The Messiah’s Messengers

Answers Bible Curriculum Year 3 Quarter 1 Lesson 7

This week in Sunday school, we begin the birth narrative of Jesus by looking at the announcements God made via Gabriel to Zacharias and Mary. What exactly did Gabriel declare? How do Gabriel’s words connect with the Old Testament? What can we learn from Zacharias’ and Mary’s reactions? How do these passages connect with Luke’s overall purpose in His Gospel? We’ll consider these questions and more.

Our main text for Sunday school will be Luke 1:1-45.

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all right well let’s begin good morning Calvary we’ve finished our introductory our introduction to the New Testament and to the Gospels today we start our more specific study of the words and events of the gospels themselves and we start with the birth Narrative of Jesus in the account of Jesus birth Begins by describing the days before Jesus was born which God announced what he was about to do that’s the subject of our lesson today entitled The messiah’s Messengers last week we considered certain sometimes made against the New Testament especially the charge that the 27 books of the New Testament were arbitrarily decided no good reason why certain gospels like infancy Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas were rejected and no good reason well why our four gospels and the other New Testament books were included but after hearing their presentation from Brian Edwards and after looking ourselves at some of the excerpts from the two rejected gospels we see that this objection that or this objection and many related to it have no basis in reality there’s absolutely no basis for this criticism we can trust our 27 New Testament books to be God’s only revelation be on the old beyond the Old Testament by the way if you missed the video from last week or if you’d like to watch it again or share it with somebody it is available online you can go to Answers in Genesis website just type in the title of the video y66 or you can just copy the URL that I have displayed on this slide so answers in genesis.org media video slash Bible slash why 166.

but now let’s turn to the birth Narrative of Jesus as given in the Gospel of Luke we are perhaps familiar with this section of scripture since it is often read at Christmas time but we must be aware the great danger of familiar texts texts that feel familiar to us because we often think we know them better than we actually do and we stop paying attention to what they actually say so we don’t want to do that the birth narrative is in Luke 1 is unique among the Gospels Luke is the only one who tells us about these events and so we want to answer the following questions today why does Luke record these events for us how does their inclusion connect with the overall purpose of Luke’s gospel and how should our lives be changed from what we read in the beginning part of Luke 1.

here’s our plan for answering those questions we’re going to move through our passage we’ll read and observe Luke 1 5-25 and we’ll read and observe the second section Luke 126 to 4 5 or interpretation of those passages and questions that arise from them and then we’ll consider application for ourselves let’s pray before we continue a great God thank you for this time this opportunity to hear more from your word I pray that you’d give me the ability to explain it and explain it well and accurately pray that you’d help the people to understand it and help us all Lord to apply it to be impacted by it please do that by your spirit in Jesus name amen all right open your Bibles please to Luke chapter one that’ll put you if you’re using a few Bible on page 1018.

Luke chapter one now wait for that slide we’re going to start in Luke 1 5 but before we read let’s remind ourselves of this book’s background as revealed in the first four verses and from what we book as a whole this is by Luke Gentile Christian physician associate of Paul writes the most excellent Theophilus also a gentile Christian and Luke writes so that Theophilus and those like him will know the exact truth of what taught regarding the Jesus Christ both the gospel this gospel and the book of Acts are committed to one purpose they are intent on giving the exact truth about Jesus and why again might Gentile Christians many of whom were saved under the ministry of Paul have needed to know such truth more exactly what kind of issues were they facing where knowing the truth about Jesus and his message is very important for them to know yeah Rob okay that’s certainly true just seeing the connection between Old Testament and the New Testament how Jesus fulfills prophecies and knowing what Jesus has done is going to be beneficial for all believers certainly true but Luke writes with a specific bench and there are certain issues that Gentile Christians were facing uniquely that Luke’s gospel used to answer what are you going to say Steve yeah so both those things are certainly true thanks Steve we have the same idea that Paul has where he’s showing that the Gentiles are included in the same salvation as the Jews that that was um uh that there isn’t a need for Gentiles to become Jews remember that’s what Paul deals with in Galatians these judaizer saying you got to be circumcised you got to keep the law you basically have to come become a Jew if you’re going to be saved Gentiles are hearing that they’re being uh persecuted sometimes by the Romans or by the Jews they are dealing with false teaching just as you were talking about Steve they’re people who may be making other claims about Jesus so Jesus wasn’t really a man but Jesus wasn’t really God or you can believe in Jesus and then live however you want we know that they Paul was dealing with that in the books of Corinthians and even the Apostle John was dealing with that in his letters so there’s there’s reasons why Gentiles as kind of newcomers to the truth and newcomers to the gospel they need Assurance they need greater confidence and what actually happened so they know that they’re included and so that they actually know what is the true message and they know how they’re supposed to live in light of the gospel and we so we see these these issues in the other books the New Testament and so I argued both in Luke and acts that Luke gives his gospel or he shows that the Gospel According to Paul under which many of these Gentiles were saved is the same Gospel According To Jesus and that God’s plan for salvation is for all men Jew and Gentile man and woman slaver free formerly religious or formerly irreligious and it has never changed it has always been God’s plan salvation for all men has always been by faith alone producing holy fruit of repentance is a life of obedience to Jesus when we specifically talked about the four gospels how each writer gives his own emphasis I characterize Luke’s gospel emphasis in this way Jesus is the man who came to save all men Jesus says the man who came to save all man and so that time that ties in with acts but unique to Luke’s gospel so we want to keep that background information in mind so we don’t read these passages as if they’re just random accounts of interesting parts of Jesus life now these are special because they somehow connect with the background and purpose of Luke that we’ve previously looked at how how are these narratives connected to that purpose showing God’s Plan of Salvation is for all men and hasn’t changed you can be confident in it all right actually start reading our first section Luke 1 5 to 25.

