WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.919
 It's no surprise when we come to Luke's record of Jesus' birth and find that it is replete with angelic announcements of good news.

00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:17.140
 Luke chapter 1 and 2 is full of gospel news.

00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:25.820
 Messengers from God sent to proclaim good news of great joy for all nations.

00:00:25.820 --> 00:00:30.899
 And that's actually the language that one of the angels uses in chapter 2.

00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:33.960
 Just flip a page over perhaps from where you are.

00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:37.299
 Luke chapter 2 and verse number 10.

00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:42.640
 This is when the angel appears to the shepherds near Bethlehem and the angel said to them,

00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:51.480
 Fear not, for I behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

00:00:51.479 --> 00:01:05.000
 And the truth is, God is still sending messengers, his messengers, into the world to proclaim the good news of great joy for all people.

00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:13.019
 That's part of why we emphasize the Christmas season so extravagantly as Christians.

00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:17.539
 And I know that we, even as believers, can tend to lose sight of this sometimes,

00:01:17.699 --> 00:01:24.899
 but you would be hard-pressed to find a church building anywhere in this town or in this county today

00:01:24.899 --> 00:01:32.420
 that is not in some way decorated or emphasizing in some fashion this Christmas story.

00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.219
 And will continue to do so over the next few weeks.

00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:42.679
 One of the reasons that we're so intent on doing that as believers is because we are now his messengers,

00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:48.879
 sent into the world with the good news that brings great joy for all nations.

00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:54.299
 Lots of people will recognize the Christmas season as a season of joy.

00:01:55.000 --> 00:02:01.980
 But of course we understand it's not joyful because of family gatherings or presents under the tree,

00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:04.560
 even though we enjoy those things.

00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:13.939
 Christmas is joyful because of the good news that God himself entered our broken world

00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:18.340
 to save us from our sin and death.

00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:23.699
 So for the next six weeks, I want to examine a few portions of these chapters

00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:28.579
 so that we might rejoice again in the good news of the gospel.

00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:34.139
 Because the Christmas story is nothing if it's not about the gospel.

00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:40.539
 And our text this morning is what is often referred to as the Annunciation.

00:02:41.179 --> 00:02:50.939
 It's the record of the angel Gabriel announcing to the virgin Mary that she would conceive the Christ child.

00:02:51.899 --> 00:02:56.859
 But the passage is more than just a piece of beautiful narrative.

00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:58.560
 And it is indeed that.

00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:09.620
 Even the secular world around us might display in some way in their home or in their stores some picture of the nativity.

00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.360
 It's a beautiful story.

00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:14.540
 Even without the incarnation, it's interesting.

00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:16.660
 It's lovely in a sense.

00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:19.879
 But it's so much more than a beautiful narrative.

00:03:21.079 --> 00:03:28.340
 It's a reflection of the very gospel message that is, according to Romans 1,

00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:31.019
 the power of God unto salvation.

00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:35.460
 And though there's helpful lessons that we can learn from Mary,

00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:38.200
 these verses aren't really about Mary.

00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:48.860
 What we know about her is only valuable insofar as it reveals to us and teaches us about the character and the power of God.

00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:53.940
 So I want us to take the Annunciation this morning, these verses that we just read,

00:03:54.160 --> 00:04:01.880
 and I want to highlight three characteristics that makes the Annunciation good news of great joy.

00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:05.160
 Number one, it's a message of grace.

00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:08.360
 It's a message of grace.

00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:10.680
 Look with me again at verse 26.

00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:18.019
 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:23.600
 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David,

00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:25.980
 and the virgin's name was Mary.

00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:28.399
 And he came to her and said,

00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:30.420
 Greetings, O favored one.

00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:32.160
 The Lord is with you.

00:04:33.340 --> 00:04:35.360
 She was greatly troubled at the saying,

00:04:36.460 --> 00:04:39.060
 tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:40.480
 And the angel said to her,

00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:46.280
 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:47.939
 It's a message of grace.

00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:59.920
 Now, angelic encounters in the Bible almost always include a fearful response from the human individual involved.

00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:05.740
 There's something about the appearance of angels that's startling to people.

00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:12.860
 Maybe it's a mixture of their sudden appearance in a place that there wasn't a person before,

00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:14.240
 and now there's a person.

