Sunday Service 5-10-20 - Luke 1:26-38 - Son of Mary, Son of David, Son of God

Luke 1 Sermon C (26-38) – Son of Mary, Son of David, Son of God Intro: Invites comparison with birth of John: Many similarities – same angel, same fear/troubledness, same angelic response (do not be afraid), same proclamation, miraculous births overcoming human deficiency/expectation, sign of legitimacy. Parallels: 1. The scene is set and the angel comes (1:5–11, 26–27). 2. The person fears (1:12, 29). 3. The angel gives assurance (1:13a, 30). 4. The birth is promised and the child is named (1:13b, 31). 5. The significance of the child is described (1:14–17, 32–33). 6. A question expresses some doubt (1:18, 34). 7. The Spirit’s role is noted (1:15b–c, 35). 8. A sign or an instruction is given (1:19–20, 36–37). 9. A remark about the significance of the angel’s words is present (1:20, 38). Contrasts are more important: John Jesus Jerusalem (9) Nazareth in Galilee (26) (simple, small, humble, unknown – John was famous first) Great (15) Great and Son of the Most High (32) Prepare (17) Reign (33) Temporary (17) Never Ending (33) Prophet (15) Son (35) Filled with Spirit (15) Conceived by Spirit – come upon and overshadow (35) ? Holy Zechariah and Mary: Difference in stature: Zechariah was a man, religious position, a priest. Mary was about as humble as it gets – girls, lower/middle class, teenager, from east-po-dunk. (her name means excellence – note on names being of the same frequency in the gospels as they are in other historical records in antiquity) Difference in reaction – “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” Vs “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” One says “How shall I know” the other says “How will this be”. How shall I know – like “how can I believe this” … the other says “how will this be” – I believe it, but I don’t understand it. It may even be her asking for instructions – so what am I supposed to do – am I supposed to go ahead and get married now (lit “since I do not know a man” – like “I have no way to be with a man to conceive”)? All it takes for her then is for the Angel to say “It’s going to be by the power of God.” And, she says, “Let it be” – obedience and faith (foreshadowing Jesus’ obedience and faith vocalized in the garden). The angel gives her a sign – not muteness, but the fulfillment of earlier prophecy (even in this way, John prepares the way for Jesus). God’s faithfulness to one person gives confidence to another. 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.  Mary (Mariam/Miriam) – Sister of Moses (Elizabeth the wife of Aaron, brother of Moses), brother and sister of Moses – the Exodus, the Deliverance/Deliverer/Mediator. This greeting is translated in Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation as: “Hail Mary, full of grace”, which is partially the source of theological controversy regarding Mary and her special status among fellow mortals/humans. It is a very formal greeting, and does show great respect from Gabriel himself, not shown to Zechariah. Apparently Mary also had trouble understanding this greeting. (And, this is strong evidence that Mary was a source for Luke.) But, Luke/Scripture/Holy Spirit actually clears this up easily enough: “What I mean is, “the Lord is with you – you have found favor with God.” Mary is the recipient of God’s grace/favor, not the bestower of it. Greetings/hail-hello – Rejoice/grace. Not just getting attention. The Lord is with you – already and allusion to Jesus. 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 represents Israel/the people of God – she is receiving freely his unmerited special favor out of his good pleasure. The favor/grace you have is namely this: you will conceive and bear a son, and this is what that son is… Jesus – Yeshua – Joshua – YHWH saves. Successor to Moses – Mediator of a new and better covenant. Leader into the promised land, conqueror of enemies. The description of Jesus: Great without qualification (absolute great) is used only for God in the OT/Scriptures. Son of the Most High – not quite clear yet (Ps 82:6, Luke 6:35 sons of the Most High), but something – only time one man alone gets this description. Special relationship with God. He doesn’t take the throne for himself, but rather is given the throne – he is the one God appoints as king (Deut 17:14-20), in fact he is God the king. They reject me as their king. The tension in Psalm 2 of God as king yet man as king. Can’t have God as king, too great for us. Can’t have man as king, too weak for us. Look at Davidic Covenant in 2 Sam 7 and 1 Chr 17:11-14 and Ps 89 and how the prophets grasp this in Isa 9:6-7, Mic 4:7, 5:1-4, Dan 7:14. The Davidic king comes to his own. How this theocratic relationship works itself out, how the nation responds to it, and how God deals with the response is another major burden of Luke’s work. Another major burden of Luke’s writings is to show how the Davidic ruler comes to have such comprehensive authority over all humans. Luke will develop this theme throughout his Gospel. 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Difference in reaction – “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” Vs “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” One says “How shall I know” the other says “How will this be”. How shall I know – like “how can I believe this” … the other says “how will this be” – I believe it, but I don’t understand it. It may even be her asking for instructions – so what am I supposed to do – am I supposed to go ahead and get married now (lit “since I do not know a man” – like “I have no way to be with a man to conceive”)? All it takes for her then is for the Angel to say “It’s going to be by the power of God.” And, she says, “Let it be” – obedience and faith (foreshadowing Jesus’ obedience and faith vocalized in the garden). The angel gives her a sign – not muteness, but the fulfillment of earlier prophecy (even in this way, John prepares the way for Jesus). God’s faithfulness to one person gives confidence to another. 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.”  The angel elaborates how this is to occur – a necessary provision of clarity to a very confusing situation to a girl who is betrothed to be married, probably within a year at most. The Holy Spirit will come upon you (just as Elizabeth’s child will be filled with the Spirit). The Holy Spirit is the active creative agent of the Triune God – Just as at creation, the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep, as God spoke light into darkness and the worlds into existence. The Spirit is connected with the breath/Word of God (pneuma). Parallel phrase – the power of the Most High will overshadow you – ie this is God’s power doing this, the Most High power, able to do anything, including new creation. Holy Spirit plays major role in Luke-Acts. Creates new spiritual life, gives new language, gives Gospel power of speech/evangelism. 2 NATURES of Christ. Overshadow in OT refers to God’s glorious presence (Shekinah cloud that rested/overshadowed the temple) and to his protection (finding refuge in the shadow of his wings which cover over you). Greater description: Holy – special/set apart, refers to him as 2nd Adam, not fallen by nature, the Son of God – Messiah. The verifying sign – not asked for, but given anyway – tying the story to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s – God’s work in someone else’s life serving as encouragement to us, giving us confidence. Nothing will be impossible with God – a major theme in Luke. 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. All it takes for her then is for the Angel to say “It’s going to be by the power of God.” And, she says, “Let it be” – obedience and faith (foreshadowing Jesus’ obedience and faith vocalized in the garden). The angel gives her a sign – not muteness, but the fulfillment of earlier prophecy (even in this way, John prepares the way for Jesus). God’s faithfulness to one person gives confidence to another. She says that she is the servant/slave – one of humble station addressing/submitting to their superior. She then prays for the thing God declares – implying she wants what God wants. God, Sovereign of the Universe, Most High in glory is no elitist. He uses the most humble, unexpected person who only brings willingness to the table with grace and favor and the power of God as her supply. Nothing is impossible with God - We will see this theme continue in the story of Jesus and the Church and the Gospel going to the whole world in Luke-Acts from the miraculous physical births of John and Jesus to the resurrection of the crucified messiah to miraculous spiritual re-birth of one who hated Christians to miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation going to the nations, to those of us who are willingness for faith, repentance, and service backed only by the grace and power of God. Extra: God’s creative power – this person is his in a way no person can say since Adam/Eve. John the Baptist is also the foil to Saul as the forerunner of David.