Advent 2007 -5- God Makes a Way - Mary: A Way Out of Defeat

Reading: Luke 1:26-38
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38 (NIV)

I.   The Lord is With you

     A.  A time of Defeat

           1.  Jews under oppressive Roman rule

                 a.  Under Babylonia, Persia, Greece (450-63)

                 b.  Maccabeean revolt (166-142BC): 79 yrs independence (degenerated).

                 c.  In 63BC Rome (Gen.Pompey) sacked the temple, killing priests in their service & entering the Holy of Holies.

                 d.  Herod appointed king by Rome (40BC)

           2.  Rebellions had be squashed with violence

                 a.  In 84 BC 800 Pharisee rebels crucified

                 b.  Any real or suspected rebels crucified

           3.  Where was God in all of this!

                 a.  Where these not the chosen people

                 b.  Couldn’t God choose someone else?

                 c.  Ps 22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me/us?

     B.  Out of silence: Hope

           1.  For 400 years, no word of the Lord

                 a.  Last Scripture (Malachi) 420 BC (latest)
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” (Mal 4:5-6)

           2.  1st to a priest: Zechariah re John (11-20)

                 a.  A word of hope & challenge

                 b.  Name him John = the Lord is gracious

                 c.  Filled w/ the H.S. from birth!
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Lk 1:17)

           3.  Now to a young woman?!!

                 a.  A word of hope & salvation

                 b.  Name him Jesus = savior

                 c.  He will be given David’s throne!

                 d.  His kingdom will never end!

     C.  Promise of the Presence

           1.  At a time of feeling forgotten

                 a.  When all seemed as bleak as it could

                 b.  In a forgotten, backwater town

                 c.  To a young, insignificant young woman

           2.  The Lord is with you

                 a.  Not forsaken any longer!

                 b.  What a shock! What hope!

                 c.  What does it mean?

           3.  A promise to Mary and to us!

                 a.  God chose to put his presence w/ her

                 b.  She accepts God’s grace

                 c.  Jesus promises us I will never leave you

II.  Let it be As You Say

     A.  A Troubling word

           1.  Why was she picked?

                 a.  What for?

                 b.  Who was she, anyway?

           2.  Promised Presence may mean hardship!

                 a.  To be favored is not to be safe!

                 b.  God made this promise to Jeremiah (1:19)

           3.  Mary’s life about to get more complicated

                 a.  That’s when this promise tends to come

                 b.  She would never be “normal” again

                 c.  Mary knew her Bible, she was troubled

     B.  An Impossible word

           1.  What kind of son? Are you kidding:

                 a.  A son of the Most High?

                 b.  Throne of David? Reign forever?

           2.  Conception w/o a husband?

                 a.  Not a Q out of disbelief, but of means

                 b.  Angel: No you don’t need to do anything

                 c.  God will do this miraculously

     C.  She Trusts the word (38)

           1.  Nothing is impossible with God – Gabriel

                 a.  Do we really believe that?

                 b.  Does it show in how we pray?

                 c.  For help? Healing? Hope? Our church?

           2.  May it be to me according to your word.

                 a.  Not just may it be, may it be to me

                       (1)      I am your servant (You are Lord)

                 b.  Not just may it be, but as you have said

           3.  A word for me & Everyone (46-55)

                 a.  The word that comes to her is for us all

                 b.  But it will take its toll on her

III. The Lord Lifts the humble (46-55)

     A.  He Remembers mercy (48, 54)

           1.  He remembers His promises

                 a.  Not that He forgets!

           2.  To remember=to act in keeping with

                 a.  Time of restoration is coming

                 b.  When God will be with His People again

                 c.  When He blesses so we know we’re blessed!

           3.  He remembers the humble (48, 52)

                 a.  Those who choose humility

                 b.  Some have humility thrust upon them

                 c.  To lift them to blessing & fullness

     B.  He Takes Down the powerful (52)

           1.  The violence-won power of Rome

                 a.  Power the world understands

                 b.  Power built on fear/intimidation

           2.  The cruel power of Satan

                 a.  Power to lie, kill and destroy

                 b.  Power to seduce, tempt, distract

           3.  The enslaving power of sin

                 a.  Power to rob us of our humanity

                 b.  Power to trap us in compulsive self-hurt

                 c.  Power to break our relationship with God

     C.  He Fills the hungry (53)

           1.  More than feeds/satisfies: fills

                 a.  Not bread & water, full-meal deal!

                 b.  Not a bread-line but a feast/banquet!

                 c.  More than nibbles of grace, heaping plates full!

           2.  Fills with good things

                 a.  Food that truly, fully satisfies

                 b.  The bread of Life: Jesus Himself

                 c.  No child leaves his Father’s table hungry!

The Bottom Line:

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