for all nations. Not just for Israel.

It's all laid out here that Jesus will fulfill all of these things all of these prophecies. He'll rain on his throne forever and that he is of the line of David inside later on and Luke will read the Jesus if that was a disciple that explains every prophecy concerning him to them.

He will be the son of the most high by John. The Baptist was to be the Servants of the most high Jesus is the son of the most high Son of God. And Mary's response to this. huge telling I was going to come is it interesting. She says well, how will this be since I'm a virgin? I like to give me there's a lot of things to get hung up on here. But okay, what will start with that one, right? And she said how will this be since I am a virgin and on the surface, it looks relatively similar to Zacharias response to Gabriel previously, right? Ultimately, we see a gentleness in Gabriel's interaction with Mary that wasn't present and his interaction with Zechariah. A couple things right? I think it's fair to say that more was expected of a priest in Jerusalem in the temple. Then of a 12 to 14 year old girl probably safe. More importantly. I think we have to remember as if they're in talks about and broke down really well last week that it dangerous rest of you God giving us what we need to believe in him as a punishment, right? God gives us what we need to believe.

And it hurts saying how will this be as I am a virgin. I don't like I can almost hear a Wonder in amazement versus a doubt and the voice of Mary all of it speculation though, right? Ultimately what we know to be true is that in order to believe Mary needed an explanation because that's what God gave her. Right. Gates neck area a miraculous sign to help him believe in God gave Mary an explanation of what was happening. The Mary said to the angel how will this be since I'm a virgin and the angel answered her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you there for the child is to be known. Sorry, the child to be born will be called. Holy the Son of God and behold your relative Elizabeth in her old age is also conceived the Sun a list of the six months with her. It was called Barren for nothing will be impossible with God. For nothing will be impossible with God. And in this explanation that Gabriel gives Mary. We also see why it was necessary. Right? We see a little bit of a piece of the necessity of this virgin birth. Write the Virgin burst shows that this is not just a good man. That will rule well.

We can't say that being born in on Earth is the only way that God could come into His creation. We can't say that but the fact that that is how God chose to enter the world is a beautiful thing because he can he gives us what we need to believe right in the birth of Jesus. We see the proven Humanity of Jesus and his physical birth of a woman and well being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary proves his deity. So we see the proof of Jesus being fully man and fully God in this in the way that he entered his creation. And if we look at it just on a practical level normal conception creates life right that five kids more. Let us know how it works. It creates life. Jesus wasn't created at a human birth. Jesus is always been. Jesus Is God right Emmanuel God With Us. So the Virgin burst shows not the creation of life, but the Incarnation of God becoming flesh assuming human nature being a man in the form of Jesus the son of God II of the trinity. And sets the stage for the miraculous Union of two Natures in Jesus being fully man. Fully God.

It's not some cute fairy tale that we tell our kids to bolster up some false Wonder in the creator of the universe. It's it's how it happened.

When is Iraq miraculous event of Gabriel appearing for Mary and telling her all these things and the miraculous promise was coming to an end. Mary's final response is behold. I am a servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.

behold, I am a servant of the Lord let it be to me according to your word and this is just astounding

and let me ask you. What Promises of God do you feel are too wonderful to be true?

What promises do believe her absurd? It's okay to be honest about it. If you believe something absurd or too good to be true. I do believe that salvation for Sinners is is true or is it a little too good to be true?

You made it being elected from the before the foundation of the earth is absurd.

Maybe believe that God's plan for rescuing his people from their own sin in this dramatic narrative. Is a little crazy.

And this is really our condition in a fallen world, right? We rather doubt. Out of pure skepticism or weed out because we can't wrap our heads around his goodness. But there's doubt none the less.

And so are your questions that have doubt or questions of Wonder beautiful thing is it doesn't really matter the source of your questions. You can find Faith you can find truth that you can find life in Jesus. Why do you doubt all these things to be true or whether you simply are stunned and wonder amazement. God can give you everything you need to believe.

Gabriel's message to Mary introduces the pivotal point in Redemptive history how people respond to the child of whom Gabriel spoke will determine their Eternal Destiny Jesus Warren and John unless you believe in me, you will die in your sins. Since we know that this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has become the Cornerstone and there is salvation and no one else for there is no other name under Heaven given among Man by which we must be saved. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas we have to remember that the promise of the coming of the Messiah to marry is the promise of the coming of God incarnate. The coming of Jesus fully man fully God the hopes of mankind past present and future converging in the person of Jesus. Who came to take away the sins of those who would believe in him and Mary's response is where we should pray for ours to be let it be as you have said. Amen, right A man is let it be as you have said.

osprey

the only father God we thank you for everything that you've given us and provide for us Lord. We thank you for the revelation of everything that you give us in your word. We thank you that you.