Luke 1 verse 5 to 25 and please follow along as I read in the days of Herod king of June there was a priest named Zacharias of the division of abijah and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth the righteous in the sight of God walking blamelessly in all the Commandments and requirements of the Lord but they had no child because Elizabeth was Barren and they were both advanced in years now it happened that while he was performing his Priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division according to the custom of the Priestly office chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense and the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering and an angel the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the altar of incense Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel and fear gripped him but the angel said to him do not be afraid Zacharias for your petition has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will give him the name John you will have joy and gladness and many Will Rejoice at his birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord you will drink no wine or liquor and you will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb and he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God it is he who will go as a forerunner before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord Zachariah said to the angel How Will I Know This for certain for I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years the angel answered and it and said to him I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news and behold you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their proper time the people were waiting for Zacharias and were wondering at his delay in the temple but when he came out he was unable to speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple and he kept making signs to them and remained a mute on the days of his Priestly service were ended he went back home after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant she kept herself in seclusion for five months saying this is the way the Lord has dealt with me and the days when he looked with favor upon me disgrace among men all right let’s begin our look at this section with simple observations we’re in the days of Herod that is or the days of Herod the King of Judea there are multiple herods in the Bible but this is Herod the Great he’s an Edomite and he is a client king of Rome ruling the whole area of Palestine it’s after his death that the land of Judea becomes parceled Out Among his sons and among other Roman governors herod’s sons are also named Herod hence the confusion with some of the other herods here’s the description of Zacharias and Elizabeth we hear that they are from the Priestly clan of Aaron both of them they are righteous they are old and they are barren no children now what was barrenness considered to be a sign of in those days we’ve seen this in other lessons baroness was seen as a sign of God’s disfavor it’s a sign of Shame it’s a sign of judgment and there are verses in the Old Testament that link barrenness for Israel with God’s judgment you turn away from God this is one of the things that’s going to happen your people your your wives are going to be barren but where else in the Bible have we seen righteous or especially called ones from God but they are also barren someone said what was that say it again please yeah Sarah Abraham and Sarah who else Hannah and elkana Hannah was Barren and we could also add Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Rachel actually the first three Patriarchs all had wives who had an issue of bareness too these were not judged people This was um they were especially confidential with God and they were righteous so public feeling though about baroness was still very much oh that’s a sign of God’s disfavor because then we see that in verse 25 she says my the Lord is going to take away my shame Zacharias is performing his Priestly service and he’s chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple now when was incense burned in the temple it was burned every day twice a day that was actually one of the provisions of the law for the priest to do it was to be incense for burning before the Lord perpetually right in the morning and at Twilight so at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day there is to be incense lit and burned before the Lord now where was the incense burned uh yes Rob that’s right it’s right in front of the veil and you can see it in the little picture here that Ultra somewhat small altar golden altar it’s right before the veil right before the holy of holies that’s what the incense was to be burned now this Burning this Perpetual burning of the incense will a sign of God’s glory the glory due to him it was a sign of atonement the incense had a somewhat of a covering function and Israel’s sins were symbolically being covered by God an incense is also linked with prayer especially in the New Testament now there were many priests at this time so not every priest was needed to serve in the temple or even to burn the incense but Zacharias just happened to be chosen to be the one to burn incense in the temple on this particular day they’ve been doing it for the whole week usually Priestly service was for a week now this was a pretty regular event at the temple but not a regular event for a priest not every priest would get to burn incense even in his lifetime Zacharias would have considered this occasion a high point in his Priestly Ministry and was probably preparing for a very worshipful and awe-filled experience and he sure got one now Zacharias goes into burn incense probably in the morning and notice what he sees an