The Lord's Servant
Notes
Transcript
Gabriel
4 times by name
God is my strength
Daniel 8 & 9 prophesying the end and especially the anointed one
To Elizabeth and to Mary. Possibly Joseph but not by name.
Brings news of God's power
Many years between prophecy of Jesus and birth
Pretty Excited
He got to announce the coming of the Son of God
It had been a long time since he gave announcement to Daniel
You know he had to be a little proud!
But he was obedient
He was the Lord’s servant
Joseph
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
A good man
heartbroken
Perplexed
confused and scared
But obedient
The Lord’s Servant
Jesus/ God/ Holy Spirit
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
They have all been waiting for this a long time.
The time had finally come
The anticipation must have been incredible.
Jesus had to have a some interesting emotions.
Look at the garden at the end of the story…. But not my will but yours for I am the Lord’s servant
Elizabeth
Pregnant already witness to God’s amazing power and grace.
So happy to see her cousin
Husband still silent
Aware of God’s provision
Happy to have someone to share the joy
Obedient and willing to serve
The LORD’s Servant
Mary
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
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,
and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
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.
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Teenager
A really Good kid!
Scared
Confused
Perplexed
Those are the ones we know!
Can you imagine the pressure on this little girl. I am going to be the mother of the savior of the world.
Trust in the Lord’s word.
Aware of God’s use of the least and the weakest for his glory!
Obedient and willing to serve.
The Lord’s Servant
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
US
We each have callings from God. First and foremost we are called to a saving relationship by trusting and believing in Jesus. Then we are filled with his Holy Spirit and able to trust him.
Then God calls us to serve him, by serving his people. And by loving them enough to tell them about Jesus. Notice, not one of the people we read about this morning, failed to do what God commanded them to do. They all acted. We have a call to act. Not one of them regretted doing it either. They were all blessed and all brought glory to God.
This is our call. This is our job not just at Christmas. God is calling you to lead others to him. To be obedient to him. To serve him. What is your answer? I pray your answer is that of a teenage girl...
For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:37-38 NIV)
For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Be the Lord’s Servant!
