Majesty, Might, & Mercy

[0:00] Luke chapter 1 verses 30 through 35. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

[0:35] And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there will be no end. Then Mary said to the angel.

[0:45] How can this be since I do not know a man? And the angel answered and said to her. The Holy Spirit will come upon you. And the power of the highest will overshadow you.

[0:59] Therefore also the Holy One who is to be born. Will be called the Son of God. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

[1:10] Please be seated. The grass withers, the flower fades. But the word of the Lord stands forever. No word from God shall be void of power. Let's pray.

[1:28] Oh God. We ask that you please breathe life through your word as it's read and preached. We pray Lord that your Holy Spirit will minister.

[1:41] The work of Jesus Christ to us as people today. And that in the person of Jesus Christ. We will enjoy more and more and more. Of the life of God.

[1:52] Amen. The most important moments in life are often marked by both trembling and delight.

[2:04] Has that been the case in your experience? It's a big moment. You're shaking in your boots. And at the same time there's a great delight in it. It becomes unforgettable.

[2:15] Maybe it was a big performance. Or a game. For some of you maybe the first day of school. At a new place. Or in high school. First day of college.

[2:26] Or a new job. Certainly the wedding day. There's both trembling and delight. There was a moment for me where I'll never forget. We had just found out that we were about to have our first child.

[2:40] Our first son. Just like Mary found this out from the angel. And I was trembling. And also delighted. But mostly trembling. And we went into Babies R Us. And I could not stay in the store.

[2:53] I had to walk out. And just sit down on a bench out there next to a smoker. Because I just was so overwhelmed by those feelings. Delight. But so insufficient.

[3:05] How can this be? Well I've never given birth like Mary has. But this is me trying to relate. There's moments that it's both trembling and delight.

[3:16] And those two emotions I really think. Said the tone of this entire passage. And even though this is a unique experience. In redemptive history.

[3:27] Our response to Christ is the same. We tremble. And we delight. By the help of his spirit. That's my prayer. That will be the application.

[3:39] As we marvel at our Lord Jesus. Taking on flesh to save us. Three movements. In doing so. The first is the majesty. Focused on his holiness.

[3:51] The second is the might. Of Jesus. Focused on his sovereignty. And the third one is mercy. Focused on this gracious act of God to save us.

[4:03] So majesty, might, and mercy. So here's our first one. We first tremble. Then we delight in Christ's majesty.

[4:13] Listen in this passage for the words describing the holiness of Jesus Christ. This holiness. It first reaches Mary from a holy messenger.

[4:29] A spirit warrior. A soldier of glorious light. Visiting her. Look back at verse 19. I am Gabriel.

[4:42] Who stands in the presence of the holy God. In the holy throne room of the creator. The holy God.

[4:52] The holy God. Is reaching down to earth in a moment of time. Now look at the first few words in verse 30. Do not be afraid, Mary.

[5:05] She's trembling. When creatures like us encounter the holy God. We must tremble. What is holiness?

[5:16] I keep using this word. Divine holiness. The Hebrew word for it means set apart. God is holy means God is other. God is unlike anything creaturely.

[5:29] Thomas Watson commented. Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of God's crown. In fact, it's the name by which God is known. Think of all the scriptures that comes to mind.

[5:42] God said, I am holy. Hosea 11.9. God is the holy one. Isaiah 1.11.9. Holy and awesome is his name.

[5:56] 1 Samuel 2.2. No one is holy like the Lord. There is no one like you. Do you get what holiness is? According to scripture.

[6:08] And the angel Gabriel tells her in verse 31. You will bring forth a son. She says in verse 34. How shall I? How shall this be?

[6:19] Since I do not know a man. See the holiness of God. In bringing this conception to Mary. Mary. It's underscored by her virginity.

[6:30] What she's asking. It's not unbelief. It's biological logic. And she says. I do not know. In the present continuing state.

[6:42] Confirming her virginity. See. God is holy. And his holiness will not be tainted. By him being born of Mary.

[6:53] That's what's emphasized for us in this passage. The divine holiness of the person of Jesus Christ. Marvel at this.

[7:05] George Swinock wrote. Divine holiness is that excellence in the divine nature. By which he acts from himself. For himself.

[7:15] And in perfect accord with himself. Divine nature is the only pattern of holiness. God's will is the only rule for holiness.