angel of God standing right next to the altar the right of the altar of incest now what was this angel now remember that the Bible mentions different kinds of angelic beings you have the cherubim the seraphim there’s also an archangel but the term angel itself in both the Old Testament and the New Testament it simply means messenger often delivering messages is exactly what God’s angels do and though angels can be beautiful and even dazzling in appearance in the Bible the Bible usually describes angels as appearing like men often men wearing white and contrary to centuries of Christian religious art and educational material no wings no wings on most Angelic beings when they appear in the Bible and we’re not given a description of the Angel here but he probably appeared like the Angels normally appeared as a man wearing white whatever his appearance the fact that he was suddenly there next to the altar no one else was in the temple no one else was supposed to be in the temple besides Zacharias Phil Zacharias with fear but also typical all right that is typical in the Bible when people meet Angels they’re often afraid but also typical is the Angelic response and if the first thing we hear the angels say to Zacharias do not be afraid this is not a meeting for you to be afraid Zacharias this is a good meeting and he also gives a reason why shouldn’t she be afraid for your petition has been heard your request the request you made to God has been heard what request well let’s consider the rest of the passage Elizabeth I mean uh Angel continues to say your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John John by the way comes from the Hebrew johannan meaning graced by Yahweh or Yahweh is gracious this is the name determined by the angel determined by God it’s not just a hat Angel also says you will have joy and gladness at his birth many Will Rejoice with you he will be great he will drink no wine or alcohol and we see a link to other parts of the Bible here who else in the Old Testament was forbidden from drinking wine or alcohol I was part of the Nazarite bound now that was not usually intended as a permanent thing it was a temporary way of showing worship and Devotion to God but there were one person maybe two people who in the Bible were permanent nazarites does anybody know who Samson was certainly one perhaps Samuel as well Samuel or Samson here’s the full Nazarite description no wine no liquor no cutting his hair Samuel was only said to have not have his hair cut when Hannah prays to God she says oh if you would let me have a kid I will devote him to you and a razor will never come near his head she doesn’t say anything about wine but that may have been implied so there’s a connection here with those Old Testament people and the Nazarite vow he also says the angel also says he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb he will turn many in Israel back to God and he will go before God as as a forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah to make ready of people prepared for the Lord now this should sound very familiar wherever it recently heard this language in the Old Testament say that again please that’s right Malachi this is from the one that actually last things said in Malachi Malachi 4 verses 5 and 6. so the Angel’s saying John is going to be fulfillment of that very late prophetic word now talk about amazing promises imagine you received a message like this from God about your own kid before you was even conceived isn’t this exactly what you would want in a kid wow my kid’s gonna grow up to be great he’s not only going to be great but he’s going to be very uh used by God he’s going to draw my people back to God this is amazing and not only is this great news for Zacharias and Elizabeth but it’s great news for Israel because that means that those promises given by God in the Old Testament they’re about to be fulfilled they’re on their way to fulfillment God is going to come because here’s the Forerunner but notice zacharias’s response How will I know that this is true since my wife and I are pretty old that is to say what will be the sign to me that what you say will really happen now where else have we in the Bible seen someone questioning or laughing at a promise about a son being born due to old age exactly back to Abraham and Sarah there’s a lot of parallels here but both of them laughed you may remember when they heard that they were going to have a kid in their old age now notice the Angels somewhat surprising response to Zacharias he basically says let me tell you who I am I am Gabriel I stand in the presence of God and I was I would I would have news to you Gabriel by the way means strong man of God or God is my strength he gives him that name an angel though does give a sign along with this rebuke the sign is Zacharias you will be silent until the child is born so you’ll get your sign but why this sign angel said you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their proper time Zacharias comes back outside people realize he’s seen a vision from God he finishes his briefly service which I feel like must have been interesting he had to continue doing his job for probably the whole week before he went back home as a mute priest but he goes home and soon Elizabeth is pregnant she decides to seclude herself saying God has looked upon me favorably to take away my disgrace the takeaway the shame that comes with bareness among my people so we’ve made our observations on this passage but before we interpret this section of text it will be useful if we combine it with observations the next passage so let’s move on to the next one we’re now going to read verses 26 to 45 of the same chapter what we’ll see another announcement let’s read verse 26.

