Jesus, The Impossible Child

Jesus, The Impossible Child

Sermon by Ken Baratta

Based on Luke 1:26-38

INTRODUCTION

The Unlikely Vessel (v. 26-29, 34)

The greeting she received was perplexing because of the complete meaning.

Lit. – “(You) Rejoice! The one who has been granted favor/grace. The Lord is with you!”

NKJV – “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you”

Matthew 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Between engagement and marriage there is normally something over a year.

The legal position of the fiancée is the same as that of the married woman. But the consummation is not included.

Even though she may be looked upon favorably by God, Mary was only engaged to Joseph and had not yet consummated their union

This provided an unlikely candidate for carrying a child

The Promised Child (v. 30-33)

Bear a son, Jesus

“Jesus” is related to “Joshua”, and means “Jehovah is salvation”

5 facts about Jesus

He will be great

He will be called the Son of the Most High

The fact that her Baby was to be called the Son of the Most High pointed to His equality with Yahweh.

In Semitic thought a son was a “carbon copy” of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities

He will be given the throne of David

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever

His kingdom will never end

This was great news!

Not necessarily that Mary would be pregnant without having consummated her marriage to Joseph (that could put her life in danger)

Marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. After this was accomplished, the individuals were considered married and were called husband and wife. They did not, however, begin to live together.

Instead, the woman continued to live with her parents and the man with his for one year. The waiting period was to demonstrate the faithfulness of the pledge of purity given concerning the bride.

If she was found to be with child in this period, she obviously was not pure, but had been involved in an unfaithful sexual relationship. Therefore, the marriage could be annulled.

Matthew 1:19

And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

It was also expected in Israel that if a virgin were to have intercourse with a man that was not her husband, they were both to be dealt with

Deuteronomy 22:23-24

If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

So, what is the great news?

The great news lies in the fact that this baby is clearly the long-expected promised one, the Messiah.

Prophecy – Genesis 3:15 – God would send a deliverer I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her

offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Prophecy – Psalm 2:7-9 – the Messiah is God’s son I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

The Impossible Conception (v. 35-38)

She was assured that God was in control of the situation, just like He was in control of the situation in Elizabeth’s life (v. 36; cf. Luke 1:13-18)

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The power of God was at work in the proceedings, as evidenced by the angel telling Mary that the power of the Most High will overshadow you. This is not a euphemism for “beget”... there is no sexual union between God and Mary, as you see in some Greek mythology.

Rather, this overshadowing is an indication of God’s presence and power. Consider these Old Testament passages:

Exodus 24:15-16

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Exodus 40:35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

CONCLUSION