Bulletins - Bethlehem Baptist Church -p

- - Luke 2:8-10ESV
- - Luke 2:11-13ESV
- - Luke 2:14-15ESV
- - Luke 2:16ESV
- - Genesis 1:1NASB95
- - Isaiah 11:11NASB95
Close to Chrismas
Introduction:
How does God’s presence change your current situation?
Does it give you more strength and courage to face your challenges, knowing that God is with you and will help you be successful?
Does it give you assurance of the outcome you face?
We are going to go back this morning to the announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary recorded in Luke’s gospel account.
Imagine being Mary this morning. We sometimes picture Mary as young mother in her 20s, but she was more than likely was around 13-14 years old. This was the time that couples would be betrothed and it is likely that Joseph was a few years older than her.
What were you doing when you were 13-14 years old?
I was walking out of Walmart this weekend after having run in to pick up a few things and a mother and her daughter were walking in. I saw the young girl and she was around this same age. The thoughts that came to my mind in the moment was that this girl was around the age of Mary when she was told this wonderful, yet terrifying news.
You see, we sanitize the Christmas story. We make it Hallmark like and beautiful, and it is; but we forget that it was hard and difficult as well.
This morning, I don’t want to take the focus off of Jesus and place it on Mary, but what I do want you to consider this morning is the Power of His Presence. I want you to think about what the power of Jesus’s presence in your life means for what God has called you to do for His kingdom.
Let’s take a look at what happened as we turn in our Bibles to Luke 1:26-38.
Luke 1:26–38 ESV
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Pray
What incredible news the angel Gabriel delivered to Mary!
Mary seems to have not heard the news of Elizabeth her cousin. We don’t know how close they were, but Elizabeth is not 6 months pregnant and we know from our last passage that Elizabeth hid herself for several months.
The news has not yet reached Mary. Perhaps a family member has not yet traveled with the news to Nazareth. Mary is betrothed and is going about her life like a normal girl her age would be.
Betrothal was a more serious engagement process in the Israelite culture at the time and it was only dissolvable by divorce. During this time, Joseph would have proposed and been preparing a home for Mary and himself to live in.
Mary was around 13-14 years old as we previously noted and is suddenly greeted by an angel.
How would you react if an angel suddenly appeared to you, especially at that age?
1. The Peace of His Presence (vv.26-30)
Luke 1:26–30 ESV
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Mary was afraid
Mary was asked to do a difficult thing that would cause her a lot of scorn and ridicule and which people would not understand
Mary’s status with God is one who is favored
She was righteous
She was humble
She was obedient
Application
Would God have ever come to you to be a parent of Jesus?
They were not perfect, but they were obedient
Mary needed to be saved as well
What would a life of surrender look like for you?
What do you need to give up to be obedient?
Mary had to be reassured not to be afraid. What are you afraid of?
Following God’s will for your life will be costly and scary, but it will be absolutely worth it.
2. The Purpose of His Presence (vv.31-33)
Luke 1:31–33 ESV
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Jesus would fulfill the Genesis 3:15 promise
Genesis 3:15 ESV
15 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.”
He would be born of a virgin
Needed to take on human nature to represent us]
He would be born by the Holy Spirit
Needed to be holy and without a sin nature
Don’t confuse Jesus coming in the power of the Spirit through a miraculous conception with a Greek mythological view of Jesus being some sort of demigod (half-divine, half-human)
Jesus is fully God, and fully man
Chalcedonian Declaration
Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology Chapter 10: Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is both perfect God and perfect man. He is one person with two natures, divine and human. Those natures exist “without confusion, without change, without division, without separation” (The Chalcedon Declaration).
Jesus is God, the 2nd Person of the Trinity
Jesus is also fully man
Jesus has two natures, a divine and human nature in one person
At the same time, there is no “confusion” of the natures to create a new third nature
Theres is distinction and unity at the same time and we must be careful with our wording so as not to fall into heretical beliefs like the Nestorians, Docetists, Arians, etc.
Theologian John Frame writes:
Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology The Humanity of Christ
Jesus became a true man when he was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary (
That’s a lot to process right there, isn’t it? What is important to keep in mind is the miraculous nature of Jesus birth. This could only be possible by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
The miraculous conception was not a natural conception
It was necessary to be like us in order to save us, but to be unlike us completely so that He could save us. He could not share in our original sin.
He would be born to save His people
Jesus’ name was a popular name (Joshua in the OT and Jesus in the NT)
Jesus’ name means “God will Save” - that is what He came to do
Mary was instrumental in helping to fulfill God’s plan and promise to save His people (and the rest of the world) from their sins
Application:
Do you know that Jesus came to save you as well?
Jesus came also that you might have eternal life and not just exist. Are you thriving in your walk with the Lord.
Those who dwell in darkness have seen a great light.
Have you seen that light?
Do you come to the light to have your sins exposed and be set free from them?
3. The Promise of His Presence (vv.34-38)
Luke 1:34–38 ESV
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary naturally had some questions as to how this was all possible since she had never known a man
After the explanation to her of how God would do this, Mary is reminded that nothing is impossible with God
God promises to overshadow her with His power to accomplish this miracle
The nature of the virgin birth
Miraculous
Through the Power of God
The God who speaks things into being that are nothing, does not have a problem taking up residence in Mary’s womb
Mary offers herself as a servant of the Lord to do His will
Application:
Is there anything difficult that God has called you to do today that you find scary, or impossible?
Evangelism
Loving a difficult purpose
Suffering and Hardship
Loneliness and depression
God has promised you the power of His presence
You have the Holy Spirit living within you
You have the assurance that God will do what He purposes to do
Conclusion:
This
O Come All You Unfaithful

Luke 2:8-10ESV

Luke 2:11-13ESV

Luke 2:14-15ESV

Luke 2:16ESV

Genesis 1:1NASB95

Isaiah 11:11NASB95

1. The Peace of His Presence (vv.26-30)

2. The Purpose of His Presence (vv.31-33)

3. The Promise of His Presence (vv.34-38)