now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David and the virgin’s name was Mary and coming in he said to her greetings favored one the Lord is with you it was very perplexed at this and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was said to her do not be afraid Mary you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end Mary said to the angel how can this be since I am a virgin the angel answered and said to her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you and for that reason the holy child shall be called the son of God and behold even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age and she who was called Barren is now in her sixth month four nothing will be impossible with God and Mary said behold the bond slave of the Lord may it be done to me according to your word and the angel departed from her now this time area Rose and went in a hurry to the Hill Country to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she cried out with a loud voice and said blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb and how has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me for behold when the sound of your greeting reached my ears that baby leaped in my womb for joy and blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord all right let’s observe this section it says here that we’re in the sixth month sixth month of what or six months since what yeah Elizabeth’s pregnancy we’re now talking about the sixth month of herod’s Reign this is the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy so we not only move forward a little bit in time but we also move in location we move from Jerusalem in Judea to Nazareth that is from Central Israel to the Northeast section of Galilee from a prestigious religious center of the Jews to a less respectable Town filled with Gentiles all right this is a gentile region in Nazareth we hear of Mary and Joseph and who rather than being descendants of Aaron they are notice descendants of David I said specifically here Joseph is the descendant of David but we’ll see later in the Book of Luke and Mary also as a descendant of David both of them Mary is a virgin engaged to Joseph oh remember that engagement in ancient Jewish culture was way more serious than engagement today today people can break off engagements without too much trouble but in Israel you had to get a formal divorce to break an engagement engagement was like being married except you didn’t live together and you didn’t consummate that marriage it was very very serious been married situation they contracted in marriage now the marriageable age for young virgins at this time in both Jewish and Greco-Roman culture was about 12 to 15 years old I know that sounds very very young to us but that’s when someone became a woman in the eyes of the people that of that time that was when a woman could bear children so Mary was probably quite young early teens now according to certain rabbinic writings Jewish men were expected to marry at about age 18 or even 20. so Joseph 2 was probably a young man though a little older than Mary Gabriel appears to marry presumably privately at her house and he greets her calling her favored one that is the one who has received Grace unmerited favor from God now this greeting by the way Hail Mary full of grace that would be another way to translate it is where we see the phrase in Catholicism things that Catholics repeat that comes from The Vulgate translation of this passage Jerome in the late 300s A.D he used the phrase full of grace word that is translated for us favored one full of grace is not necessarily an inaccurate translation but it’s unfortunate because it leaves open the idea that Mary herself has Grace to give others rather than she has received Grace from God you know that plays into the Catholic theology we know today but she has received Grace she is full of grace received from God and Gabriel also tells Mary the Lord is with you that’s another way of saying that you have the Lord’s favor now note Mary’s reaction she’s very perplexed She’s continually in a state of pondering and wondering what kind of salutation or what kind of greeting this is what does it mean to me that an angel has appeared and said thus to me but again we get an Angelic reassurance do not be afraid why for you have found favor with god wow third time we’ve heard this idea you have found favor God is showing you unmerited favor I must catalog the rest of this initial message what’s what’s involved with this favor from God well you will conceive and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus and Jesus is our version of the Greek Jesus and when it comes from the Hebrew Joshua or Yeshua which means salvation or Yahweh saves says this will be the name of the son you will bear and he will be great he will be called the son of the most high God will give him your son the Throne of his forefather David her son will reign over Israel forever his kingdom will be forever now again talk about stunning Revelation the word of Zacharias the word to Zacharias about John was amazing you would have been floored if you were in that situation and you heard that kind of word from God but this is even more amazing imagine you were to hear this from God your son who isn’t even conceived yet he he is going to be the son of the most high he’s going to rule Israel forever what an incredible child to have what great news for Mary and for his but Mary also has a question how can this be since I’m a virgin well news Gabriel’s answer this time there is no rebuke just an explanation and even a sign Gabriel tells Mary that the holy spirit will cause her to become pregnant with divine power and notice the effect notice the word for for that reason the holy child will be called the son of God because he’s going to be born in this special way he will be called the son of God Gabriel’s telling Mary you will become pregnant without any man’s influence and that is why your child will be called holy the son of God by the way it’s not noted by Luke here it is in Matthew but where was there a prophecy