THE BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD – LUKE 1:26-38 Our Heavenly Father, Creator of all things and Master Teacher, we humbly come into Your presence to seek Your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to these Holy Scriptures. We earnestly pray for enlightenment as we study together, and we ask You, Father, to open our eyes to see the truths contained in these words. Open our minds to comprehend that which we are reading, and open our hearts to receive the message that You have for us. Finally, dear Father, we ask for the strength and courage to live our lives in a manner of the called, constantly giving You the glory, honor, and praise that You deserve. We claim these things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Luke 1:26, 27 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. According to Jewish custom, based upon the arrangement made between their parents, a couple could become engaged even as young children. Then, a year before their marriage, they would become espoused, which meant that although they would not consummate their relationship, they would be considered husband and wife in a legal binding so strong, it required a divorce to break the relationship. Luke 1:28 (a) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured.… The Greek word translated “highly favored” is charitoo, and means “highly blessed” or “much graced.” It is used only one other time in the Bible, not concerning Mary, but concerning you (Ephesians 1:6). We are highly favored not because of who we are, but because of where we are. Where are we? We are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Luke 1:28 (b) …the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Most scholars believe Mary at this point was about fifteen or sixteen years old, the usual age of espousal in that day. What a wonderful young woman she must have been—a woman selected of all the women of history to be the one to bear God’s Son. Later on in the chapter, as we come to the Magnificat, it becomes obvious that she had a heart for God and insight into the Word. And yet I ask you to note that the text reads that she was blessed among women, not above women. There is no scriptural example to suggest that Mary be worshiped or prayed to. Not a single word. She is indeed the most blessed among women, but she is only a woman. Luke 1:29–31 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua,” which means “Jehovah is Salvation.” Luke 1:32, 33 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: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. The government of the kingdom of God is upon the shoulder of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6). What government did He bear upon His shoulder? The Cross. The Cross identified Him uniquely as a King who would die for His subjects, a King who would become poor so that we might become rich, a King who would go to hell that we might live in heaven, a King who came preaching Good News and great joy for all men. Luke 1:34 (a) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be… Unlike Zacharias, Mary didn’t question Gabriel’s statement. She simply questioned the methodology. Luke 1:34 (b) …seeing I know not a man? “I know not a man,” said Mary. “I have no man to help me,” said the lame man (see John 5:7). Could this be the same thing we so often say when we ask, “What man, what leader, what pastor, what author is going to help me?” But watch Gabriel’s answer… Luke 1:35 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. It’s not a man who will bring fruitfulness to our lives. It’s the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:36 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. Elisabeth was six months ahead of Mary in the process of the miraculous. So, too, some of you are six months ahead of me. I can see what the Lord has done in your life. I can see how He’s touched you, used you, and helped you. That encourages me. That’s what the body of Christ is all about. Find someone who’s a little bit ahead of you in the area about which you’re wondering or with which you’re struggling, and hang out with him or her just as Mary will do with Elisabeth (Luke 1:39). Luke 1:37, 38 For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. The 1901 American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible translates verse 37 as: “For no word from God shall be void of power.” I like that. Jesus will be birthed in the area of your life that was previously dark and unproductive if, like Mary, you simply embrace the Word He gives you. Have a blessed day!
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 13:00:01 +0000
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