The announcement of Jesus’ birth (4 things)…

• 1^st – Jesus understands – his family… (3 things) vs. 26-30
  • 1^st – Jesus hometown – Nazareth… vs. 26
    • In the 6^th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy – the Angel Gabriel came to Nazareth…
    • Nazareth is a city about 10 km south east of the Sea of Galilee…
    • It was not a very nice city in the times of Jesus – run down / very poor city…
    • John 1:46 – “Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
    • It is still not a nice city today – I was there – and never stopped to get out of the car…
    • We often assume God cannot relate to our lives – understand our problems…
    • We think of God on His throne – with all the power and splendor of heaven…
    • How could He possibly understand what it is like to be poor – not have enough to eat…
    • Jesus did not come from rich home – or a good neighborhood – he came from poverty…
    • He understands hunger – the worried look of parents who can’t feed their kids…
    • Meaning He is not only able – He is more than willing to help – in our times of need!
  • 2^nd – Jesus family – questionable birth… vs. 27
    • Gabriel came to a girl betrothed to Joseph (of the house of David)…
      • Joseph was of the Kingly line of David – Matthew 1:2-16
      • II Samuel 7:16 – God promised David the messiah would come from his family…
      • David wanted to build a temple for God – the ‘Ark’ was still housed in the Tabernacle
      • God told David he could not – he was a man of war – but his son Solomon would…
      • But ‘God would build David a house’ an everlasting dynasty on the throne of Israel…
      • But God later cursed the line of Kings from David – no more kings in Judah…
      • The Curse of Jehoiakim – Jeremiah 22:30 – “For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah.”
      • So it was no great honor to be a descendant of David in the times of Jesus…
    • The Jewish betrothal was very similar to the idea of an engagement today…
      • It meant Mary was promised to Joseph – they would be married within a year…
      • If a woman betrothed – had an affair – punishable by death – Deuteronomy 22:24
      • We all believe today in the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus…
      • It would not have been the same in Jesus’ day – considered illegitimate…
      • Any more than if the godliest girl you know showed up pregnant – by the Holy Spirit
      • John 8:41 – “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God.”
      • Perhaps we have a reputation – maybe we come from a questionable family…
      • Or perhaps we have made decisions in our past – that define us to this day…
      • How can God – who has a perfect reputation – perfect past – relate to us…
      • Jesus grew up with the stigma of a questionable birth – ‘who is your father?’
      • He understands what it is like when people whisper when you walk by…
      • Which is why Jesus tells us we are NEW CREATIONS in Him – II Corinthians 5:17
      • We are no longer defined by our past – where we came from – what we’ve done…
      • We are now simply defined by our Father in heaven – the righteousness of Christ!
  • 3^rd – Jesus mother – Mary – sinner saved by Grace…vs. 28-30
    • The Angel Gabriel greeted Mary…
      • Rejoice highly favored (charitoo – overflowing with grace) – the Lord is with you…
      • Not just used for Mary – the other occurrence of this word in the Bible…
      • * Ephesians 1:6 – “We praise God for the wonderful kindness (charitoo) he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.”
      • Meaning each one of us is also ‘highly favored’ of God – because of Jesus!
    • Mary was deeply troubled by this greeting – and tried to understand what it meant…
      • Gabriel told her not to be afraid – ‘you have found grace from God’…
        • Many today who elevate Mary to a super status – ‘Queen of Heaven’
        • There are those who will pray to Mary – as though she has special access to God…
      • When Mary came looking for Jesus with her other sons (she was no longer ‘a virgin’)
        • Mark 3:33 – “[Jesus] answered saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”
        • Mary had no ‘special’ access to Jesus – she was not sinless – she was not perfect…
        • Mary was chosen by grace – because she had faith in God… 
        • Just like us!  We are saved by faith – through grace – in Jesus – Ephesians 2:8-9
        • We don’t need any help in getting to Jesus – pray to Mary/Saints or anyone else….
        • We have complete access to God – we can boldly to His throne of Grace!
        • * Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
      • Mary did have wisdom – the last recorded words of Mary in the Bible…
        • John 2:5 – “[Mary] said to the servants, ‘Whatever [Jesus] says to you, do it.’”
        • If you want to respect Mary – certainly an amazing woman – follow her words…
        • Listen to Jesus – and do whatever He says!
          