[7:29] Stephen Charnock wrote. Holiness is the beauty of all of God's attributes. This is the divine holiness. In the person of Jesus Christ.

[7:42] That should cause any creature like us to tremble. But notice with this wonderful revelation. After trembling. Mary could also receive this by faith.

[7:53] And with that. A great delight in this promise of God. That he is fulfilling. Look at verse 35. How will this be? She asked. Verse 35. The Holy Spirit.

[8:04] The Holy Spirit. Will come upon you. This verb. To come upon. It's the same word used in Acts 1.8. For the coming of the Holy Spirit.

[8:15] On the church at Pentecost. It's a powerful. Sovereign. Descent of the third person. To dwell. And to create.

[8:28] In Genesis 1. Verse 2. Which parallels this. Verb. We're told. That the Spirit of God. Was hovering. Over the face. Of the deep. And then verse 35.

[8:39] She's told. The power. Of the highest. Will. Overshadow. You. The verb. Overshadow. Is a rare. And beautiful term. In Exodus.

[8:52] Chapter 40. Verses 34. And 35. This term. Overshadow. Is used to describe. The Shekinah. Glory cloud. That settled upon. The tabernacle.

[9:03] So the use of the language. Is tying. Mary's womb. To the holy of holies. In the tabernacle. The only fitting place. For the holy one.

[9:14] To dwell. Therefore also. That holy one. Who is to be born. The holy one. He's going to be born. Of Mary.

[9:25] Highlighting the very humanity. That Christ assumed. Would be. The humanity. Of the holy one. From the point of conception. He was. Set apart.

[9:36] Sanctified. He was. Protected. From the corruption. Of the fall. And he. Shall be called. The son. Of God. Calvin's comment was.

[9:48] That the holy spirit. Overshadowed the virgin. Not only to manifest. The power of God. But. To sanctify. The conception. Mary too. Was a sinner. Lest.

[9:59] Any. Of the common. Pollution. Of the human race. Should reach. The son of God. He will be. The holy one. Mary first. Trembled. But then she could delight.

[10:10] In this glorious revelation. As a believer. We too. Must first. Tremble. At Christ's. Majesty. And holiness. He is holy.

[10:21] And. We are not holy. But in Christ. He says. You be holy. As I am holy. We fall short of his glory. On our own. And what we deserve.

[10:31] Is capital punishment. And eternal torment. Martin Luther. Meditated on God's holiness. He wrote. God's holiness. Is his very nature.

[10:41] It is that which makes him God. It is a consuming fire. To all that is. Unholy. We need to tremble. At God's holiness.

[10:55] Dear friends. Jesus Christ. Took on flesh. Without compromising. This divine holiness. That consumes everything. That is unholy. Not by an ounce.

[11:07] Was the holiness of God. Diminished. In the person of Jesus Christ. Think of the proof of this. If Jesus Christ. Were conceived. By the seed. Of a sinful man.

[11:18] Like by Joseph. Mary's son. Would have. Been from this corrupted. Human race. Inheriting the curses. Upon Adam. Ever since the fall.

[11:30] We would not have. An unblemished. Lamb. Walk to the cross. He may have died. But he would have been. Powerless. To resurrect himself.

[11:41] There is no greater proof. That Jesus Christ. Is the holy one. Than the empty tomb. It is proof. That he was sinless.

[11:53] Holy. Accepted by God. And this holy one. Lives. As our mediator. Revelation 15. 4. Praises him for this.

[12:04] Who shall not fear you. O Lord. And glorify your name. This is revelation. The apostle John. Bearing witness. For you alone. Are holy.

[12:16] This is who God is. Well after trembling. At Christ's majestic. Holiness. By the work of his spirit.

[12:27] We can delight in him. We can delight in knowing. We are saved by the only holy one. Charles Spurgeon wrote. Christ's holiness. Is the terror of the wicked.

[12:38] But it is the delight. Of the godly. To see the holy one. Is to see the very heart. Of God's love. In its purest flame. Watson.

[12:51] All the perfections. Of the Godhead. Shine through. The human nature of Christ. His holiness. Is the light. That guides us to the father.

[13:01] Oh we can delight. In the holiness of Christ. Hebrews 7.26. For such a high priest. Was fitting for us. Who is. Holy.

[13:13] Harmless. Undefiled. Separate. From sinners. And has become. Higher than the heavens. This is so great.