00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:15.600
 That's a startling thing.

00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.379
 We've all experienced that in some way before.

00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:20.579
 Maybe it has something to do with actually the way that they look,

00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:25.379
 not in the sense of horror, but in the sense of awesomeness, other worldliness,

00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:29.660
 or their heavenly nature in that sense.

00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:36.300
 But it always tends to come with an immediate response of fear within the people that they greet.

00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.800
 These two chapters actually give a couple of other examples where that's exactly the case.

00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:45.140
 In chapter 1, Zechariah, who is the father of John the Baptist,

00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.379
 the angel appears to him,

00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:52.120
 and then the angels appear to the shepherds near Bethlehem in chapter 2,

00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:58.180
 and we're told that they are overcome with fear at the sight of the angel.

00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:06.420
 But Mary's response is unique because it's not the sight of the angel, we're told, that troubles her.

00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:11.639
 It's the greeting of the angel that seems to trouble her.

00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:13.540
 Look with me again at verse 29.

00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:21.660
 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:27.579
 I'm not saying that Mary wasn't afraid of the angel in the same way that all the others were at first as well.

00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:31.540
 I'm just saying that Luke doesn't emphasize the sight of the angel with Mary.

00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:33.160
 He emphasizes something different.

00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:38.120
 He emphasizes the saying, the greeting, being the thing that troubles Mary,

00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:43.340
 the thing that in that moment she is trying to contemplate and discern what is this about.

00:06:44.340 --> 00:06:47.980
 And it's this question of why that I want you to consider.

00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:50.800
 Why is she troubled by the saying?

00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:55.840
 What is it that is bothering her that she's confused about, that she's trying to discern?

00:06:57.460 --> 00:07:03.199
 I think the answer is that Mary, at least from a human perspective,

00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:07.160
 didn't fit the description of the greeting.

00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.759
 Look again at verse 28.

00:07:10.340 --> 00:07:11.100
 What is the greeting?

00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:14.580
 Greetings, O favored one.

00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:17.719
 The Lord is with you.

00:07:17.719 --> 00:07:28.919
 Now, interestingly enough, what's translated as greetings is actually an imperative form of the word for rejoice.

00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:30.919
 Cairo is the Greek word.

00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:35.159
 Most other places you find it in the Bible, it's translated rejoice.

00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:40.920
 And in this sense, in Luke chapter 1, it's actually in an imperative verb form.

00:07:41.020 --> 00:07:45.840
 So this is actually, you know, in the most literal possible way that you could translate it.

00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:49.860
 This is actually a command coming from the angel.

00:07:51.020 --> 00:07:52.000
 Rejoice, Mary.

00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:54.940
 Rejoice, O favored one.

00:07:55.820 --> 00:07:58.040
 The Lord is with you.

00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:10.720
 Now, the confusion for Mary, I believe, is that there wasn't anything about her life that indicated blessing, favor, or the presence of God.

00:08:12.080 --> 00:08:16.280
 How could she rejoice in something that she didn't understand?

00:08:17.640 --> 00:08:19.700
 So this angel appears to her.

00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:21.200
 Rejoice, Mary.

00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:22.500
 Greetings, Mary.

00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.120
 Favored one.

00:08:24.320 --> 00:08:25.879
 The Lord is with you.

00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:32.439
 And she's immediately taken aback, trying to discern what does this mean.

00:08:32.939 --> 00:08:37.960
 Well, from a cultural perspective, Mary didn't seem to have the blessing of God on her life.

00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:46.759
 Most scholars believe that and agree that she would have only been somewhere between 12 and 14 years old.

00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:49.720
 That's too young to have really learned much.

00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.659
 That's too young to have accomplished much.

00:08:52.659 --> 00:09:02.579
 So there's no favor given to Mary here because of something she's done or a particular intellect that she has displayed.

00:09:03.439 --> 00:09:14.959
 Though she was engaged, betrothed to Joseph, she didn't yet have a husband or any children that would elevate her status in the world, as would have been the custom of that day.

00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:22.320
 She was from Nazareth, a poverty-stricken village mentioned nowhere in the Old Testament.

00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:27.740
 There's not even a mention of it in the contemporary literature of the day.