about a virgin being with child and that that child would be called Emmanuel the book of Isaiah chapter 7 Isaiah 7 14. that’s where we see the Virgin birth prophecy but Gabriel also gives it a sign a waved it be encouraged in her belief he says by the way your relative Elizabeth is also miraculously pregnant she was previously Barren she’s already in her sixth month and then the final explanation nothing will be impossible with God now unlike Zacharias who due to his muteness couldn’t respond to the angel Mary responds and notice what she said she said she says behold the bond slave of the Lord but literally you are looking at the female slave of the Lord she confesses herself to be God’s slave and she says may it be done to me according to your word let these things happen just as you have said so after this incredible announcement where does Mary Go to a relative Elizabeth goes to one of the cities of Judah where Elizabeth lives and upon Mary’s entry and at the sound of her greeting to Elizabeth John leaps and Elizabeth’s womb out of joy and Elizabeth prophesied by the Holy Spirit blessed are you Mary among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb how is it that I get to have you a mother of my Lord to visit me and then notice the last statement from Elizabeth blessed is she who believed and the Fulfillment of what God announced to her okay having made all these observations let’s start asking some interpretation questions what was the petition of Zacharias that Gabriel declared God had heard it must be a prayer for the child that makes the most sense in the passage because he says immediately right after your petition has been heard and your wife will bear a son your wife will bear you a son so God is answering that prayer even that prayer that seemed impossible what does it mean that John will be filled with Spirit from his mother’s womb want to give it a shot Rob well it’s it’s interesting that you say that so you mentioned that it could could mean salvation but there were people filled with the Holy Spirit who weren’t saved those are both true in the New Testament the holy spirit’s coming is often linked with salvation but we do know that the Holy Spirit the indwelling of the holy spirit is also connected with empowerment empowerment for Ministry on God’s behalf I think we’re probably looking at both things here that we’re having John being empowered but there’s also the Lord saving John by putting his Spirit into him at at a young age I think this is certainly very a unique thing how is that possible in a child without full understanding oh that’s a miraculous work of God and it’s a unilateral work God didn’t ask John for permission God didn’t respond to John’s will God just puts his Spirit there we can always see that Spirit manifesting itself because what does babe John do he leaps in the womb for Joy because he recognizes by the holy spirit that his Lord Son of God has just come into the same house I think there’s an element of Salvation here certainly there’s an element of empowerment for Ministry others would also say that this is salvation related but God was doing this very special thing for John I don’t think there’s anybody else in the Bible who’s quite like but that’s what God decided to do another question why was Zacharias tribute for his question Mary was not I think there’s a hand in the back yeah yeah certainly we can point to a number of things in this passage that show there’s a difference between these two questions and there’s a difference between these two situations one the angel makes clear that the root of zechariah’s question is unbelief because he says to him this is going to be the sign to you because you did not believe but we’re here Mary my Elizabeth in verse 45 bless the she who believed so whatever difference is in their situation Mary believed Zacharias didn’t Zechariah didn’t fully believe but we can also notice the difference between the wording of the two questions Zechariah says How Will I Know Mary says how can this be so Mary was asking how as you were saying Roy how aversion birth conception could be accomplished while Zacharias knew how his Miracle could be accomplished but he wanted to know whether it would be accomplished it wasn’t asking how you’re just wondering if he could really be sure note that there is a precedent also for zachariased the situation as we noted Barren couples in the Old Testament even Abraham and Sarah they were able to have a kid because of God’s miraculous work but there’s not been a precedent for what’s going to happen with Mary never before has a child been born without a sexual Union without sexual input from another person this is a unique situation we could also point to Zacharias is a priest he’s an old mature priest charged with a bang and teaching the scripture and he certainly should have known better than to doubt the Lord’s word regarding this this situation with barrenness is the whole Old Testament to look at for that especially the first five books Mary was to know in obey scripture too but her situation wasn’t as culpable and as Gabriel shows when he describes the sign he’s giving to Zacharias Gabriel acknowledges that his mere appearance and his delivery of his message to Zacharias was enough for belief no need a sign Zacharias to believe he gives a sign and then even Mary gets a sign unasked for but the angel was to be enough to get a message from God was to be enough to be believed so certainly some differences in the situation but ultimately Zacharias was doubting Mary doesn’t seem to be doing that she believes when the question in what way was Mary favored by God the angel emphasizes to her three times the Lord’s with you you’re highly favored you have God’s favor how in what way was Mary favored by God yes Steve yeah that’s it right there yeah this isn’t like oh I’m giving you this thing because you’ve earned it by your own good works and your and your own favorableness no you’re saying I’m doing this thing for you because I’m showing you unmerited favorite and what’s this thing you’re going to Bear the Son of God you’re going