Advent #4 Mary, A woman on a Mission
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Elizabeth and Mary
Elizabeth and Mary
I somehow knew that the followers of Christ in the first century were baptists! What on earth was a “baptist” doing in the first century!
Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and they were pregnant at the same time. Elizabeth was six months pregnant and Mary was somewhat behind here. Mary was in Nazareth and Elizabeth was nearby.
Well in fact neither are true! There weren’t “baptists” as we would label them until the 1600’s. John was known as “John the Baptizer” because he did what… He baptized.
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
The whole baptism thing as we celebrate it has it’s origins about 200 years before Jesus. The Jews ceremonially cleansed themselves. That came to be cleansing that was necessary to be acceptable to God.
Once Christ was baptized in the Jordan
This angel was a messenger from God. He had some very important news for Mary
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary is told that she is “highly favored”
This was her chance, she was recently promised, engaged or betrothed to Joseph. She was probably 13-14 at the time. A woman of any age would find it difficult to make any kind of statement with her life. But especially Mary.
An Angel told her this would be alright but she was PREGNANT…She knew she had not slept with Joseph but the world would not understand.
This same angel said
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
I’m sure that Mary did not understand, did not realize what or who or why this was. This is what this baby is destined to do.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
lk 1.32.33
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
WHAT! WHAT! How is this possible. I am a nothing and a nobody, how is that I would be chosen to do this things such as these. But first
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
This does seem to be a problem in our economy…our way of thinking.
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Lk 1.3
You know this chaos that she was experiencing before?
Well is just melted into submission to the will of God. With this came the assurance that everything would ALRIGHT!
Think about the toughest spot that you have been in…and all of a sudden a peace overcomes you…one that passes all understanding. You should be freaking out, but your not. Not because of who you are because of the one that we worship… Jesus Christ.
Here is what Mary said...
Here is what Mary said...
Here is what Mary said.
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1.
All of this happens because God has set his favor upon Mary. Such initiating and reassuring grace from God toward us finds fullest expression in Christ, who enables us to respond with this kind of faith, which itself brings great pleasure and glory to God.
All of this happens because God has set his favor upon Mary. Such initiating and reassuring grace from God toward us finds fullest expression in Christ, who enables us to respond with this kind of faith, which itself brings great pleasure and glory to God.
Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version Study Notes for Luke
All of this happens because God has set his favor upon Mary (v. 30). Such initiating and reassuring grace from God toward us finds fullest expression in Christ, who enables us to respond with this kind of faith, which itself brings great pleasure and glory to God (Eph. 2:1–10)
Skip down with me to verse 46...
The title in my Bible is Mary’s Song. It may also be The Prayer of Mary or the Magnificat. This “song” is not a call to praise Mary, but a statement that Mary is in a state of “blessedness.”
Mary had the opportunity to make a statement about her son.
Mary had the opportunity to make a statement about her son.
Mary’s song is not a pious hymn, rather it’s a revolutionary anthem. An Anthem for a God who is intervening for hope, justice, peace and joy in a world of human blindness, selfishness, arrogance and greed.
A revolutionary sticks it to the man…fights the power…goes against the grain!! I want you to catch THE REALITIES ABOUT THE JESUS REVOLUTION.
First, THE JESUS REVOLUTION IS CAUGHT
Luke 1.
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
It start with individuals. In the first five verses Mary is speaking of herself.
The text says…”my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary’s highest and greatest affections, loyalty, and trust is in God. NOT IN YOU, BUT IN GOD!!!
The text says…”my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary’s highest and greatest affections, loyalty, and trust is in God. NOT IN YOU, BUT IN GOD!!!
They start with individuals. This song can be divided into 2 stanzas. In the first five verses Mary is speaking of herself. The other verses speak about others. Jot this down… PERSONALLY (46). Any of you in a marriage? Men, how did you know she was the one? She told me. There was a point when you realized that your greatest affection, highest loyalty, and trust was with this particular woman. There was something in you that said….she is the one. The text says…”my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary’s highest and greatest affections, loyalty, and trust is in God. Outwardly, Mary still looked
Outwardly, Mary was the object of ridicule, slander, and confusion.