00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:39.060
 It was in a region of Galilee known as Galilee of the Gentiles, an area that was despised by the Jews because of the number of Gentile people that lived there.

00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:47.620
 You'll remember in John chapter 1, when Jesus begins to call some of his disciples, someone, I think it is Nathanael, goes to and says,

00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:49.200
 We have found the Messiah.

00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:50.240
 It's Jesus of Nazareth.

00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:52.340
 And you remember what Nathanael's response was.

00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.700
 Can anything good come from Nazareth?

00:09:54.700 --> 00:10:00.360
 The typical response of the people in that day was, This is a pagan area.

00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.480
 This is an unclean area.

00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:08.620
 And not only is Mary from that place, she's from a no-named village that nobody cared about,

00:10:08.780 --> 00:10:12.320
 that historically seems to have been a pretty corrupt place.

00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.240
 She's poor.

00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:14.180
 She has nothing.

00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:16.379
 What blessing is there in her life?

00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:24.080
 In the eyes of the world, Mary was a nobody that was about to marry another nobody.

00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:29.980
 They were going to have kids that were nobodies, and they were going to live, at least in the eyes of the world,

00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:36.700
 a meaningless existence, absent from anything that might indicate favor from God.

00:10:38.040 --> 00:10:42.720
 But this is exactly why Gabriel's announcement was a message of grace.

00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:48.200
 God sent him to Galilee, not to Judea, where you might expect.

00:10:49.160 --> 00:10:52.300
 He sends him to Nazareth, not to Jerusalem.

00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:59.100
 He goes to Mary's home, not to the temple, not to a royal palace.

00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:01.620
 Martin Luther said,

00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:06.000
 He might have gone to Jerusalem and picked out Caiaphas' daughter,

00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:11.500
 who was fair, rich, clad in gold-embroidered raiment,

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.840
 and attended by a retinue of maids-in-waiting.

00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:20.019
 But God preferred a lowly maid from a mean town.

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:24.620
 It's a message of grace to Mary.

00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:28.019
 It's a message of grace to us.

00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:34.840
 And as we examine this text, we must acknowledge an inescapable fact

00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:42.360
 that the greatest news ever proclaimed in Israel came to the humblest of its people.

00:11:43.819 --> 00:11:48.819
 And that's part and parcel of the gospel message, even as Jesus proclaimed it.

00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:52.460
 Remember what Jesus said to a group of Pharisees.

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:57.079
 It was on the day that he had called Levi, who we know as Matthew as well.

00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.540
 He calls Levi to follow him.

00:11:59.020 --> 00:12:02.460
 Levi leaves the receipt of custom, and then he hosts a party at his home.

00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:06.340
 He's been so impacted by Christ that he hosts a party at his home,

00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:09.900
 and he brings the other publicans and some of the prostitutes in the town

00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:12.040
 so that they might meet Jesus too.

00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:17.160
 And then the Pharisees come by, and they recognize that Jesus is not dining

00:12:17.160 --> 00:12:20.320
 with who they would consider to be the righteous of the town.

00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:22.879
 He's dining with sinners and publicans.

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.539
 And they confront Jesus about it.

00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:26.679
 Remember what Jesus said.

00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:31.860
 He said, I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:36.159
 In other words, what Jesus was saying to the Pharisees is,

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.899
 I didn't come for you.

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.019
 I came for them.

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:51.000
 Pharisees were often the wealthy, educated, fiercely devoted to the law,

00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.659
 to their laws in particular.

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.940
 Jesus didn't come for them.

00:12:56.940 --> 00:13:00.139
 He came for the prostitutes, the publicans.

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:04.360
 But it wasn't the power and the wealth of the Pharisees

00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:08.980
 that prevented them from receiving blessings from Christ.

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:10.679
 It was pride.

00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:16.519
 You see, God's grace isn't received by those who think they deserve it,

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.460
 but by those who know they don't.

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.120
 That's Mary.

00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.179
 Humble Mary.

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.220
 Lowly Mary.

00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.939
 Remember what Jesus said in the Beatitudes.

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.960
 Blessed are the poor in spirit,

00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.720
 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:39.720
 And the angel made it clear in verse 30

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:42.620
 that Mary didn't earn this favor from God.

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.240
 She found it.

00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.779
 Look at it with me again.

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.460
 Verse 30.

