"Christmas, His Story"
Text: Luke 1:26-38
Title: Christmas His Story
Theme:
Proposition:
Rhetorical:
Introduction: I love the Christmas Story. There is no sweeter picture in God's Word of His generous love towards mankind. It is also a really great story. This is HIS...STORY. (history)
· The human interest is there. (Pregnant mother, traveling to Bethlehem, no room in the inn, etc.)
· The surprise "beginning" is there. (A virgin conceives a son.)
· There are enemies and angelic messengers. (Herod, Gabriel, dreams, etc.)
It's no wonder that we love Christmas as it focuses our minds upon our Lord. How precious the manger scene is as a reminder of our Lord's lowly birth. How precious the star on the tree to remind us of the one that guided the wise men to the Holy Child Jesus. The gifts under the tree can remind us of the gifts of the wise man and the gift of God our Savior.
This morning we get to hear the beginning of the Christmas Story. I'm glad that God gave us a detailed account of what took place. We are going to see 5 characters who took part in this opening scene.
I. The Angelic Messenger.
A. The Right Location.
26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
exp. The angel Gabriel at God's command departs Heaven for Nazareth. Wait! This doesn't seem right for some reason. Our Lord wasn't supposed to be from Nazareth.
ill. Remember Nathaniel's reaction to Philip's declaration of Jesus of Nazareth. John 1: 45-46 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
question: Why did he say that?
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
exp. The all wise God wasn't worried. He who knows the end from the beginning, knew that a taxation would take place that would bring our Savior to the maternity ward at the Stable in Bethlehem.
app. Believe God's Word....750 years before it took place God said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
B. The Right Lineage.
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
question: Why does the Davidic line matter? The Messiah would come to rule on David's throne. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. "
exp. Matthew clearly shows that Joseph is in the line of David. But, Mary was in the Davidic line as well. Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,.... 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
exp. Believer's Bible Commentary: "Scholars widely believe that this is the Lord's genealogy through Mary for the following reasons: 1.) The most obvious is that Josephs's family line is traced in Matthew's Gospel 1:2-16. 2.) In the early chapters of Luke's Gospel, Mary is more prominent than Joseph, whereas it is the reverse in Matthew. 3.) Women's names were not commonly used among the Jews as genealogical links. This would account for the omission of Mary's name. 4.) In Matthew 1:16, it distinctly states that Jacob begat Joseph. here in Luke, it does not say that Heli begot Joseph; it says Joseph was the son of Heli. son may mean son-in-law. 5.) In the original language, the definite article (Itou) in the genitive form (of the) appears before every name in the genealogy except one. That one name is Joseph. This singular exception strongly suggests that Joseph was included only because of his marriage to Mary."
note: The Messianic line ended with Jesus.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
app. Only God could so orchestrate our lives as to fulfill His Word to the letter. The angelic messenger obeyed and came to the....
II. The Human Mother.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said,
exp. Stop here and realize he entered without knocking at the door. Like other accounts of angelic revelation in God's Word he is suddenly there. Perhaps like Daniel she is praying when this happens. Regardless this is a startling revelation.
A. God's favour.
Hail, thou that art highly favoured,
exp. To make graceful (full of grace), to compass (surround) with favour, to fill with blessings.
question: Has there a higher honor been given to any human being than to have the incarnate God placed inside you to be born and nourished by your body? I love my kids but they are not deity. She gave birth to deity.
app. We don't worship Mary. We don't venerate Mary. But, like all God's servants, we praise God that there was a Godly woman ready to be so favoured of God.