[13:25] May the Lord give us space. To receive it. This illustration. Might be helpful. It was helpful for me. The sun. It blazes in its might.

[13:36] It's set apart. From every other celestial. Being. The light of the sun. Is so intense. That to look upon it. Directly with the naked eye. Will blind our eyes.

[13:48] Yet it is that very thing. That gives beauty. And color. To everything else. On earth. Just as the sun. Is other than the earth. Christ's holiness.

[13:59] Is not just a higher degree. Of human goodness. He is the holiness. Of God himself. We tremble. At its intensity.

[14:10] Yet we recognize. That without. Its set apart purity. The world. Would be a cold. Dark. And lifeless. Void. Amen. Praise God.

[14:21] For the holiness. The pure light of God. God. Shining through Jesus Christ. He was made sin for us. But Jesus was never.

[14:31] A sinner. Boston celebrated this. The holiness of Jesus. Was the shield. That quenched. The fiery darts. Of law's curse. Matthew Henry.

[14:42] He is called. The son of God. Not only because he is. Of his eternal generation. But because of his. Miraculous conception. He is the holy one. Because he is the source.

[14:53] Of all holiness. In his people. Apart from Christ. There can be. No holiness. In his people. Well brothers and sisters.

[15:05] No matter how you came in. To worship today. Let's take our eyes. Off of our own sin. And put them. Back. On Jesus Christ. His infinite.

[15:16] Holiness. As our savior. He is the holy one. His blood carries. Infinite. Value. To wash away. Our darkest stains. If Jesus were a mere man.

[15:30] He could not save us. But he is. The holy one. Born of the spirit. And his righteousness. Covers. Even our most. Wretched. Guilt. If his holiness.

[15:41] Were small. Our hope would be small. But Christ's holiness. Is immense. The holiness of God himself. So our hope in him.

[15:54] Is great. First tremble. Then delight. In Christ's. Majestic holiness. Number two. Tremble.

[16:04] Then delight. In Christ's. Might. The focus next. On these same verses. Is on. The sovereignty. Of Jesus Christ. In verse 32. He's called.

[16:14] The son. Of the highest. Do you see that? The son. Of the highest. Calvin commented. By the title. Son of the highest. The angel.

[16:24] Signifies. That the. Majesty. Of Christ. Is equal. To that. Of the father. And that his power. Is not borrowed. But it is his. By right. Of his divine.

[16:35] Nature. And the Lord God. Will give him. The throne. Of his father. David. In verse 33. And he shall reign.

[16:48] In the Greek. It's a future indicative. This is not just. A possibility. He shall reign. With certainty. It's a reality. That is coming true.

[17:00] He will reign. Over the house. Of Jacob. Forever. And of his kingdom. There will be. No end. Ken pointed out.

[17:13] In our Bible study. In Sunday school. God. Keeps. His promises. And you all. Have been. Studying the book. Of first Samuel. You know this promise.

[17:25] This is called. The Davidic. Covenant. God. Will rule over his people. He will be the Lord of his people. Forever and ever and ever. How will he do this?

[17:36] He uses language. Attached to. To David. The God who. The king who God chose. And put over to rule. As his mediator. As the servant. Now David's a sinner.

[17:46] He's. Has no divine nature. He's incapable of ruling. Perfectly and well. And as goes the kingdom. So goes. As goes the king. So goes the kingdom. And with David. It becomes an utter failure. And so this is God.

[17:57] Being true to all of his promises. Piled up on the mediator. The fulfillment of the Davidic. Covenant. Jesus Christ came. And who is it that rules.

[18:08] With the promises of a kingdom. It's the son of the highest. Himself. Jesus Christ is the rightful heir. To the eternal throne. Whose power.

[18:19] Extends over all creation. Through all the ages. Because he is the uncreated creator. His might. Is derived. By his divine nature.

[18:31] Just like his holiness. Jesus Christ. Possesses. The omnipotence. Of the creator. God. There are no bounds. To his power.

[18:43] So in declaring. The kingdom of heaven. Come to earth. In the person of Jesus. It's not by the permission. Of men. It's by the decree. Of God. Psalm 89.

[18:56] Verse 27. God says. I will make him my firstborn. The highest of the kings. Of the earth. And our confession of faith. In chapter 8.