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.139
 And the angel said to her,

00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:50.060
 Do not be afraid, Mary,

00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:54.379
 for you have found favor with God.

00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:58.940
 The Roman Catholic Church in particular

00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:02.980
 has invented all kinds of heresies about Mary.

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:08.139
 They eventually find their root in a bad translation

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:11.019
 of this passage in the Latin Vulgate.

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:14.259
 But Mary wasn't a perpetual virgin.

00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:18.120
 She had other children with Joseph.

00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:23.980
 She didn't possess all the spiritual and secular gifts.

00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:28.720
 She was not and is not a dispenser of grace

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:32.939
 or a mediator that brings us to Christ.

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:36.900
 She wasn't free from original sin

00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:39.480
 and she wasn't kept sinless throughout her life.

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.700
 Mary was a sinner like you and me.

00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:46.180
 She was in much, as much in need of a savior

00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:47.600
 as you and me.

00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:51.440
 And she says as much in the passage we'll cover next Sunday.

00:14:52.760 --> 00:14:56.580
 But remember, grace by definition is unmerited.

00:14:56.580 --> 00:15:00.820
 In Mary's favor, it wasn't about her piety,

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:05.060
 but God's abundant and amazing grace.

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.740
 Says Kent Hughes,

00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:11.379
 Christmas is not for the proud and self-sufficient.

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:14.200
 The Lord comes to needy people.

00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:17.160
 Those who realize that without Him,

00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:18.560
 they cannot make it.

00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.240
 Those who acknowledge their weakness

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.759
 in spiritual lack.

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.720
 You see, the Christmas story,

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:27.600
 being a gospel story,

00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.639
 confronts the spiritual pride

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:31.720
 that so many of us carry throughout our lives.

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:36.000
 It confronts the pride that tells us

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.340
 that we are good enough for God.

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:42.319
 That we would be a blessing to God

00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:44.659
 if He wanted to enroll us in His purposes.

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:48.659
 That's not the story that we learn from Mary.

00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.419
 It's actually the opposite.

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:54.079
 Now, if God was willing to use someone like Mary

00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:55.639
 to bring His Son into the world,

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.599
 what would ever make you think

00:15:58.599 --> 00:16:00.240
 that He's unwilling to supply

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.360
 His endless grace to you as well?

00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.079
 Because if the gospel story of Christmas

00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:08.120
 confronts those with spiritual pride,

00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:10.379
 it may also confront those of us

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:12.299
 who think that we are just too far gone

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.240
 for God to save.

00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:16.939
 We're not good enough for Him.

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:20.520
 There's no way we can be what He wants us to be.

00:16:21.760 --> 00:16:23.860
 We'll see what the Christmas story tells us

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:27.240
 is that it's not about what you can or can't be.

00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:30.160
 It's about the grace of our Lord.

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:33.100
 What do we learn from the Annunciation?

00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.840
 That God is full of grace

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.260
 and He extends that grace

00:16:38.260 --> 00:16:40.160
 to the lowliest of people.

00:16:40.880 --> 00:16:42.200
 It's a message of grace.

00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:44.680
 Number two, it's a message of salvation.

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.660
 A message of salvation.

00:16:47.520 --> 00:16:48.160
 Verse 31,

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:50.420
 the angel continues,

00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:52.480
 And behold, you will conceive in your womb

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.000
 and bear a son.

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.540
 You shall call His name Jesus.

00:16:57.920 --> 00:16:59.100
 He will be great

00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:00.960
 and will be called the Son of the Most High

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.020
 and the Lord God will give to him

00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:04.600
 the throne of His father David.

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.799
 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.680
 And of His kingdom,

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:12.140
 there will be no end.

00:17:13.580 --> 00:17:14.900
 So Gabriel's greeting

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.740
 brings a measure of confusion to Mary,

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.779
 but then His announcement

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:20.259
 surely brings a measure of shock.

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.440
 In the greeting,

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:26.299
 we learn that Mary is the recipient of God's grace.

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.900
 But here we find that this grace is displayed

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:32.299
 through the birth of a child.

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:37.559
 And all the fast facts that are spouted out by Gabriel

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:40.519
 in this moment declare that

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.059
 and make clear to Mary

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:45.500
 that this child to which she's going to give birth

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:48.779
 is this long-awaited Messiah.

