The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

Introduction

A Jehovah Witness coming to my house on Christmas morning...

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived handout...

But wasn't Jesus the greatest man who ever lived?

Body

Verses 26-27

Another amazing announcement from Gabriel, but this one is far greater and more amazing!

However, it happens in a surprising way because of who is involved.

It's not the great people of that society, but the very common.

Nazareth of Galilee...

Unimportant, common place...

Mary & Joseph...

Common names...

Common betrothal...

But, David's lineage?

Jesus...

Common name...

God often uses the common to work His uncommon power and majesty.

But seriously, a virgin birth?

Remember:

Their society was not like our society today...

She was probably between 12 and 14...

Luke believes it (and so does Matthew)...

From a theological, and especially Christological standpoint, it's the only thing that makes sense...

However, it's also not the focus of this passage. More on that later.

Verses 28-29

A very uncommon greeting from an uncommon messenger...

Favored one...

The Lord is with you...

Yet, Mary is troubled...

Verses 30-33

An unbelievable message...

God is showing His special favor on her...

She will conceive a son who she will name Jesus...

He will be great...

His identity, position, and mission will be unlike anyone else in human history...

Verse 34

Help me understand...

Verses 35-37

The Holy Spirit will do it...

God is already doing miracles in your family...

Nothing is impossible with God...

Verse 38

Mary's incredible faith and submission to God's will...

Key Question: Why is Jesus the greatest man that ever lived?

Jesus identity makes Him the greatest man who ever lived.

He is the Son of the Most High/the Son of God.

What does that mean?

Cults would say it means that Jesus was God's physical son.

That's because their are fairly ethnocentric, American-centric, and arrogant...

However, culturally and historically within that culture a son was a reflection of the father.

Thus, for a Jewish person to be called the Son of God or the Son of the Most High was to say they were a reflection, or equal too God.

It's either grounds for stoning or grounds for worship!

Unlike other great men, Jesus is the incarnation of God.

How does that work though?

Honestly, I don't know. None of us do. But, it's the view that most faithfully and honestly deals with all that Scripture teaches about Jesus identity.

Additionally, if God is truly God, then there must be many aspects of Him that we could never understand...

The virgin birth is important here for a few reasons:

It establishes that Jesus is more than just a man conceived by a man and a woman in the normal way.

Is the only way for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man.

It holds up the integrity of the New Testament, especially the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.

It holds up to the teaching of the Christian church for the last 2000 years.

Jesus position makes Him the greatest man who ever lived.

He is the rightful heir of the kingdom of David.

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

While Israel looked for a physical kingship in Israel, Jesus would come as the king to be enthroned in the hearts of His people.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

Unlike other kings, Jesus kingdom has no end.

Revelation 22:16 ESV

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Jesus mission makes Him the greatest man who ever lived.

His mission is clear even in his name: God saves.

Luke 19:10 it will be clearly stated...

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

So What?

While Jesus is truly the greatest man who ever lived, we must also understand that Jesus is more than just a man. He is fully man and fully God.

Early in his gospel, Luke sets in front of the readers a decision we are going to have to make in our Christology: Is Jesus a man endowed with special spiritual giftedness? Or, is Jesus something more than a man? Human, yet more than human.

More simply and plainly, who is Jesus?

Truly, there is no more important question anyone can answer in life.

Personally, who is Jesus to you?

No other question not only determines your life here on this earth, but also where you will be eternally...

What kind of faith in Jesus do you have?

Looking at Mary's story and comparing it to mine, I'm humbled that a fourteen year old girl who has just been told she was going to have the first and only virgin birth in history has more faith than me.

That she, in spite of the consequences, was willing to be the Lord's servant no matter the cost.

Do I really believe that nothing will be impossible with God?

Do you?

Are we willing to submit completely to the will of God?

Too many in the Christian church today have a self-centered faith that is more about our own personal comfort, leisure, pleasure, and happiness than about true faith and submission. Is that really biblical faith at all?