Part Two
Let’s take a look at the characters in today’s amazing story…
Characters Gabriel = Devoted One Mary = Beloved, wishing for a baby. Joseph = Yehovah adds or gives increase.
Let’s take a look at the land in today’s amazing story…
Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph,
Luke 1:26-38 of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:26-38 But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be
Luke 1:26-38 afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 1:26-38 of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:26-38 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the
Luke 1:26-38 holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was
Luke 1:26-38 called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; be it done to me
Luke 1:26-38 according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Whether priest or young girl, Gabriel, the devoted one, is excited to declare God’s message to all who will hear.
Don’t you just love his greeting?
“Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
Has anybody ever come to your door with that one?
Hail…
G5463 χαίρω chairō / khah'ee-ro Impersonal as a salutation: be full of “cheer”, be happy, be well, be glad, rejoice.
Favored one!
G5487 χαριτόω charitoō / khar-ee-to'-o To grace, that is, endue with special honor: make accepted, be highly favored.
The Lord is with you!
Mary… It’s you!
You’ve been chosen!
You’re the one that scripture has spoken about!
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
It’s time!
God is coming!
He’s about to show up in a truly amazing way!
Do you remember that other scripture?
The one from Genesis 3?
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the women, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head and you shall bruise
Genesis 3:15 Him on the heal.”
God is going to honor His Word.
Luke 1:29-30 But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be
Luke 1:30-31 afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 1:33-34 of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Can’t you just see Mary’s face?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute!
How will God accomplish all of this?
It’s a little overwhelming!
My son is going to be King?
He’s going to sit on the throne of David?
Throne of David Not a selfish throne. Not an arrogant, proud or boastful throne. He will rule from a loving throne.
He’s going to reign over the house of Jacob forever?
House of Jacob Not just the Jews. All the tribes will be present in the Kingdom. God will fully restore and expand His Kingdom.
His kingdom will have no end?
And besides all of that, I’m a virgin.
How is that going to work?
Luke 1:26-38 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the
Luke 1:26-38 holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was
Luke 1:26-38 called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; be it done to me
Luke 1:26-38 according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
How many of you know that the Virgin Birth is under attack?
You can go to almost any college today and the virgin birth is mocked and made fun of.
It’s explained away as an insignificant counterfeit from mythology.
Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Celtic Mythology all have their version of a virgin birth.
We can even go back to the Tower of Babel for the “virgin birth” of Tammuz.
How can we know which are the counterfeits and which is not?
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
What’s the big deal?
What is the significance of the Virgin Birth?
Our Savior must be completely without sin!
How is that accomplished?
Was Mary sinless?
In this story we discover that sin is passed down through the seed of man.
That’s why the Savior was born of a virgin.
That’s why Joseph knew her not.
That’s why Mary was completely enveloped by the Holy Spirit.
Significance Born of the Holy Spirit. Sinless 100% God Born of a woman. Seed of woman. 100% Man
The Son of God and The son of man.
The God-man was born to die.
The perfect, spotless sacrifice, Jesus, who saves His people from their sin.
Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who
Galatians 4:4-7 were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our
Galatians 4:4-7 hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
God cared for Mary so much that He gave her additional evidence of His plans.
Luke 1:39-45 Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the Hill Country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39-45 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:39-45 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to
Luke 1:39-45 me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for
Luke 1:39-45 joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
Mary was so overwhelmed by what God was doing that she couldn’t contain it any longer.
Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regard for the humble state of His bond-slave;
Luke 1:46-55 For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.
Luke 1:46-55 And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered
Luke 1:46-55 those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.
Luke 1:46-55 He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty - handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His
Luke 1:46-55 mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and His offspring forever.”
Amen!
What will you do with the Virgin Birth?
What will you do with the God-man?