[19:06] Verse 1. Summarizes. The teaching of scripture. It pleased God. In his eternal purpose. To choose. And ordain. The Lord Jesus. His only begotten son.

[19:16] To be the king. And the head. And the savior. Of the church. The heir. Of all things. And the judge. Of all the world. Jesus rules.

[19:31] As the king of kings already. He rules over all. And he will one day judge all. We may ignore his laws. But we cannot escape.

[19:43] His kingdom. There's no corner. Of the universe. Where the authority. Of Jesus Christ. Does not reach. If we refuse Jesus.

[19:53] As a savior now. We're choosing. To face him. As judge. Later. We must tremble. At the thought. Of standing before the king.

[20:04] Whose reign. Has no end. And being found. Outside. Of the grace. He's so freely offered. To us. Let us kiss the son.

[20:15] Lest he be angry. And we perish. By the way. Psalm 2. Daniel 7. 14. His dominion. Is an everlasting dominion. Which shall not pass away.

[20:26] And his kingdom. The one. Which shall not. Be destroyed. Charles Spurgeon commented. The kingdom. Kingdoms of this world. Are but as the foam.

[20:38] Upon the wave. But the kingdom of Christ. Is the rock. That defies the tide. He shall reign. When the sun grows dim. And the stars fall.

[20:48] Like autumn leaves. That's the end of Spurgeon's quote. We must tremble. At the majesty. The power. The might. The sovereignty. Of Jesus Christ.

[21:01] We must see him. For who he is. And after trembling. We behold God's grace. In Jesus Christ. To us. And we delight.

[21:12] In this very power. The throne. Of his father David. 2 Samuel 7. 16. God promised.

[21:22] Your house. And your kingdom. Shall be established. Forever. Before you. Jesus is the true king. Who restores the fallen. House of David.

[21:34] Ruling not over. A mere earthly territory. But over the hearts. Of his people. And extending this empire. To all nations. Isaiah 9. 7.

[21:44] Is fulfilled in Jesus. Of the increase of his government. And peace. There will be no end. Upon the throne of David. And over his kingdom. To order it. And establish it.

[21:55] With judgment. And righteousness. This is the wonderful. Rule of Christ. That we can rest in. Nehemiah Cox commented.

[22:05] The covenant. Made with David. Was a typical. Or typological. Representation. Of the spiritual kingdom. Of Christ. Jesus is the true David. The beloved of God.

[22:16] Who sits upon the throne of grace. To order all things. For the good. Of his elect. Our Lord Jesus rules.

[22:28] Not as a man. Not even as angels. But he rules. As God the creator. Who sends forth his spirit. Over the hearts.

[22:39] Of his people. Think of that power. Working in us. As Christians. When Jesus is truly. The king in our lives. Bringing everything. Into order. As a good king does.

[22:53] This is the power of God. Who created the universe. Who upholds all things. He is the one. Who rules in the lives.

[23:03] Of his people. There is no sin. Past or present. Or future. That he cannot overcome. There is no disorder.

[23:14] That remains in our flesh. In our minds even. That he cannot heal. Or curb. Or protect us from. There is no attack. From the enemy. That will overcome.

[23:26] His sovereign. Loving care. For his people. He is almighty. And we can delight. In his power. And though we do suffer. And there are thorns.

[23:37] In our flesh. In this life. It does not diminish. His power. Or his might. We tremble. At his power. And we delight.

[23:48] That Jesus Christ. Is. The almighty God. Himself. Well our third. And final movement. For today. Is to focus on.

[23:59] His mercy. On this. Incarnation. As God's gracious. Act. To save. And to redeem. When we are. Facing our holy creator.

[24:10] By faith. We tremble. At our sin. In his presence. But then we behold. What he has done. In the person. Of Jesus Christ. And we delight. In his mercy. Notice.

[24:22] God's grace. In the person. Of Jesus. In these wonderful. Verses. God the son. Took. Upon himself. A human nature. To redeem. Sinners like you.

[24:32] And me. He decreed this. Because he is holy. He accomplished this. Because he is powerful. And in verse 30. He tells Mary. You have found.

[24:44] Favor. With God. The word favor. In the Greek. Is charis. You have found. Grace. Grace. With God. This is not something.

[24:59] Mary did. To earn it. It was God's grace. Finding her. God said this. At another significant moment. In redemptive history. He told Noah.

