How far would you go to follow Jesus?

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

OR

Wedding preperation….

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

See the Faith of Mary in this great moment.

She had everything to lose, her marriage, wedding, good name and possibly her life. This would be a great sacrifice. She was being told that she would be the mother of the son of God, the Messiah.

How far would you go? Would you trust God and understand the importance of the blessing? Would you understand responsibility that goes with this blessing?

Do you ever come to a struggle like that in your everyday journey of faith?

How far would you go to follow Jesus?

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

The setting of the moment

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

The meeting takes place in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, a note that connects this angelic visit with 1:5–25

Virgin betrothed: We are told that she is in a chaste state ( pure, not having sex). She says as much in verse 34.

The phrase about betrothal is worded like and refers to the first stage of a two-stage Jewish marriage process.

The initial stage of engagement (or betrothal) involves a formal witnessed agreement to marry and a financial exchange of a bride price

The initial stage of engagement (or betrothal) involves a formal witnessed agreement to marry and a financial exchange of a bride price

At this point, the woman legally belongs to the groom and is referred to as his wife.

About a year later, the marriage ceremony takes place when the husband takes the wife home.

A woman could become betrothed as early as age twelve. Luke does not give Mary’s age.

Legally, since Mary at the time of her engagement is Joseph’s wife, any child born to Mary would be regarded as Joseph’s, if he accepted care for the child

Mary’s Blessings

Mary’s Struggle

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And 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 call his name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And 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 call his name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary’

David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Angel Speaks to Mary

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Εἰσελθών suggests an entry into a room or a house. Most of the fifty uses in Luke’s Gospel speak of entering a house

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Greetings:

χαίρω (chairō). vb. rejoice, be glad. Be in a state of gladness, happiness, or well-being.

The kind of rejoicing the term chairō denotes is not only a feeling and expression of joy but also an action one chooses.

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

was greatly perplexed) reflects a more intense curiosity and concern, She heard that God was with her and that she was an object of his grace. What was God going to do to her?

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Blessing Described

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

32 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,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus, to deliver rescue.

The significance of Jesus’ birth is laid out in two stages. The early part of the announcement describes Jesus’ future ministry and position. The two stages (1:32–33 and 1:35) of the description are divided by the question of Mary in 1:34.

Laurentin points out that μέγας (megas, great), when used by itself to describe someone, refers only to God in the OT

Bock, D. L. (1994). (Vol. 1, p. 113). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Son of the Most High” is simply another way of saying “Son of God,” since ὑψίστου is another way to refer to God’s supreme authority as “the Most High

Bock, D. L. (1994). (Vol. 1, p. 113). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

David wants to build a house for God and Nathen the prophet gives him a message.

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

How far would you go to follow Jesus?

Mary’s Question

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[c]

35 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[d] will be called holy—the Son of God.

Mary questions how this birth can occur, given her lack of sexual experience. She does not doubt the announcement, for she does not ask for a sign as Zechariah did. Rather she is puzzled as to how (πῶς, pōs) this birth can occur, a question that causes the angel to elaborate (1:35)

Holy: The first, ἄγιον (hagion), is taken by many to refer to Jesus as “set apart for special service.” This sense does convey the basic meaning, but is there more significance to the term?

 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Godet (1875: 1.94) suggests that the term alludes to Jesus’ unfallen state at creation, in that he was the only person created by God’s hand besides Adam. This view seems unlikely and extremely subtle until one examines 3:38 and finds that Luke’s genealogy ends with a reference to Adam as τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou, Son of God), a phrase that in the context of a genealogy would be equivalent to “son of God.” So, Godet’s suggestion may be an implication of the verse, but it is hardly explicit. If he is correct, then Jesus is portrayed through his birth as the True Man, the Second Adam

The child produced by divine conception will be holy, the Son of God. This verse is one of the most christologically significant verses in the book. The divine conception results, διό (dio, therefore), in two descriptive terms being applied to Jesus: holy and Son of God.

Bock, D. L. (1994). (Vol. 1, p. 123). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

How far would you go to follow Jesus?

Mary’s Response

36 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.

Witness that what you were told is true.

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

How far would you go to follow Jesus?

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary is exemplary in the way she responds to God’s message of grace. God can do with her what he wishes. This acceptance is significant, taken at possible personal loss. Such a step might involve her in potential problems with Joseph and with her reputation

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

How far would you go to follow Jesus

Be people of faith

Be people of faith

Trust God

Walk in your faith and trust

Step out to something new.