A Servant Heart Luke 1:26-38 p.944

Welcome Past 14 weeks – Gospel of Mark (ch. 1-8) Who is Jesus? – the Messiah Why has he come? – we find out soon! Today’s text – How Jesus came Focal point – Mary’s attitude of heart Question – How might our hearts be prepared when God calls on us?

A Servants Call Luke’s vision – all embracing Gabriel’s greeting – Mary is troubled Luke 2:8-10 – Shepherd’s are terrified Mary’s favor – repeated (v. 28 and 30) Genesis 6:8 – Noah found favor with God Greetings and favor aside – what is the news?

A Servants Call The News – Mary’s son will be the Messiah Old News – similar to the Davidic covenant Davidic covenant – God’s promise to David Points to another king who will come to reign over Israel; a king whose kingdom will never end.

God’s Promise to MaryGod’s Promise to David Luke 12 Samuel 7 32a He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 9 Now I will make your name great… 32b The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 13 I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 33a and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. 33b his kingdom will never end.16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me;

A Servants Heart King David – “a man after God’s own heart” Mary – had a similar attitude of heart Two questions – both similar in nature Zechariah’s question – out of disbelief Mary’s question – out of curiosity “I’m a virgin.” – How will this be?

A Servants Heart Jews – could not predict HOW and to WHOM Verse 35 – unique description of conception “will come upon” – same verb in Acts 1:8 1 Samuel 16:13 – the Spirit of the Lord “came upon David”

A Servants Heart “A conception by a virgin who had no sexual relations with any man would be something far more startling in the biblical record than the proven conception by a set of parents whose barrenness God had overcome. It would be consonant with a theology of a new creation wherein God’s Spirit, active in the first creation of life, was active again. ~ Raymond E. Brown

A Servants Heart John 1 – through him all things were made Power of God – spoke things into existence Luke 1:37 – no word from God will ever fail “ Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn. The Word has gone out from My mouth in truth, and will not turn back: Isaiah 45:22-23 (NLV)

A Servants Response Part 1 – “I am the Lord’s servant.” 12 year olds today – other possible responses Who was Mary? Who was God to her? And how did that relate to her life? Who are we? Who is God to us? And how does that relate to how we live? Mary – human like the rest of us

A Servants Response Part 2 - “May it be to me according to your word.” Foreshadows our servant king Reminds us of the Lord’s prayer, “Your will be done.” Weighing the costs – a difficult road for Mary and Joseph

A Servants Response

A Servants Example Example from Downton Abbey:

A Servants Example Example from Downton Abbey: Mr. Bates – a humble and loyal servant Valet – “personal man-servant” Key Role – settling disputes, standing up for what is right, protecting those less confident How he fights – with sheer kindness Bates – a good example of servanthood

A Servants Example Examples from University Chapel: Christianity Explored facilitators; Chinese fellowship and ESL teachers; Korean ministry volunteers; UC Prayer Group organizers; youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, and children’s ministers; power point, sound, and worship leaders; home group leaders and hosts; our hospitality team; our Leadership Team; our missions and finance committees; VBS, Fall Family Fair, and Winter Wonderland volunteers

A Servants Example “A community is only truly a body when the majority of its members is making the transition from ‘the community for myself’ to ‘myself for the community’, when each person’s heart is opening to all the others, without exception.” ~ Jean Vanier

A Servants Example Examples from Christ: Jesus says, “I am not here for myself. I’m here to do the will of the one who sent me.” Matthew 20 – “not to be served, but to serve” John 3 – “I have set you an example” Philippians 2 – “taking the very nature of a servant” Jesus – the ultimate example of servanthood

Conclusion Heading into Christmas: Let’s reflect on how we can respond like Mary, and how we can fix our eyes on Jesus, our servant king