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:52.019
 And the announcement of a Messiah

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:57.180
 means that this is a message of eternal salvation.

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.639
 What shock,

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:02.660
 what excitement even

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:05.339
 as this begins to process on Mary's mind.

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:08.720
 Not only has God seen fit in His grace

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.079
 to send a messenger from heaven to speak to her,

00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:12.639
 she's going to carry a child,

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.420
 but this child will be the one

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:16.000
 that my parents have been telling me

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.920
 my whole life

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.200
 that God has promised.

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.820
 This will be the one who will save us.

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.300
 This will be the one

00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:25.960
 who will establish the kingdom forever.

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:30.039
 Salvation has come.

00:18:30.580 --> 00:18:32.060
 It's a message of salvation.

00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:34.640
 Well, let's look at the pieces

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:36.960
 of what the angel says here.

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.200
 We don't have time to get into all of it,

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.759
 but let's note just a couple of things.

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:45.840
 Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua,

00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:50.640
 which means Yahweh saves or God will save.

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:55.559
 Now, Jesus probably was actually a common name

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.900
 in first century Israel,

00:18:57.120 --> 00:18:59.360
 but it took on a literal meaning

00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:00.940
 for the child in Mary's womb.

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:04.440
 Here's what the angel said to Joseph later

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:06.120
 when he appears to him.

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:08.299
 In Matthew chapter one and verse 21,

00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.759
 she will bear a son.

00:19:10.219 --> 00:19:11.919
 You shall call his name Jesus

00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:16.979
 for he will save his people from their sins.

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.319
 Jesus would later teach that his purpose

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:24.219
 was to seek and to save the lost.

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:27.259
 This child in Mary's womb

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:30.119
 didn't come to testify of God's salvation.

00:19:30.459 --> 00:19:34.479
 He was here to actually be God's salvation.

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:38.279
 He was a child born to die

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:42.000
 so that we who are dead in our sins

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.920
 might experience the new birth

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:47.099
 and eternal life.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.559
 First Peter chapter two,

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.039
 he himself bore our sins

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.940
 in his body on the tree

00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:56.180
 that we might die to sin

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.900
 and live to righteousness.

00:19:57.900 --> 00:20:00.160
 By his wounds,

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.500
 we have been healed.

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.200
 This Messiah,

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.900
 this son of David

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:07.440
 here to save us.

00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:10.420
 Well, then Gabriel continued his announcement

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:12.780
 by declaring the child will be great

00:20:12.780 --> 00:20:15.340
 and will be called the son of the most high.

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:18.919
 Then he summarized the Davidic covenant

00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:20.459
 from second Samuel seven

00:20:20.459 --> 00:20:22.539
 and stated that in Jesus,

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:25.119
 the covenant would be fulfilled.

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:28.220
 Look at it with me again in verse 35

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:31.339
 or excuse me in verse 31.

00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:33.879
 Behold, you will conceive in your womb

00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.619
 and bear a son,

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.599
 call his name Jesus.

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.779
 He will be great.

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.659
 He will be the son of the most high

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:40.759
 and the Lord God will give to him

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.419
 the throne of his father, David.

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:45.320
 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.860
 of his kingdom.

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:49.519
 There will be no end.

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.900
 It brings to mind another famous Christmas passage

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:56.279
 from Isaiah chapter nine.

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.840
 Unto us, a child is born.

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.820
 To us, a son is given.

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:04.620
 The government shall be on his shoulders.

00:21:05.800 --> 00:21:09.460
 His name shall be called wonderful counselor,

00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.779
 mighty God.

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.740
 Everlasting father,

00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:17.320
 prince of peace.

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.640
 Of the increase of his government

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.660
 and of peace,

00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:23.320
 there will be no end.

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:26.080
 On the throne of David

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.480
 and over his kingdom

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.960
 to establish it

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.000
 and to uphold it with justice

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.180
 and with righteousness

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.620
 from this time forth

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.060
 and forevermore.

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.600
 The zeal of the Lord of hosts

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:39.200
 will do this.

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:41.799
 This is the one,

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.160
 the angel says.

00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.039
 The one you've heard about.

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.420
 The one you've prayed about.

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.940
 The one you've longed for.

