Why Mary?

I wonder what you look forward to at Christmas?

Daughter 2 and this year discovered the joy of Christmas lights, we walk around streets and she loves it! Dazzled and amazed. Maybe you look forward to putting the tree up. Maybe stocking. Maube that feeling on Christmas morning, sense of excitment, or that feeling Christmas afternoon and the sleep after Christmas lunch. Maybe is the festivities and parties. Stress - such weight of expectation on it, hoping it will save the year. What do we want at Christmas, what are we hoping all of this will bring. Comfort and Joy.

Sainsburys ad. “It’s been a long time coming so let’s make it a Christmas to Savour”

Yet how often it dissappoints. Or that warm fuzzy feeling dissappears with the turkey. And for many this excitment never comes. Instead Christmas just makes us all to aware of feeling of fear, isolation, lonliness, heartache, darkness. Reminder that they are overlooked, and broken, and struggling and lost and lonley.

Before you think I’m being a grinch - I am convinced that at the heart of Christmas there really is reason to celebrate and not just on Christmas day but every day. And not just for some but for everyone. And maybe just maybe, you are hear because you recognise that amidst all the festivities and fancies, Christmas is at its heart about something greater. Thats what I want you to see tonight, Christmas story in bible isnt just a story but real events that happened 2000 years ago, but changed the world forever, and at their heart they are about who God is and what he did and is still doing today.

Help us see that I want us to think for a few minutes about Mary. Learn so much from Mary.

Mary represents the ordinary person. Luke gathers all this eye withness testimony about Jesus life, and doctor as he is records with such detail and precision what happened, with names and backgrounds and heritage. But what are we told about Mary? Was she of royal birth - no. Was she especially righteous in someway, no. Was she rich and famous. No. We don’t even know who her parents were. She is a young girl, engaged to married. probably Jewish decent, but living in a disregarded valley of a despised province of a conquered land. A place of which someone said “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”.

In societies eyes, Mary was a nobody from nowhere. Like so many could have easily been overlooked, her only status gained from her engagement to Jospeh a common Jew.

What would this firsr Christmas look like for young, insignificant, forgetable Mary. What does God think of young Mary, nobody, overlooked. This unimportant. This ordinary. This humble. This girl from a nothing town in a conquered and despised land?

God loved Mary

God chose Mary

God visited Mary

God spoke to Mary

God called on Mary

God favoured Mary

God blessed Mary

God chose to work out his plan to save the world by doing a miracle for Mary.

God made ordinary Mary the surrogate mum for the King of Kings. By immaculate conception, by power of Spirit God would place his Son in her, that she might have the joy of bearing such a child, Holy - Son of the most High God.

Luke 1:31–33 NIV

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.”

It was through Mary that God would send the promised King, the Saviour - one who would fix a broken world. One who would deal with humanities greatest problem - by later dying on the Cross in our place, so that we might know the God who made us. It was through Mary that God would enter into this world in the person of Jesus, and change everything forever. It was through Mary that God would come and begin to make all things right.

Why does it matter

- 2000 years later why are we still talking about it.

Why does it matter?

Because the God who considered Mary, is the same God who calls out to each of us. Mary represents God doing the extraodinary for ordinary people, sinful people. People who he made, but who have lived their lives without him. Though we might overlook the child, the child grew up, and does not overlook us. But entered this world as a baby for us. Endured humanity for us. Was born into shame and scandal and poverty and mess and humilitation for us. He grew up to endure the Cross for us, and he defeated death to bring new life to us.

He is the reason for the season, because he is the truly greatest gift ever given. And he was given to the Mary’s. To the ordinary, the overlooked, the humble, the broken. Because such is God’s heart for those he has made.

Why does it matter - becase He is the answer to our deepest heart longing. At Christmas in all the festivities and lights and food and gifts what are we really seeking. We want to know comfort and joy. We want to know life and satisfaction and peace. We want to know love that lasts.

Why does it matter, because on that first Christmas God gives the very thing our souls desire. what we were made for.

New life in right relationship with our maker.

illustration about tasters.

In this world that God has made, in broken state, we long to taste what is good, but only ever at most get a sample. But God is the meal. Life is at its best when in right relationship with him, enjoying all of his goodness. That is what God offers through Jesus.

The promise of everlasting life in perfect new world. Comfort that this is not all their is and that God has a purpose and plan. The joy of knowing the God who made me loves wtih such a deep perfect love, and considers us who are sinners worthy. Wholeness, completelness, Fulfilment and peace and joy in God eternal, revealed in Jesus, experienced through faith.

See Christmas really is for anyone Jesus really is for anyone. His everlasting Kingdom really is for anyone. His perfect peace really is for anyone. His eternal security really is for anyone. His soul satifaction really is for anyone. His festive filling joy really is for anyone

For anyone and everyone who will recieve him. How did Mary respond to God’s incredible gift?

She recieved in faith with Joy.

Luke 1:38 NIV

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary accepted what God said. And she pondered it in her heart and responded in faith and rejoicing.

Luke 1:46–54 (NIV)

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

How can we respond to the Christmas Story - how can we enjoy God’s perfect gift for everyone of his Son Jesus. By coming to him empty handed with open hearts, and putting our trust in him. By taking God as his word like Mary did, and accepting Jesus as King and Saviour. And as we do rejoicing that God has considered us in our humble state.

I wonder what the best Christmas present you have ever recieved?

I once got a bright orange bike. Did it come with a price tag you had to pay? No it was given in love. And how did you respond to such a gift, but in gratitude and love to the one who gave it.

What will do with the greatest gift ever given. Gift that changed history. Jesus the Son - come into the world to rescue and to rule, and to one day bring his people home. to perfect peace, never ceasing comfort, everlasting joy. Gift given at greatest cost, paid by Jesus at the cross and offered freely. Will you accept it? Will you invite this King - the one who made you, and knows you and loves you and wants whats truly best for you in? Will you accept his rescue and rule?

Will you like Mary say - I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to be be fulfilled, and with Mary rejoice in the life he gives.

Pause to respond. Close your eyes. Opportunity to raise hand.

invitation to fill in contact card.

chance to reflect in song - performed by band.