to Bear the Messiah so notice there’s a direct connection between the first thing the angel announces and what comes afterwards it says Zacharias your petition has been heard you’re gonna have a son well with a petition it was about having a son Mary you’re highly favored how are you highly favored you’re gonna bear a son you’re gonna bear the Son of God you’re going to Bear the Messiah this was a great position of privilege Mary’s not the dispenser of Grace by our good works she’s rich he’s receptacle of God’s Grace by his good work and this grace is going to manifest itself in burying the Messiah there’s no greater honor no greater privilege No Greater Joy than that we didn’t read it but if we go down to verse 46 and we look at the song that Mary declares to Elizabeth about her situation it’s all about look at What the Lord Has Done For Me she understands that she has received the unmerited favor from God and and being the one to Bear the Messiah and this connects with her attitude what is Mary man Mary’s attitude toward the Revelation given her oh that goes to the next slide what kind of attitude is she displaying when she says behold the bond slave of the Lord may it be done to me according to your word what we’re seeing is humble and grateful submission she’s submitting to the Lord’s word now as a young woman pregnant out of official wedlock even though betrothed Mary was probably going to experience some derision from her own people and perhaps even Joseph doesn’t understand she risks having the marriage broken off or her being exposed to the community in which she would be stoned or at least shunned but there’s not a trace of fear self-pity or complaints in Mary she simply is astounded that she a no-name girl from Nazareth was gonna supernaturally bear the Son of God and king of Israel what does a little suffering compared to the amazingness of what God was going to accomplish for her and for Israel and we also see that in her song starting in verse 46 but I’ll have time to look at it right now but she’s just glad she’s just amazed she’s not feeling bad for herself at all you may have noticed that these announcements have a lot in common announcement of Zacharias announcement to Mary they’re both in the angel Gabriel they both are in sudden appearances they both initially cause fear they both feature then reassurance both feature promises about a son to be born both future promises about the greatness of that son and both involve Joy but there are some important differences John will be born to an old Barren couple but Jesus will be born of the Holy Spirit John will turn people back to God but Jesus will be the son of God John will prepare the people for God that Jesus will rule the kingdom of God forever so when showing similarities but also highlighting the differences what does Luke emphasize about the relationship of John and Jesus how do they compare yes Roy okay those things that you’re saying are certainly all true that there’s a we do see that there’s a kind of like a I almost want to say amerism so marism is when you see two extremes you see two things um the legacy on one side one extreme the other side but by highlighting them both everything in between is counted so we have very old couple they’re very young couple woman and they’re both involved in God’s Redemptive plan and that does connect with one of the themes of Luke which is that salvation is for all people women included they’re they’re a huge part of God salvation plan people who are outcasts Society people who maybe shamed otherwise as even righteous Elizabeth and Zacharias were as people who were barren so there’s that and you also mentioned that they have some sort of uh relationship by Blood Mary and Elizabeth that’s true and they were both going to be used as part of God’s Redemptive plan for Israel but those are highlighting some of the similarities between them I want to ask more about the difference what difference does does Luke want us to understand between John and Jesus are you going to say something to me that’s also true we have fulfillments in the Old Testament scripture not um certainly alluded to the language is being used here doesn’t take time to say and this is in fulfillment of the scripture as his audience becomes more familiar with scripture they would have noticed that I’m just basically getting at a basic Point here who’s greater between the two it’s clearly Jesus it’s not that John’s not great the angel says he will be great John is great but Jesus is greater Forerunner is great but the one who’s really great is the king Son of God they’ll both be great but Jesus is greater another question now we’re getting a little bit more complicated here why is it important for Jesus to be virgin born a couple ways we can answer this go ahead Steve yeah I think those are both critical elements we can at least point to three things or did you want to add something else wrong can you say that again yeah I think that’s also true yeah salvation is fully of God as you were saying Steve one of the reasons why it must be virgin born is because that’s the phone with a prophecy I do think you’re right that it does connect with Genesis 3 and the announcing made to the woman after after the fall it will be through the seed of the women all right maybe the woman will be opposed by the seat of the serpent but the seed of the woman will crush the Serpent’s head now it’s specifically the seed of the woman not the seed of Adam so that is a kind of an interesting difference perhaps finding a fulfillment specifically in a virgin birth Matt or Isaiah 7 is more explicit yeah the Messiah is to be original born so one of the reasons we need the Virgin birth is fulfillment of Prophecy also even here in this passage what does Gabriel say it says one of the effects of the child being born only of a Virgin by the holy spirit is that he will be called The Son of God it’s critical that he’s virgin born to establish his identity he will the Son of God he really is God and yet he also is human you have to have both of those things and that’s only accomplished by the Virgin