Mary's Trust

Introduction

What are some things you trust to work even though you don’t know how they work?

Let’s admit it. We interact with things every day that we trust without knowing how they work. How many of you know how a combustion engine works? Yet you get into your car, trust that it to turn on. You may not comprehend electricity with its ohms, amps, volts, and watts, but you still flip the switch and turn the lights on. And if it doesn’t, you keep flicking it expecting something to change. The technology behind cell phones and Wi-Fi befuddles most of us, yet we still send texts to friends far away.

TRANSITION: Open your Bibles to and we will look at how a young woman came to trust God’s call on her life and why she was able to do that.

The Angel’s Announcement

As we look at this text, we need to see that Luke is making a parallel statement in the two announcements we see here. In the first part of the chapter, the birth of John the Baptist is announced to a married barren woman. John is called, “For he will be great before the Lord” (vs. 15), but this announcement, it’s going to be different. Jesus is described as great without qualification and is called the Son of God.

God sends an announcement to a young girl. In some back water town where ,”nothing ever good comes out of.”

Luke 1:26–33 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O 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. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb 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 he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Luke 1:26

“Greeting, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” From our perspective, she was insignificant. She’s a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. So why is she favoured?

She has the greatest honour that any woman has ever been given. She was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and her lowly estate was all part of God’s plan.

Jesus humbled himself. To rescue us from our sins and lift us to glory, Jesus first had to enter into the misery of our lost and fallen condition. What better way to show that he came to do than for him to be born to a woman like Mary from a town like Nazareth?

In these words, God’s grace is shining through. God’s grace is for the lowly. God was showing grace to Mary. God was with her to bless her, not because of her own merit, but because of his grace. The word the angel used for “favour” comes from the Greek work for “grace”. It means to be treated with underserved kindness.

Through one woman sin entered into the word, through one woman God will come to recogncile God to man.

Martin Luther “O Mary, you are blessed. You have a gracious God. No woman has ever lived on earth to whom God has shown such grace.”

There’s this picture that has gone around Mary Comforts Eve. By one woman, sin and death were brought into the world at the beginning. By the child-bearing of one woman, life and immortality were brought to light when Christ was born.

Catholics = “Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death.” PROBLEM Treat Mary as the source of grace rather than as an object of grace. People pray for Mary because they think she has grace to give. What the Bible actually says is that Mary was the recipient of God’s grace, not a repository of grace.

Mary had been “graced” by God in that she had been chosen to bear God’s Son. She had not been chosen for this task because she possessed a particular piety or holiness of life that merited this privilege.

Grace is for the lowly. Do you think you’re to far? Not good enough? Done to much? You’re in the right spot. God’s grace is undeserved merit. Mary was experiencing God’s grace.

Through this announcement, the greatest event in human history was about to happen. The coming of the Son of God. God was showing Mary unmerited favour to Mary, it was by his grace she would give birth to a son.

Obviously, Mary has a few questions about this angel showing up:

What was happening? Why was an angel talking to her? What had he come to say?

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 The Angel’s Announcement

What was happening? Why was an angel talking to her? What had he come to say?

And the angel doesn’t leave her hanging.

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 32). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

Luke 1:29 ESV

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:30–34 ESV

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb 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 he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:30–33 ESV

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb 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 he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 31). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

Through this announcement, the greatest event in human history was about to happen. The coming of the Son of God. God was showing Mary unmerited favour to Mary, it was by his grace she would give birth to a son.

Who is this son?

Jesus => Mean’s “God saves,” or “the Lord is salvation.” Jesus will be a saviour. He would bring salvation to sinners by dying on the cross in shame and then rising again in glory. Even from the announcement of his brith, his name testified to his saving work. Jesus is the salvation of God.

Great => John the baptist was described as “great before the Lord.” But Jesus is the Lord, so Gabriel said that he would “be great” Jesus is great. So great is God’s greatness that he alone deserves to be called “great.” By saying that Jesus would be great, Gabriel was proclaiming that Jesus Christ is God. No one is greater than he is. Jesus is great in wisdom, great in power, great in love, and great in the majesty of his divine being. His greatness is the greatness of God.

