Sermon
delivered on December 7th, 2014
By: Pastor Greg Hocson
Text: Luke 1:26-37
Introduction
Luke 1:26 And in the
sixth month (after Elisabeth's conception) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27: To a virgin espoused (engaged) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house
of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
I like the amazing details in the
gospels. It is not like ...
Once upon a time there lived a
beautiful princess who lived in a kingdom far, far away, and in that kingdom,
there also lived a man. And the princess loved that man and the two decided to
marry. And they lived happily ever after.
That's obviously a fairy tale. But
the gospels are not, once upon a time... The gospels are, at this time,
in this place, with these people around, Jesus was conceived and was born...
It is not like ...
Long time ago, Jesus was born in the
planet Naboo and grew up with Darth Vader and Yoda...
No. The gospels talk about real
people and places...
Luke 2:1 And it came to
pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all
the world should be taxed. 2: (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was
governor of Syria.) 3: And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of
the house and lineage of David:)
The gospels talk about Jesus being
born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, at the time of Tiberius Caesar. Places
and people that can be verified historically and archaeologically.
I say these things to remind us that
the Christmas Story that we all love is not a fairy tale but a true story. That
the Bible we just read is the very Word of God and it's worth studying and
obeying it.
The Life-changing News
An angel appeared to Mary and she was
told that she will conceive and bring forth a son. Then angel went on and
described that, this child is no ordinary child.
31: And, behold, thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign
over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
The angel made sure that she
understood what will take place as her life will be radically changed.
35: ... Therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Mary's Response
Mary responded, how shall this be,
seeing I know not a man?
Her response was, "that is
impossible, since I know not a man."
For though she was espoused to
Joseph, yet Joseph had not taken her to wife; they have not come together yet.
And before they did, Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:18 Now the
birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to
Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
At this time, Mary was only a
teenager. She may be a teenager, she may not be a scientist or a doctor or a
nurse but she understands that it is impossible to conceive and give birth
without a human father. Conceiving
and giving birth to a child without a human father is scientifically impossible
but with God nothing is impossible.
I am not sure how much Mary was
getting when she was being told of this news. One thing for sure, she heard and
understood that she will conceive and bear a son. But I am not sure if she was
hearing the angel, when the angel started to describe the child she will be conceiving
and bringing forth - He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the
Highest, He shall reign forever.
Even Greater Miracle
As great as the miracle of virgin
birth is, there is even greater miracle than that, and that is, the miracle of
Mary conceiving in her weak, frail, mortal body and giving birth to the very
Son of God and survive and not die. She will be carrying in her womb the very
Son of God; the One who created all things; the One who holds things together.
That is the One she will conceive in her mortal body and bring forth into this
world.
35: And the angel
answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee: ...
The Holy Spirit will come over you,
and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the Child will be
holy and will be called the Son of God.
His power will be upon her not only
to make possible the conception but also to sustain her while she carry in her
womb the very Son of God. Without the power of the Highest overshadowing you
will not survive.
Who is this Child?
Let us now direct our attention on
this Child that is born of Mary.
Luke 1:30 And the angel
said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31: And,
behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call
his name JESUS. 32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the
Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end. 34: Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be,
seeing I know not a man? 35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the
Son of God.
He shall be called
JESUS
31: And, behold, thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Jesus is Greek and Joshua is Hebrew. Joshua or Jehoshua is derived from
the Hebrew Yehoshua. Yahweh is salvation.
Jehovah saves.
Mathew 1:21 And she
shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins.
This name identifies our Lord as the
Saviour of His people. It declares His main work and mission. It declares the
heart of Christmas story. If you miss this, you miss it all. He came to save
His people from their sins. He saves by taking all the sins of His people upon
Himself. He saves His people by bearing the penalty due to their sins. He saves
by driving out the vipers of sin from the heart, and implanting in their stead
fresh and holy objects, ambitions, motives. He is a complete Saviour.
He shall be great
There are many who call themselves
and whom the world call great such as Alexander the Great, Charles the Great,
Frederick the Great, and so on. And there is one when I was a little boy who
proclaimed, "I am the Greatest! I said that before I knew I was!"
- Mohammed Ali.
Three of these so called great people
are dead and gone and Muhammed Ali is physically fading away. But there is only
One who is truly Great, and shall be great forever, and that's none other than
the Lord Jesus Christ.
32: He shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
He shall be called the
Son of the Highest, the Son of God
32: He shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
He was Son of the Highest, the Son of
God before He came into the world.
He is the Word in ...
John 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2: The
same was in the beginning with God. 3: All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made. 4:.In him was life; and the life was
the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
He is co-equal with the Father in all
things. He was from all eternity the Son of God. But He shall be called, that
is, He shall be known and acknowledged as the Son of the Highest, the Son of
God. The Messiah shall be recognized and worshipped as nothing less than the
very God Himself.
He shall reign forever
32: He shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Kings and kingdoms have come and
gone, and left their glory behind them; but Christ's kingdom outlasts them all. He is King forever.
Verse
32 declares the extent and duration of
Christ's kingdom - forever and over all kingdoms.
Revelation 11:15 And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
This is but an echo of the sublime
prediction in ...
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The
zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Will some day walk
on water?
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Will save our sons
and daughters?
Did you know that
your baby boy
Has come to make
you new?
This child that
you've delivered,
Will soon deliver
you.
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Will give sight to
a blind man?
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Will calm a storm
with his hand?
Did you know that
your baby boy
Has walked where
angels trod?
And when your kiss
your little baby,
You have kissed the
face of God.
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Is Lord of all
creation?
Mary did you know
that your baby boy
Would one day rule
the nations?
Did you know that
your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect
Lamb?
This sleeping child
you're holding
Is the great I am
The blind will see,
the deaf will hear,
The dead will live
again.
The lame will leap,
the dumb will speak,
The praises of the
lamb!
Closing Thoughts
Mary was a highly favored woman, was
blessed among women (v28), but let us be careful not to elevate Mary to deity or
Godhead. She had the honor of conceiving, giving birth and raising the very Son
of the Highest. What an honor! What a favor! She truly was blessed but the
Bible says we are also blessed people if we are His children.
Luke 11:27 And it came
to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company (in the
crowd) lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare
thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. (Blessed is the mother who gave
birth to you and nursed you) 28: But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that
hear the word of God, and keep it. (But even more blessed are all who hear the
word of God and put it into practice.)
John 6:40 And this is
the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Have you obeyed His will? Have
believed on Him? Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour,
not just the Saviour of His people, not just the Saviour of the world but your
own personal Saviour? May God grant you faith to believe. May God give you ear
to hear, eyes to see the Son of God who came to save.