birth he is fully God but he’s fully human but as you’re also saying Steve and this connects with what you were saying rob we need a second atom we need a second representative for Humanity because otherwise all Humanity even the son son of God who would come in Adam’s line would be polluted because the seed of Adam inherits what their head obtained for all of them which is for Adam guilt in a sinful nature since Adam he was the head and representative of all those who came after him if Jesus were born of Adam how could he have avoided the imputed guilt and sinful nature that came from his forefather so that’s why save mankind a new atom was necessary a second Adam to establish a righteous line so that those who are born again in this Adam in Jesus would receive what Jesus imputes that is life righteousness and salvation let those in the line of Jesus obtain a new head a new representative a new forefather in a sense in Adam were the first fruits the first real atom the first fruits of sin guilt and death for all his descendants but in Jesus is the first fruits of righteousness life and Resurrection for all is descendants for all his children Paul describes it this way in the Book of Romans I’m just going to quote three verses from there Romans 5 verses 12 and 13 and then verse 17 Paul says therefore Justice through one man’s sin entered into the world and death through sin and so death spread to all men because all sins nevertheless death ran from Adam until Moses even over those who had not sinned and the likeness of the offense of Adam who is the type of him who was to come verse 17 verse by the transgression of the one death reigned through the one much more those who receive the abundance of Grace that the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one Jesus Christ so Paul is saying we had death and sin spread to all men through the one man Adam he was their head he was a representative he was their forefather but hanum was a type he corresponds to the one who was going to come Jesus second and through him through this second one there is abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness which Reigns in life through Jesus Christ so for at least three reasons yes the Virgin birth was quite necessary the fulfilled prophecy it’s part of establishing the identity of the son as both God and man and as part of establishing that second Adam that we all need in order to be saved so virgin birth is quite necessary you want to add something okay yeah so I guess from one perspective he was the second man but the last time yeah there’s not going to be another representative it’s not going to be another head so that is true he is the last atom all right so now let’s come to one final interpretation question why these announcements these announcement narratives are not in the other gospels Luke has uniquely chosen to include this information why would he do that well again let’s think about the differences between announcing something and not announcing something if you get on the Highway 287 let’s say it’s the middle of the day you find that traffic is at a standstill you find yourself in this situation what is your response it’s 287 middle of the day traffic’s at a standstill on the highway what are you thinking you’re probably asking yourself what’s going on this doesn’t make sense what happened was there an accident why is everything so slow of course you may be also thinking oh this is terrible but you don’t understand what’s going on you want to know what is going on everything’s different than normal but you will have a very different response if you see a sign a month beforehand indicating that on a certain date the road will experience construction that will severely limit traffic so on the day where you encounter this traffic you’re no longer surprised because you see that this inconvenience was all part of a larger what it’s all part of a larger plan this is not random that traffic’s topic on this day did that traffic stopped on this day it was playing we knew that this was going to happen there’s a there’s a purpose there’s a plan that is undergirding what you experience in the same way by announcing beforehand what will happen not just through the profit from the Old Testament but even via an angel Gabriel to Zacharias and Mary what does God indicate about what is going to happen it is all part of his plan everything that is about to happen is part of the plan of God now as I’ve argued Luke purposefully writes his gospel to show Gentile Christians now their inclusion in the gospel of faith in Christ has always been a part of God’s plan here in Luke 1 Luke emphasizes that even before the birth of Jesus or even before the birth of his Forerunner John God’s Plan of Salvation was proceeding exactly as God intended and what kind of plan is this what is this Plan of Salvation well look at the responses of the people in this passage it’s an astounding plan it’s an amazing plan no one could ever conceive to this plan but God says no this is part of my plan it’s a joy-giving plan there’s going to be joy and gladness as part of this plan it’s also a humble exalting plan Zacharias Elizabeth they were shamed but now they’re going to be exalted by God Mary some no-name girl from Nazareth she’s being exalted by God God has poured out favor on her this is part of God’s plan this plan is going to exalt The Humble it’s also going to shame the proud which Mary goes on also to describe in her song but it is a humble exalting plant we can even say based on what Simeon says in Luke Chapter 2 and we looked at that before that this plan is a far-reaching plan it includes the Gentiles a light of Salvation to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel this is God’s plan and it’s such a great plan such a good plan what does it deserve from then it deserves belief it deserves belief isn’t that one of the main themes of this passage sacrifice you didn’t believe you should have believed blessed Mary are you because you did believe you want to I believe this is what God always planned to have happen he’s declared to you