Son of God => Divine sonship is his eternal identity as the Second Person of the Trinity—God the eternal Son. There is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

He will rule forever => These ancient promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the son of David and Israel’s eternal King

These ancient promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the son of David and Israel’s eternal King

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 34). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

This was the angel’s announcement: Mary would give birth to a son named Jesus, who would be the great Saviour and the Son of God, the most powerful ruler in the history of the world. Do you trust the angel’s promise? It was written so that you would know for sure—so that you would believe in Jesus as your Saviour, worship him as your great God, and serve him as your everlasting King.

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 The Angel’s Announcement

This was the angel’s announcement: Mary would give birth to a son named Jesus, who would be the great Savior and the Son of God, the most powerful ruler in the history of the world. Do you trust the angel’s promise? It was written so that you would know for sure—so that you would believe in Jesus as your Savior, worship him as your great God, and serve him as your everlasting King.

Obviously, Mary has a few questions about this angel showing up:

What was happening? Why was an angel talking to her? What had he come to say?

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 34). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

And the angel doesn’t leave her hanging.

We can embrace God’s call on our life because we trust the Word of God.

Mary’s Question Verse 34-37

How could I have a child when I haven’t had sex?

Luke 1:34–37 ESV

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered 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 called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

legitimate question

How will this be, since I am a virgin or literally since I know no man.

legitimate question

Problem given —> Solution given

Here’s the thing: If John’s birth was miraculous but Jesus’ birth was the result of a normal sexual relationship, then the whole parallel between 1:5–25 and 1:26–38 breaks down at this point. Jesus’ birth had to be greater than that of John the Baptist, and this requires us to understand his birth as a virgin birth. Luke told his readers this to prepare them for 1:35.

So Mary had a legitimate question.

How will this be Mary did not ask this question in unbelief. Here Luke is drawing a clear contrast between Zechariah’s doubt and Mary’s faith. When old Zechariah received the promise of a son, he asked, “How shall I know this?” (). He wasn’t sure whether to believe the angel or not, so he wanted some kind of confirmation. Mary asked a completely different question: “How will this be?” (). In other words, she wanted to know how it would happen. Unlike Zechariah, she believed that the angel’s promise would come true. But she was still curious to know how it would happen, and perhaps to know whether there was anything she needed to do.

HERE”S THE MAIN POINT: Mary was embracing God’s call on her life, but still was curious.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Mary asked the same question that people still ask today: How can this be? How can a woman become pregnant without having sexual relations? The answer is very simple—if you believe in the power of God. The answer is that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is the miracle of the virgin birth that Christians have always confessed. We say it in the Apostles’ Creed: “he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary.” We also say it in the Nicene Creed: God the Son “was incarnated by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.” This is how Mary had a son. The child in her womb came from the Holy Spirit: “Her pregnancy is an act of divine grace, explicable not in terms of human insemination … but in terms of the creative power of the Holy Spirit.”

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, pp. 34–35). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

Mary asked the same question that people still ask today: How can this be? How can a woman become pregnant without having sexual relations? The answer is very simple—if you believe in the power of God. The answer is that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is the miracle of the virgin birth that Christians have always confessed. We say it in the Apostles’ Creed: “he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary.” We also say it in the Nicene Creed: God the Son “was incarnated by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.” This is how Mary had a son. The child in her womb came from the Holy Spirit: “Her pregnancy is an act of divine grace, explicable not in terms of human insemination … but in terms of the creative power of the Holy Spirit.”

Application: If we deny this, we deny the faith. According to Luke, Mary had a child before she had intercourse. Do we believe this, or not? If we say that Jesus was not born of a virgin, then either we believe that Mary was sexually immoral, or that Luke was a writer of fiction, or both.