B. God's presence.
the Lord is with thee:
exp. Mary was already "righteous" and rightly related to God. Like Abraham she was believing God and it was accounted unto her for righteousness. No doubt that faith in God would be put in his precious Son, that would be carried in her womb.
ill. Acts 18: 24-26 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
app. Is the Lord with you? Mary was the first to carry Jesus in her human tabernacle. All believers who trust in Jesus get the same privilege. 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Is Christ in you this morning? You have no hope of Heaven without Him. Colossians 1:27 ...Christ in you, the hope of glory:
C. God's choice.
blessed art thou among women
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
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,
exp. The Jews knew abou the Messiah. Mary's mind, no doubt guided by God, is now thinking of one verse of Scripture that the Jews had focuse on over the years. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
exp. No doubt the young single girls of child bearing years had wondered if they would be chosen by God for this purpose. What would it be like to be that one? What an honor!
ill. Her cousin Elizabeth was so aware of this glorious privilege that she was humbled to have Mary visit her with JESUS in her womb.
Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
exp. John the Baptist in Elizabeth's womb was kicking for joy at the presence of His Lord and coming Savior. Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
exp. Elizabeth had not received a text. She had received revelation from God as well as she experienced the thrill of Mary's presence with that Holy child.
app. What a privilege to carry the Lord! When's the last time SOMEONE ELSE sensed the presence of God in your life? How have you treasured the Lord's presence in your heart?
III. The Humble Son.
A. Jesus, the GREAT.
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:
exp. He is KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. But wait....
ill. Born to a poor carpenter's family. Born in a stable. In hiding from King Herod. Wisemen came to him as a child but as an infant it was the shepherds God invited to attend. HE SHALL BE GREAT but he will humble himself more than any other man and die on the cross for our sins.
saying "WISE MEN BOW BEFORE JESUS."
app. As we worship the babe this Christmas, may God awaken our hearts to WHO HE IS.
B. Everlasting JESUS.
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
exp. The angel is letting her know that this baby is the Messiah. His kingdom is FOREVER.
Remember the prophecy....
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
app. If Jesus has always been and will always be, then who is He? He is God. This is the incarnate God that Mary will conceive. How is a virgin birth possible?
IV. The Holy Father.
exp. "THE SON OF THE HIGHEST" not the son of Joseph.
A. Mary was pure.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
exp. Don't let any modernist lie and say that Mary gave birth by human impregnation. She was a virgin engaged to Joseph. Scripture is very clear that Mary never had a physical relationship until after the birth of our Lord.
Matthew 1:24-25 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
app. Modernists/Liberals want to deny anything supernatural and put everything where you can explain it without a miracle working God. Why would they think the Creator God would struggle to do things contrary to the laws He created?
B. God is all powerful.
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.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
exp. God has already opened the womb of a womany who could not have children. She was barren but God allowed her to conceive by her husband. Is it to much for that same God to put the seed in the woman?
Question: Why is God interested in intervening in His creation to allow His Son to be born?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
app. Nothing would keep God the Father from fulfilling His will. The Spirit of God by the power of the Highest would allow a virgin to conceive God's Son.
V. The Humble Servant.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
exp. What a precious submission by faith to the will of God. Mary don't you understand how this will change your life? What will people think if your pregnant so soon as you go to Joseph? What will Joseph say? What about those that won't believe your son? You are going to sorrow as you realize what this motherhood means.....but she said, "Be it unto me according to thy word."
ill. My parents worry about me. Calling my mum from Ground Zero. "Be careful," she said. I was married and living there. It was daytime and my brother in law was with me. (I almost got beat up that day.) I laughingly told her the story later. She wants me safe.
question: Wouldn't Mary want her son safe. Would you have had the courage to stand and watch your Son be crucified for the sin's of the world?
app. God may have some tough things He wants us to do? Are you willing to say, "Be it unto me according to thy Word?
conclusion: I love the Christmas season. What a precious time to remember the birth of our Lord. What a great HIS....STORY! Have you accepted the Divine Revelation? Prophecy shows God's Word is divine. Do other's sense God's presence in your life? Do you value Jesus in you? Do you acknowledge that Jesus is God? Do you realize that God miraculously did the impossible? Are you submitted to His will? You can have HIS STORY take place in your life as well.