• 2^nd – Nothing is impossible – the immaculate conception… vs. 31-38
  • You will have a son – His name will be called Jesus – meaning ‘God is salvation’!
    • He will be great – He will be called Son of the Highest…
    • God will give Him the throne of His father David – of His kingdom there will be no end!
    • Jesus came with a purpose – He came the 1^st time to conquer sin – redeem a lost world…
    • But He will come a 2^nd time – then He will come to set up His everlasting Kingdom!
  • Mary was not married – she had never been with a man – how could she be pregnant…
    • The Holy Spirit will come upon you – the power of the Highest overshadow you…
    • Like the cloud of the presence of God in the Tabernacle – Exodus 40:38
    • The Shekhinah glory of God – would overflow Mary – ‘Jesus the Son of God’…
    • The miracle of the Immaculate Conception – God becoming a man…
    • * 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.”
  • For with God nothing is impossible (only used 2 times in the NT)…
    • Gabriel noted that Elizabeth – Mary’s old and barren relative – was also pregnant…
    • Whether old – or unmarried – there is nothing God cannot do!
    • They key to see God do the impossible in our lives – faith – believing in God!
    • Matthew 17:20 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
    • The mustard seed is one of the smallest of all seeds…
    • So if we have the smallest amount of faith – in Jesus – we can move mountains!
    • Literally meaning that when we have faith in Jesus – nothing is impossible!
    • Mary believed the word of the Angel – believed God could do the impossible
      
• 3^rd – Blessed by believing – leaping in the womb… vs. 39-45
  • Mary went to see Elizabeth – her relative – in the ‘hill country of Judah’…
    • When Elizabeth heard Mary – John leapt in her womb – she was filled with the Spirit!
    • There is a great deal of controversy today over when life begins…
    • There are many who argue life does not begin till birth – argue for abortion…
    • John heard Mary – and leapt for joy in the womb of Elizabeth!
    • The Bible removed all question – makes it very clear – life begins at conception…
    • Abortion is murder – it is killing the most helpless an innocent of children!
    • * Psalms 139:15-16 – “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.”
  • Elizabeth cried out – ‘Blessed is she who believed’…
    • Mary was not blessed because of who she was – but because she believed God’s Word!
    • We often get the impression there are ‘special’ people whom God chooses to use…
    • In truth there are only ordinary people – who believe in God – making them ‘special’!
    • II Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in earthen vessels…”
    • We are all just clay pots – the question to be asked is what is inside of us…
    • Are we full of ourselves – trusting in our abilities – no blessed
    • Or are we full of Jesus – believing in God – having faith (trust) in His Word…
    • The more we learn to trust in God – the more blessed our lives will become!
    • We become ‘special’  – God’s chosen clay pots – used by God to do extraordinary works!
• 4^th – Humility – the song of Mary… vs. 46-56
  • My soul magnifies the Lord – my spirit rejoiced in God my savior – Jesus!
    • Mary had no misgivings – she did draw attention to herself – make herself HUGE…
    • She magnified the Lord – making Him HUGE – it was all about God – all about Jesus!
    • When others look at our life – what do the see – whom do we ‘magnify’…
    • If we never opened our mouth – would people know we were Christians…
    • Would they see Jesus coming through our lives – or just see us…
  • Mary had humble beginnings – the bride of a simple carpenter / to mother of the Messiah!
    • Mary knew that God humbles the proud – but lifts up the humble…
      • God scatters the proud in the wisdom of their hearts…
      • God puts down the mighty from their thrones – sends the rich away empty…
      • But God lifts up the humble – feeds the hungry with good things!
      • We only have two choices in life – pride or humility…
    • 1^st – If we are proud – we don’t need any help – we will end up scattered and empty…
      • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before a fall.”
      • If you saw someone stuck in a pit – unable to get out – but they refused your help…
      • There is not much you can do for them – they 1^st have to realize they need help!
      • God will not force us to accept His help – He only offers it to us…
      • If we are too proud to see our great need for God – then we will miss His help…
      • We end up stuck in the pit of our own sin – in a life void of God’s blessings
    • 2^nd – If we are humble – we see our great need for God – and we will find Grace!
      • James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
      • It is when we see we cannot do it on our own – and look to God…
      • That He has been there all along just waiting for us to ask for His help!
      • Humility is the key that unlocks the riches of God’s grace for our lives!
  • God remembered Israel – the promise He gave to Abraham – Genesis 22:18...
    • God told Abraham through his ‘Child’ all the nations of the world would be blessed!
    • * Galatians 3:16 – “God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that it doesn’t say the promise was to his children, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his child—and that, of course, means Christ.”
    • Mary knew her Bible – she knew the promised God gave to Abraham…
    • She knew Jesus was the answer to every problem…
    • 1^st – God understands the challenges we face in life – and is always available to us…
    • 2^nd – Nothing is impossible for Him – no challenge to hard for Him to overcome…
    • 3^rd – All we need to do is believe in Him – believe in His Word…
    • 4^th – As we do we will magnify God – let our lives shine for Jesus…
      • Understand we cannot do it on our own – we need help – humbly coming to Jesus…
      • Faithfully getting into God’s Word – so we can learn all about Jesus!
  • Mary remained with Elizabeth for 3 months (to the birth of John) then returned home…