If we deny this, we deny the faith. According to Luke, Mary had a child before she had intercourse. Do we believe this, or not? If we say that Jesus was not born of a virgin, then either we believe that Mary was sexually immoral, or that Luke was a writer of fiction, or both. In any case, we defame the character of these godly people and contradict the plain teaching of Scripture.

When we deny what the Holy Spirit did, we deny the deity of Jesus Christ, because it is his conception by the Holy Spirit that makes him the holy Son of God. Jesus had to be born of a woman to be a man. But if he had been the physical offspring of Joseph, then he would have been nothing more than a man. His virgin birth, his divine conception by the Spirit—these things were necessary for his incarnation. Only the virgin birth preserves the humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ. His conception by the Spirit points to his deity. His birth from a woman points to his humanity. One person, two natures—a divine nature and a human nature. And because he was conceived by a unique creative act of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was not corrupted by the guilt of Adam. Fallen humanity could not produce its own Saviour; he had to come from somewhere outside, by way of divine initiative and intervention. Therefore, God sent Jesus into the world as the perfect Son of God, born without sin.

When we deny what the Holy Spirit did, we deny the deity of Jesus Christ, because it is his conception by the Holy Spirit that makes him the holy Son of God. Jesus had to be born of a woman to be a man. But if he had been the physical offspring of Joseph, then he would have been nothing more than a man. His virgin birth, his divine conception by the Spirit—these things were necessary for his incarnation. Only the virgin birth preserves the humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ. His conception by the Spirit points to his deity. His birth from a woman points to his humanity. One person, two natures—a divine nature and a human nature. And because he was conceived by a unique creative act of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was not corrupted by the guilt of Adam. Fallen humanity could not produce its own Saviour; he had to come from somewhere outside, by way of divine initiative and intervention. Therefore, God sent Jesus into the world as the perfect Son of God, born without sin.

To put the nail in the coffin of this questioning, the angel gives a sign.

And Behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son In case she had any trouble believing, God gave Mary a sign. Unlike Zechariah, she had not asked for a sign, but God gave her one just the same. It was a sign that proved his sovereignty over the womb. Mary’s relative Elizabeth—barren old Elizabeth—was six months pregnant!

In case she had any trouble believing, God gave Mary a sign. Unlike Zechariah, she had not asked for a sign, but God gave her one just the same. It was a sign that proved his sovereignty over the womb. Mary’s relative Elizabeth—barren old Elizabeth—was six months pregnant! The angel told Mary this to prove the power of God, which he declared in a memorable phrase: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (; cf. ). God was able to bring a child from a barren womb. If he was able to do this, then by the power of his Holy Spirit he could just as well make a virgin conceive and bear a son. And if God could perform the miracle of the virgin birth, then he is quite capable of handling the difficulties of our daily lives. Nothing is impossible with God. This is a verse to live by. As J. C. Ryle has said, “A hearty reception of this great principle is of immense importance to our own inward peace.”

For nothing will be impossible with God The angel told Mary this to prove the power of God, which he declared in a memorable phrase: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (; cf. ). God was able to bring a child from a barren womb. If he was able to do this, then by the power of his Holy Spirit he could just as well make a virgin conceive and bear a son. And if God could perform the miracle of the virgin birth, then he is quite capable of handling the difficulties of our daily lives. Nothing is impossible with God. This is a verse to live by. As J. C. Ryle has said, “A hearty reception of this great principle is of immense importance to our own inward peace.”

Is there anything in your life that seems impossible? Perhaps it seems impossible for your great sin to be forgiven, especially after all the times you have tried not to do it again, but failed. Perhaps it seems impossible for your family to be restored after all the heartbreak and for joy to come again. Maybe it seems impossible for your physical and financial needs to be met, or for your work, your studies. Or maybe, for me, it’s the question of how God can bring dry bones to life again. It may seem impossible to endure the suffering that has come into your life, or for someone you love to come to Christ. But the Bible says, “Nothing will be impossible with God.” He is the God of the virgin birth! There is no sin he cannot forgive, no relationship he cannot reconcile, no problem he cannot resolve, no need he cannot meet, no ministry he cannot bless, no grief he cannot comfort, no life he cannot reclaim, no sinner he cannot save. The God of the virgin birth is the God who makes all things possible.