Outwardly, Mary was the object of ridicule, slander, and confusion.
skitguys.com
ridicule, slander, and confusion. But, inwardly, this teenager was a part of the revolution. But, here was the deal, she ‘got it’…do you ‘get it’. It is all predicated on belief. And, Mary believed everything about Jesus.You start living like a revolutionary when you start believing that Jesus really is who the Bible says and what he said about himself is true. Mary is speaking in this song with a prophetic voice. Understand, Jesus is still growing in her womb. He has not taken His first breath, but Mary is saying things about what Jesus will do like he has already done them.
But, inwardly, this teenager was a part of the revolution.
THE JESUS REVOLUTION IS CAUGHT, NOT TAUGHT, NOT BORN INTO, NOT PREDESTINED FROM THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD…IT IS CAUGHT!
HAVE YOU CAUGHT IT!!
Mary believed everything about Jesus. She started living like a revolutionary. She knew what her son was going to bring to the world.
When you start believing that Jesus really is who the Bible says and what he said about himself is true. You become a part of this revolution that was started by a 13 or 14 year old pregnant girl.
The revolution will become a reality at the RETURN OF CHRIST!
Are you a revolutionary?
Mary is speaking in this song with a prophetic voice. Understand, Jesus is still growing in her womb. He has not taken His first breath, but Mary is saying things about what Jesus will do like he has already done them.
Do you believe Jesus?
That is a big question. Let’s be honest. I think some of us believe parts of Him. More specifically, we like to believe the Heaven part. What we fail to understand is you don’t get the Heaven part, without some other things being true.
Jot this down… PRIORITY.
The text says my soul magnifies the Lord.
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
This is a present tense verb suggesting it is happening now and will continue. When you believe…you prioritize or worship right.
This is a present tense verb suggesting it is happening now and will continue. When you believe…you prioritize or worship right.
You are going to worship someone or something. You can’t help it. You are wired that way. You may say, “But I don’t worship.” You are wrong. There is a trail of your time, talent, and treasure that leads to someone or something.
Mary has completely rearranged her life to be in the middle of God’s plan.
How have you arranged your life? If He is the priority of your life, you ought to be able to point to some areas.
The revolution means everything.
Jot this down… PROPERLY.
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Two words jump out in the text…humility and fear of the Lord.
We don’t come to God on our terms. God only deals with humble people. Humility is not thinking about one’s self, but God’s outcomes.
Luke 1.
If Mary would have been a pride filled person, she would have never agreed to the plan. Her life was going to be difficult after all. It was one thing have to bear up underneath the rumors of people, but if she would have known she would see her son die on a cross…I don’t know that she would have agreed.
JOT THIS DOWN… MORALITY
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear Him, you fear nothing else —whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.
Him. It has been properly defined as “a wholesome dread of displeasing Him.” If I have sinned, it is not the fear of what He will do to me, but rather what I have done to Him. The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear Him, you fear nothing else —whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. David said, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (). Only the person who can say, “The Lord is the strength of my life,” can then say, “Of whom shall I be afraid?”
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” It’s the end of arrogance s arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” His coming means an end to insatiable greed and lust for power.
The mighty are brought down by the strong arm of the Lord.
JOT THIS DOWN… MORALITY (51). “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” It’s the end of arrogance s arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” His coming means an end to insatiable greed and lust for power. The mighty are brought down by the strong arm of the Lord. That’s what’s happened across the centuries. Proud, boastful men lift their heads to challenge the Almighty, but He swats them down like flies. World leaders come and world leaders go. They come, they rise to power, and sooner or later…disappear. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The arm of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Proud men expect to carry it all with them. But eventually everyone dies. Justice will be served.
Proud men expect to carry it all with them. But eventually everyone dies. Justice will be served.
“He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” It’s the end of arrogance s arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” His coming means an end to insatiable greed and lust for power. The mighty are brought down by the strong arm of the Lord. That’s what’s happened across the centuries. Proud, boastful men lift their heads to challenge the Almighty, but He swats them down like flies. World leaders come and world leaders go. They come, they rise to power, and sooner or later…disappear. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The arm of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Proud men expect to carry it all with them. But eventually everyone dies. Justice will be served.