[25:10] After looking up on the earth. Noah. You have found. Grace. You're not better. Than any of these other sinners. That deserve wrath. And judgment. But God's grace. Has found you. In the incarnation.

[25:26] We see how unmerited favor. From God. Is poured out. From Jesus Christ. To everyone. Who will behold him.

[25:38] In verse 31. The angel says. Behold. It's used to. Arrest your attention. God's doing something special. In redemptive history. You will conceive in your womb. And bring forth the son.

[25:49] And shall call his name. Jesus. God even picked the name. Of the redeemer. It's Jesus. Yeshua.

[26:01] It literally means. Jehovah. God himself. The God. That keeps his covenant. Throughout all of scripture. Jehovah. Is. Salvation. That's what Jesus means.

[26:14] This name was not chosen. By Joseph. For Mary. But God himself. Said this. Lift up the name of Jesus. That God. Is salvation. Lift it up.

[26:28] Declare his name. His name. Describes. His mission. It's to save sinners. From our sins. Acts 4. 12. Their salvation.

[26:39] Is not found in any other. There is no other name. Under heaven. Given among men. By which we must be saved. God did not send.

[26:50] A mere philosopher. Or a good teacher. To help us. He sent his own son. To be conceived in the womb.

[27:00] And born. Of a woman. This is because. Our condition is so lost. Think of the depths. That God went. To redeem us.

[27:13] The incarnation. Is the loudest. Alarm clock. In the universe. As someone put it. It tells you. That you are. So lost. That nothing. Less. Than God himself.

[27:24] Taking on a body. To redeem you. Could save us. God. Man. Jesus Christ. Truly divine. Truly human. Must live.

[27:36] And die. To save. Do not ignore. God's grace. That's offered. In Jesus Christ. That's how desperately. We need his work.

[27:47] For us. Nehemiah Cox. Came to the same conclusion. It was necessary. That the mediator. Should be God. That he might sustain. And keep.

[27:58] The human nature. From sinking. Under the infinite. Wrath of God. And it was necessary. That he should be man. That he might suffer. And obey. In the same nature.

[28:09] That had sinned. In the incarnation. The son of the highest. Did not come. With the thunder. Of judgment. He took God's.

[28:21] Thundering judgment. In his body. On the tree. And he alone. Could endure it. And be resurrected. Because of his. Divine nature. Accomplishing this.

[28:31] For us. This is God's. Majesty. God's power. God's holiness. And both his. Holiness.

[28:42] And his power. Meet. At the cross. God is too holy. To. To compromise. Or overlook sin. His wrath. Had to be poured out on it. And God is also gracious.

[28:55] And merciful. And powerful. To. Receive. The wrath of God. And then pour it out. So freely. On his people. Calvin's.

[29:06] Point was that. The son of God. Became the son of man. And received. What is ours. That he might transfer to us. What is his.

[29:19] That what he had by nature. Might become ours. By grace. What a glorious gospel. We have in Jesus Christ.

[29:30] The majestic. Holy one. Became a helpless infant. To save us. The almighty son of the highest. Was born.

[29:43] Probably very quickly. Got stable dust in his eyes. To save us. Let's delight. Let's delight. In God's mercy. In grace. His grace.

[29:54] Is proven. In the person. Of Jesus Christ. He calls us. Who he came to save. His bride. His beloved church.

[30:06] Let's behold. Him. Let's tremble. And delight in him. By faith now. Trusting like that. Him says.

[30:16] Till. With the glorious vision. Her longing eyes are blessed. The bride. The church. Will see him. And the great church victorious.

[30:27] Shall be the church. At rest. If we delight in Christ. His joy will. Overflow from our hearts. As we go and proclaim him.

[30:38] As the shepherds did. Jesus Christ. He is majestic. He is holy. He is mighty in power. And he is full. Of mercy.

[30:49] And grace. To all who will come to him. Let's pray. And thank him. Oh Lord. We praise you. For this great gospel. That you accomplish. Through Jesus Christ.

[31:00] Your son. We thank you. That you give us faith. To receive you. To believe in you. Lord. We long for that day. When we will be with you. Forever.

[31:11] We thank you. That in the meantime. You gather us. By your spirit. We worship you. In spirit and in truth. And you teach us. You build us up. And you edify us. Lord. As part of your body.

[31:23] Thank you for your great love. Help us to receive it. And to delight in you today. We ask. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you.