Her response is to embrace God’s call on her life because she took God at his Word.

Mary’s Response vs 38

Mary’s Response vs 38

Mary’s response wasn’t doubt that God could us her, but an embrace of God’s call because she knew God.

Luke 1:38 ESV

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.

Mary

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Mary had assurance. She was able to confess her faith and accept God’s call. She was able to accept God’s call on her life because she took God at his word. Mary didn’t raise any objections. She didn’t hold out for an easier calling. She didn’t ask God to explain what would happen later if she said yes. Al she needed to know was what God wanted her to do. Once she knew that was enough for her, she was ready to do it!

So how could Mary respond as she did

Mary’s response was out of her trust of taking God at his Word. Because she trusted God, she could embrace his call.

How do we define who God is and what he calls us to do? We could make it up, or our God could tell us. We believe that God has told us. We believe that God has himself actually spoken. His Word is to be trusted and relied upon with all the faith that we would invest in God himself. This is how Mary could embrace the call on her life. She trusted God.

Conclusion

It’s not like God calls us to something without backing it up. He gives evidence of how we can trust him, why we can step out in faith.

SO WHAT

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Mary’s Response

How rare it is to find someone who is willing to trust God for the impossible and then obey him without hesitation or qualification. Even some of the great heroes of the faith tried to wiggle out of doing what God said. Think of Moses, who asked God to send someone else to lead the exodus (Ex. 4:13). Or of Gideon, who said he couldn’t deliver Israel because he was the weakest man from the weakest tribe (Judg. 6:15). Or of Jeremiah, who said he was too young for the job (Jer. 1:6). But Mary was a woman of great faith. She understood that once we know what God wants us to do, any delay is a sign of unbelief.

How rare it is to find someone who is willing to trust God for the impossible and then obey him without hesitation or qualification. Even some of the great heroes of the faith tried to wiggle out of doing what God said. Think of Moses, who asked God to send someone else to lead the exodus (). Or of Gideon, who said he couldn’t deliver Israel because he was the weakest man from the weakest tribe (). Or of Jeremiah, who said he was too young for the job (). But Mary was a woman of great faith. She understood that once we know what God wants us to do, any delay is a sign of unbelief. On side note, here’s what many of us would call a child, a baby even, and she’s expressing more faith than any of us. Don’t discount what God can do through youth. Many of the revivals and the great missionary movements of the past started with the youth.

Here’s the Main point that you need to take away: We can embrace God’s call on our life because we trust the Word of God.

How many things are you trusting every day? Yet, you act as though the God who made a senior citizen have a baby, or the virgin give birth the one who Sustains all things. When I truly believe that God used Mary, a virgin, from a backwater town where nothing good comes out, how can I not trust God at his word? How can I not embrace the call God has put on my life?

Are you embracing God’s call on your life?

Walking and handing out door hangers. Thinking, but what if someone is home. I may have to talk to them. What if they yell at me or mock me, or something.

Walking and handing out door hangers. Thinking, but what if someone is home. I may have to talk to them. What if they yell at me or mock me, or something.

Will I trust God at his word? Will I embrace God’s call on my life and move out in obedience, because anything less is disobedience.

Because, here’s the thing: If you’re a Christian, the same Holy Spirit that conceived the Son of God in the virgin womb, is the same Holy Spirit that indwells in you.

Wondering what God’s call is on your life? He has already told you. In his Word. He calls you to trust him, as you are obedient. Are you embracing God’s call? Do you know what he has called you to?

It’s not like God calls us to something without backing it up. He gives evidence of how we can trust him, why we can step out in faith.

It’s not like God calls us to something without backing it up. He gives evidence of how we can trust him, why we can step out in faith.

How have you seen firsthand that nothing is impossible with God?

What can we learn from Mary about how to respond to God’s plans?

God has a call of obedience for each of us. How can you practically embrace God’s call on your life?