JOT THIS DOWN… SOCIETY.
“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.”
It’s the great reversal of fortune. That’s what Mary is talking about here: The coming of Christ brings about a great reversal of fortune in society. The proud are brought low and the humble are lifted up. What men call luck, Mary calls the work of God. When someone loses it all, we talk about bad luck. When someone hits the jackpot, we say it’s good luck. Not Mary. She understands that behind the faceless mystery called luck stands the Sovereign God. He lifts up and no one can bring down. He brings down and no one can lift up again. No king reigns forever. Just ask Elvis. If we lived forever, we’d all soon forget God. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment” ()PPT. By raising the lowly to power, God triumphs over the world.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
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It’s the great reversal of fortune. That’s what Mary is talking about here: The coming of Christ brings about a great reversal of fortune in society. The proud are brought low and the humble are lifted up.
Make sure you get the lesson: The ups and downs of history are really the hand of God at work.
One man rules, then another, then another replaces him. Behind the seemingly impersonal flow of history is the very personal hand of God—suddenly pulling down a proud man (or nation) and replacing him with someone else.
Those movements which seem to upset society are all regulated by God with unerring justice.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.” This is the most revolutionary part of Mary’s song. Not only does the coming of Christ upset the proud of this world, not only does it lift up the humble, but it actually means that the hungry are fed and the rich go away empty.
“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.” This is the most revolutionary part of Mary’s song. Not only does the coming of Christ upset the proud of this world, not only does it lift up the humble, but it actually means that the hungry are fed and the rich go away empty.
In Jesus Christ there’s no such thing as a “common” person. God doesn’t know any “common” men or any “common” women. We dare not call anyone common for whom Christ died!
But in Jesus Christ there’s no such thing as a “common” person. God doesn’t know any “common” men or any “common” women. We dare not call anyone common for whom Christ died!
We tend to privatize the gospel so much that we don’t see this truth. We talk about “asking Jesus into your heart” but we never talk about “asking Jesus into your home, business, or community.”
The gospel is the only hope for mankind—not only for his soul but also for his body, not only for the church but also for the world, not only for the individual but also for society. When the gospel makes headway in society, there you will find peace, harmony, tranquility and (ultimately) prosperity. Seen in that light, what Mary is saying is radically revolutionary. We tend to privatize the gospel so much that we don’t see this truth. We talk about “asking Jesus into your heart” but we never talk about “asking Jesus into your boardroom.” We want to have Jesus and still spend what we want, wear what we want, do what we want. And we’d rather not have to worry about the poor at all.
When the gospel makes headway in society, there you will find peace, harmony, tranquility and (ultimately) prosperity.
We tend to privatize the gospel so much that we don’t see this truth. We talk about “asking Jesus into your heart” but we never talk about “asking Jesus into your home, business, or community.”
We tend to privatize the gospel so much that we don’t see this truth. We talk about “asking Jesus into your heart” but we never talk about “asking Jesus into your home, business, or community.”
We want to have Jesus and still spend what we want, wear what we want, do what we want. And we’d rather not have to worry about the poor, homeless, those of another color, another race, another economic status at all.
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
This is the Jesus that Mary knew. Not because He talked to her. But because she knew this Messiah by knowing what the scripture said. We don’t now how she did that but she certainly caught the essence, and the detail necessary to speak volumes about this son she was carrying. The word was fulfilled in her!
This is the Jesus that Mary knew. Not because He talked to her. But because she knew this Messiah by knowing what the scripture said. We don’t now how she did that but she certainly caught the essence, and the detail necessary to speak volumes about this son she was carrying.
Now it’s decision time…are you willing to become a revolutionary like Mary? Are you willing to turn your life upside down for the Gospel? Are you willing to leave behind the world and stand only for Him? When its right down to the the very end, are you standing with God?
This is Mary, the 14 year old mother of Jesus. She was just a girl, but she spoke like a Prophet of God, full of wisdom.