you’ve got to believe it believe in the good and never-changing gospel plan of God this is for everybody you can be old be a priest you can be a young virgin response required is the same you’ve got to believe in God’s plan and believe in God’s savior the only Savior Jesus the Messiah and we can draw out a few further applications from this that’s the way I want to close today the reapplication questions for us to consider as we think about this whole passage and think about think about its interpretation this is all part of emphasizing God’s salvation plan his unchanging plan his good plan his plan it requires belief you’ve got to ask do we believe in God’s exclusive salvation plan God has never altered his plan and neither must we alter it in the name of so-called love or tolerance or evangelism or wisdom I’m not allowed to alter this plan this plan does not allow for other plans to coexist with it nor can this plan be altered there’s no mountain top with many ways this is the plan it is the only plan and it is the good plan do we believe in God’s salvation plan as he intended and revealed do we know what his plan is not just in saving us but in what comes afterwards number two if we say we believe in God’s salvation plan do we demonstrate belief do we demonstrate that we believe in God’s salvation plan look at Mary Mary sought to understand God’s plan more and after a little explanation she humbly submitted to it she became obedient do we do this do we submit to God’s salvation plan do we present ourselves to God as Mary did saying behold the slave of the Lord I am the slave of the Lord God do to me according to the plan you have revealed I want to be submissive to this plan if we say yes I say that with Mary does your life back it up is your life back up your words do you actually obey the different commands of God or of you are Jesus words true why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I say have you have I it’s all considered this together have you marked out certain areas of exception in your life where you will not submit to God’s plan for you I’ll submit to God’s will for me in this area but I just can’t this other one God’s just got to understand do you excuse yourself from submission to God’s plan because you don’t know what it is say well I would submit if I just knew what it was but God hasn’t revealed it do you not know that God has revealed his plan in the Bible all that you need for your life is right there both in what you should believe and what you should do you don’t need an angel to appear to you because God sent Jesus and he gave his Revelation to Jesus and the apostles you have all that you need do you demonstrate belief in God’s salvation plan and then finally are you motivated by the greatness and gladness of God’s salvation plan you want to believe you want to demonstrate that belief but connected with all that is a true and godly motivation Luke very noticeably connects the coming of Jesus with joy God’s plan is connected with joy what God has accomplished and what he will accomplish is amazing but do you see that do we see that one of the great lies of Satan is as you know that God’s way is unhappy it’s hopeless it’s dismal that is a Lie the opposite is true God is the one who shows us the only way to last in joy his plan is intensely good he cannot help but make it so because he is good but if we want to experience that goodness when you experience that Glory when experience that happiness we’ve got to let go of our worldly thinking we have to let go of our Idols we can’t tell God I do believe your way is good because I believe that your way allows me to keep this sin nope if we believed us we won’t experience God’s goodness we won’t experience the reward of God’s plan we must submit everything to the Lord we must even submit what we believe will make us happy to the Lord say God I got to be informed by you not by my own feelings not by my own wisdom I got to be informed by Your Word show me what is to make me happy let us not serve and intensely love that which is in the world that which perishes nor should we look to God as some sort of cosmic Genie to give us what we really want yes God will serve you because you’ll give me the things that I really want instead of you nor should we see God as some Cosmic Thug to be placated so we can go back to what we really love oh yeah I gotta do this God thing so get him off my back and they can pursue what I really want no no such attitudes will not experience God’s reward nor will they save from God’s judgment so we’ve got to ask ourselves have we given up both in our thinking and in our lives that which is not part of God’s good plan for us for the sake of gospel Joy you know the words of the missionary martyr Jim Elliott he is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose have you done that are you continually doing that pray that you are praise God for revealing his salvation plan to men and bringing it to pass and yet it still will be brought to pass may he fully accomplish it by bringing us to himself establishing his kingdom on the Earth your other questions or comments please email me next week we look at the birth of Jesus itself and I will be with you in person Lord willing we start our time back in New Jersey next week and so it’ll be good to see you all let me close in prayer God to thank you for this word Lord it is one that we do need to rejoice in and we need to submit to pray that you would accomplish that work in us we know we are responsible but Lord it is only by your power and help us to believe help us understand help us to be overjoyed and amazed just as just as these people were thank you so much for this salvation plan this unchanging plan that included us included Gentiles included Jews included all people but it is only through the one that you sent Jesus Christ we thank you for Jesus Christ we thank you for the love that you showed through him and pray God that we would be move to greater love for him greater belief and demonstration of that belief in lives of obedience in Jesus name amen all right see you next week