A Mother Like No Other

Introduction: Mother’s Day Encouragement

Ever since the fall of man, God has been showing favor to human mothers making it possible for them to conceive and bear children who can be trained and taught to love and serve Him.

The first woman, who was Eve, is graciously favored and given the distinction of “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). Infamously, she first bore Cain but recognized, despite her sin that, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD” (Genesis 4:1).

An unsung and unmentioned by name woman, the mother of Noah (Genesis 5:28-29), Noah meaning rest, was celebrated as well as it was said of her child that “out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”

Other mothers throughout the Biblical histories have likewise been favored such as Hannah who bore a son named Samuel, which means “heard of God,” whom she back gave to the LORD shortly after his birth to be used of Him all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:10–20).

This same Samuel was both judge and a prophet who helped to usher in the reign of the Saul as King of Israel as well as of the Davidic Kingship that became a type of the final glorious kingdom of Jesus the Messiah.

It is to this highly favored mother that we now come as we look at Luke 1:26-38.

Luke 1:26–38 ESV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 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.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 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 will be called holy—the Son of God. 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 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.

A. Gabriel visits a woman in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-27)

She was betrothed to Joseph

Joseph was of the house of David (Luke 2:4; 3:23–38; so was Mary (Matthew 1:1–16)

She was a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)

B. The angel greeted her with (Luke 1:28)

Greetings

Favored One

The Lord is with you!

C. Mary’s reaction (Luke 1:29)

Mary was greatly troubled

Mary tried to discern what sort of greeting this could be.

D. Gabriel assures Mary that she is completely favored (Luke 1:30–33)

You will conceive and bear a son (v. 31) (Is 7:14)

You will call His name Jesus (v. 31) (Matt 1:21)

He will be great. (v. 32)

He will be called the Son of the Most High (v. 32)

The Lord God will give your Son the throne of his father David (v. 32) (2 Sam 7:12–13, 16)

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever (v. 33)

His kingdom will never end (v. 33) (Daniel 7:14)

E. Mary questions “how”? (v. 34)

F. The angel explains how it will happen (v. 35)

The Holy Spirit will come upon you.

the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

The child will be called Holy. (compare John 6:69; Luke 4:34, Acts 3:14)

The child will be called the Son of God.

G. The angel explains that God is already at work (v. 36-37)

Elizabeth, your old relative, has already conceived a son

Elizabeth is now in her 6th month of pregnancy even though she had been barren.

This is proof that nothing will be impossible to God.

H. Mary’s reaction

Mary now saw herself as a servant/slave of the Lord

Mary believed and fully surrendered her situation and her whole life to God

I. What is Your reaction/response to the Lord!

What will you say to the Lord’s invitation to act as His servant?

What if He asks something you think is impossible?

Will you respond in humility?

Will you surrender your life and will to Him?

God wants to use every woman and every mother who is a disciple of His; what about you!