Promises Made; Promises Fulfilled

Some people are eager for Christ’s return and the world to be renewed. Not everyone. We know in our mind that Jesus’ return is a good thing, but it’s unknown. Our hearts are invested in the stuff going on.

The unknowns of the new creation are . . . unknown. It’s hard to imagine life like this, but without sin. To imagine Shalom; perfect relationships.

For others, the challenges of life, of illness or chronic pain, dementia or mental illness, broken relationships or feelings of guilt make our hearts groan for Christ’s return. It’s the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. It’s the hope that empowers some people tackle another day.

If you’re filled with longing, an aching desire to see God’s promises fulfilled, you’d fit in among the people of Nazareth. Longing, hoping, expectant waiting was the founding purpose of the village. The founders were members of a clan who returned from Babylon. They could trace their lineage back to King David. Their community grew around God’s promise that a King from David’s line was coming. Their village would be the hometown of the coming king of God’s people.

They knew the prophecies. They knew God’s promises to King David that David’s descendant would sit on his father’s throne.

I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. II Samuel 7:12b–14a (NIV)

They knew God’s promise through Isaiah. I preached on it 2 wks. ago:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

The founding families of Nazareth trusted God’s promise so strongly that they named their village for that shoot coming from the stump of Jesse.

Nazar = branch | Nazareth = Branchville.

Some people might wonder if anything good can come from Nazareth, but the founders wouldn’t be surprised that Gabriel showed up here.

The mighty angel’s coming sent a shiver through Mary. Her fear was mixed with awe and amazement. This was the moment Mary’s family, her community, hoped and waited for.

Gabriel’s announcement means the long, long wait was over. In all Nazareth, she was highly favoured. Gabriel’s words assured Mary that God’s promises to her family, her people, would be fulfilled:

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.” Luke 1:31–33 (NIV)

It’s rather alarming, but terribly exciting! We imagine the awkwardness of this pregnancy for Mary, trying to explain it to her parents and Joseph. But there’s also the wonder and amazement:

Did I hear the angel right?

Me? mother to the long-awaited King and Rescuer? (pause)

There’s a detail that’s troubling Mary though. She’s quite blunt about it to Gabriel: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

She’s pledged to marry Joseph. She’s counting down the days to the wedding ceremony, tallying guests, getting fitted for her wedding gown, but she’s never slept with Joseph or any other guy. She knows how these things work. How could she be pregnant?

Humanly it’s impossible, yet Gabriel is assertive. “No word from God will ever fail.” You want proof? Visit Elizabeth.

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. Luke 1:36 (NIV)

How can it happen? How can a virgin conceive and give birth to a child?

It’s a mystery. We don’t usually ask how a pregnancy began. Ordinarily it would be creepy to ask such personal questions. In Mary’s case, the details are important.

Mary’s pregnancy began without a human father. God who created the heavens, earth, and the sea without any pre-existing material implanted the child. Because the power of the Most High overshadowed her, “the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” The miracle of a virgin birth is evidence that this little one is God’s Son.

These details are important b/c God’s Son came to rescue humankind. Often when we talk of God’s rescue plan, we point ‘way back to the dawn of time and A&E’s rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden. A&E rebelled against him by eating the forbidden fruit. It didn’t end there.

Ever since then, people have found it impossible to give God the honour and obedience that our Creator deserves. Among Mary’s ancestors there was frequent rebellion against God.

In the days of the prophet, Samuel, a generation before King David, the people demanded Samuel anoint a king so they would be like the other nations. Samuel was deeply offended. He felt rejected.

It wasn’t just Samuel they rejected as prophet and leader. God said their rebellion went deeper:

When they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. I Samuel 8:6–7 (NIV)

It’s easy to say, “that wasn’t us”. Yet most of us struggle to obey God as king in every aspect of our life. The 1st of the 10 Commandments is

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

Is the Lord Most High really your source of security and hope?

Is Gabriel’s boss really the One you turn to in difficulty or in joy, every day of the week, 365 days of the year?

God became a human baby to win back your allegiance. God’s Son is 100% human to deal with rebellion and its consequences. Treason & mutiny are punished by death. Jesus grew up as a boy and later as a man to shoulder the punishment for human treason. He died your death on †.

As a human, Jesus is eligible to suffer the punishment for other people’s disloyalty. As God he can endure the full brunt of the punishment for our treason. As your Rescuer, Jesus claims your allegiance, your loyalty, your respect and worship. When Jesus rises from the grave, victorious over sin and death, he offers immunity from prosecution and offers opportunities for service to all who trust in him as Saviour and Lord.

In his death and resurrection, Jesus reasserts his claim over all creation. His ascension into heaven 40 days after resurrection is part of his victory, as he takes his place on heaven’s throne as Lord and King of all.

Mary didn’t know. Mary didn’t know that Jesus would walk on water. Mary didn’t know that he would heal a blind man. Mary didn’t know the baby she delivered, would one day deliver her from hell and damnation.

Mary did not know the ways and means, but Gabriel DID tell her that her baby would be king. The Lord God would give him the throne of his father David; his kingdom will never end. Mary’s boy would answer all longings.

Surprisingly, Mary was cool with it. For all the pain & awkwardness, Mary agreed. Her acceptance is a model for all God’s children:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38a (NIV)

Obedience is tough for most people. Even when you have respect for the asker it’s a challenge. Yet Mary worships God, accepting his call: both the challenge and the honour of carrying and birthing the Son of the Most High. She honours The LORD as her God and King.

Mary’s response points to Jesus’ obedience. As he steeled himself for the suffering of the cross, Jesus prayed in the garden so earnestly he sweated drops of blood. What was his request? Doing his Father’s will:

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 (NIV)

In his obedience to his Father, Jesus did what we ourselves struggle to do. Jesus’ obedience covers over all your rebellion, all your disobedience.

Two things remain:

1. Share Mary’s joy that the longing of her heart, the longings of her people has arrived. At the dawn of time, God promised this child would come. As our first parents were banished from the garden of Eden, God promised that a child would be born to crush the serpent’s head. This boy-child of Mary is the long-awaited, long-promised King. All our hopes and fears are met in Jesus, our Saviour and King.

Jesus’ coming answers all our longings. We rejoice he came and are filled with joy at the prospect that he will come again!

2. You’re invited to pledge allegiance to Jesus as Lord and king. Maybe that’s something you’ve never done before.

B/c Jesus covered for you, b/c he’s atoned for your disobedience, he invites you to respect and honour him as king: king of your heart, king of your belongings, king of all creation.

You’re invited to kneel before Jesus. You’re invited to pledge to Jesus that you won’t have any other god before him.

Nobody and nothing will take the #1 spot in your life – just Jesus.

Every life decision, every financial decision, every choice of what shall we do this afternoon gets made in light of Jesus’ role as your Lord and King. Are you up for that?

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