Years ago when we lived in jungles of PNG, I was on a walk and suddenly spotted a snake in the path very close to me. The sudden start made my heart race. I wisely backed away and the snake slithered off. We have all been startled by an unexpected event. It may have been the voice of a person you did not know was present, a sudden noise or a falling object. We all know what it feels like to be startled.

When the angel appeared to Mary, she must have had a feeling like that or even worse.

Transition

As we look at the second section of our Christmas Story series, we will again be looking for principles for our daily lives.

The Angel’s Appearance (v.26-29)

  1. His name
    1. This angel was Gabriel. Angels are messengers of God.
    2. Gabriel was the angel who appeared to Daniel to explain the meaning of his vision (Dan 8:15-17). Gabriel looked just like a man when he spoke to Daniel (Dan 8:15). He spoke to Daniel a second time shortly after the first (Dan 9:21).
    3. It was Gabriel who had appeared to Zacharias to announce the coming birth of John the Baptist (Lu 1:19).
    4. Now, six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary. This was in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
  2. His mission
    1. He was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee to speak to Mary. He was delivering another important message for God.
    2. Here is where we first meet Mary as well (v.27).
      1. She was a virgin – she had never slept with a man.
      2. She was espoused (engaged) to Joseph who was of the house (family) of David.
    3. Gabriel spoke with Mary (v.28)
      1. “Hail” is a greeting that means be glad or rejoice.
      2. “Highly favoured” means lovely or pursued with grace or honoured with blessings.
      3. She was troubled or fearful.
      4. She “cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be”. In other words, she reasoned in her mind or wondered. The word “salutation” refers to a greeting.
    4. All four of the times Gabriel is mentioned in the Bible he is on a mission to deliver a message for God. His messages were true and accurate. Sometimes people, especially among the Charismatics, claim that angels appear to them. Their messages are not accurate like those of Gabriel. Beware of such claims. Remember that Satan is able to make himself look like an angel of light. (2Cor 11:14) “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” God gave us all that we need to know to live a godly life in the pages of the Bible. We do not need visions, revelations or angels to guide us. The work of angels today is to minister to Christians. (Heb 1:13) “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” (Heb 1:14) “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

The Angel’s Message (v.30-32)

  1. His message was comforting (v.30)
    1. Gabriel calmed Mary’s fear.
    2. He assured Mary that she had found favour with God.
      1. Her life was clean, pure, humble and pleasing to God.
      2. She had now met with God’s favour or grace. Recently we learned in the book of James that God gives grace to the humble.
    3. Instead of elevating Mary almost to the level of deity as some religions do, we ought to let her life be an example of holiness to follow. Instead of following the worldly styles in dress, hair, makeup, nail paint and other vanities, follow Mary’s humble, pure, godly, modest lifestyle.
  2. His message was informative (v.31-33)
    1. Mary would conceive a child.
    2. She would give birth to a son.
    3. She was to call His name Jesus.
      1. He would be great.
      2. He would be the son of the highest.
      3. The Lord God would give Him David’s throne
      4. He would resign over the house of Jacob (Israel)
      5. His kingdom would last eternally
    4. These predictions about Jesus have not all yet come to pass, but they will during the Millennium and in eternity.

The Angel’s Explanation (v.34-37)

  1. Mary asked a legitimate question (v.34)
    1. She asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
    2. She wondered how she could get pregnant when she was a pure virgin and planned to remain a virgin until she was married.
  2. Gabriel gave a clear answer (v.35-37)
    1. The Holy Spirit would cause her to become pregnant. This is the same fact that the angel told Joseph when he heard that Mary was pregnant. (Matt 1:20) “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
    2. The child that Mary would bear would be called the Son of God (v. 35).
    3. Gabriel then gave Mary a sign (v.36). He told her about her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy that was in the sixth month.
      1. Elizabeth was an old woman, too old to have children.
      2. Elizabeth was barren, she had no children.
      3. “With God nothing shall be impossible!” (v.37) God is not limited by the natural laws around us. He is able to do anything, even the impossible as He did at Creation. (Jer 32:17) “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

Mary’s Response (v.38)

  1. She responded humbly
    1. She called herself “the handmaid of the Lord”.
    2. The word “handmaid” refers to a female slave or a bondmaid.
    3. She did not say, “I am awesome! I am great. I worked hard for this. I am going to be the chosen mother of the Messiah.” Instead, she saw herself as God’s slave.
    4. When God blesses us, we must never forget that He did not bless us because we are awesome, special or great. Many times God blesses just because he is a merciful loving God. God promises to bless humility, godliness and obedience.
  2. She responded in faith
    1. She said, “be it unto me according to thy word.”
    2. In other words, she said, “Let God do to me exactly what you said.” She believed that God could to that miracle and that He would do that miracle in her.
    3. Faith is acting upon trusted information. Mary acted by expressing her faith in Gabriel’s message. At that very moment or shortly thereafter, the Holy Spirit placed the Christ child in her womb.

Conclusion

Let’s review the principles we have learned this evening. 1) We do not need visions, revelations or appearances of angels to guide us today. We have the completed Bible as our guide. 2) Christian ladies and girls should follow the example of Mary’s humble, pure, godly, modest lifestyle. 3) God is able to do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for God. 4) Like Mary, when God chooses to bless us, we must remain humble and not become proud. After all He has done for us, we ought to consider ourselves God’s slaves. 5) We ought to believe and obey God’s Word.

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Christmas Story (pt 2) Mary
30 November 2016 Wed – Luke 1:26-38 – Christmas16 – Scott Childs