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.080
 The salvation

00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:50.680
 has come.

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.779
 Based on what

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.680
 historians tell us,

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.740
 it's likely that Mary was

00:21:57.740 --> 00:22:00.160
 mostly illiterate.

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.120
 Even if she could read,

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.259
 she wouldn't have been able

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.100
 to own a copy

00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.019
 of the Old Testament.

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.279
 But you can be sure

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.940
 that she heard

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.100
 these passages read

00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:11.960
 over and over again

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.000
 as she went to synagogue

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.000
 week by week.

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.839
 Perhaps if her father

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.579
 was faithful,

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.460
 she would have heard

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.900
 these passages recited,

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.680
 these promises told

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.779
 again and again

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.460
 in her home

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.400
 as he obeyed

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.259
 the Shema

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.799
 from Deuteronomy

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.740
 chapter 6.

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.339
 Not only were they

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.519
 to love the Lord their God

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.220
 with all their heart,

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.940
 but they were to take

00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.519
 all the things

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.480
 that God had told them

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.420
 and they were to pass it

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.400
 down to their children.

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.660
 They were to teach it

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.859
 to those in their house.

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.859
 They were to talk about it

00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.480
 all the time.

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:44.500
 She probably couldn't

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:46.360
 comprehend the full impact

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:48.380
 of everything

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.579
 that this child would be.

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.680
 But she understood

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.599
 enough to know

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.579
 that God was bringing

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.400
 salvation

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.500
 through this baby boy.

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.120
 Again, Kent Hughes

00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.599
 is helpful.

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.599
 He says she understood

00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.440
 the gist of the angel's

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:02.880
 announcement.

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.319
 You're going to become

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:04.779
 pregnant.

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.700
 You're going to call

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.559
 his name Salvation.

00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.599
 He's going to be

00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.619
 the Son of God

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.019
 and he will be

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.899
 the Messiah.

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.879
 What an earful

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.679
 for Mary.

00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.599
 What a heartful

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.480
 for Mary,

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.079
 he says.

00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:22.719
 You see,

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.539
 this is why Christmas

00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.899
 is a story

00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.759
 of good news

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.679
 that brings great joy

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:30.519
 because it's the message

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.339
 of salvation

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:33.379
 for all who will believe

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.279
 and follow Christ.

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.719
 It's the good news

00:23:36.719 --> 00:23:37.519
 that God sent

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.639
 his own Son

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.339
 into the world

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.159
 to save sinners.

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.759
 Christmas is joy

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.339
 because salvation

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:45.039
 has come.

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.599
 But then it's also

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.379
 a message

00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:49.539
 of incarnation.

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.779
 So it's a message

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.379
 of grace.

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.480
 It's a message

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.240
 of salvation.

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.639
 It's a message

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:56.359
 of incarnation.

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.619
 Now betrothal

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.299
 in Mary's day

00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.959
 was quite different

00:23:59.959 --> 00:24:01.000
 than modern engagements.

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:04.019
 it was a formal

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.039
 marriage contract

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.500
 that could only

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.140
 be broken

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.920
 by death

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:09.680
 or by legal divorce.

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.900
 The betrothal period

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.579
 would last

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.380
 about a year

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.140
 in most cases

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.000
 during which time

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.539
 the young man

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.059
 would go

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.180
 and prepare a home

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.579
 for his new wife

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:22.200
 and the young lady

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.200
 would prepare herself

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:26.000
 for this wedding event

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.660
 and for this new life

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.559
 with the young man.

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.399
 And then the year

00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.379
 would culminate

00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:32.700
 most likely

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.720
 in a seven day

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.960
 wedding feast.

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.419
 Some of you

00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:36.119
 are stressed out

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.919
 for your three hour

00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:37.579
 wedding feast.

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.559
 Can you imagine

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.299
 a seven day

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.019
 wedding feast?

00:24:41.159 --> 00:24:42.399
 And it's at this

00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.359
 wedding feast

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.919
 that the marriage

00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:46.039
 would be celebrated

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.339
 and consummated

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.480
 by the bride

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:48.980
 and groom.

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:51.500
 Joseph and Mary

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.740
 are at some point

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.660
 in this betrothal period

00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:56.079
 where they were

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.319
 generally regarded

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.680
 as husband and wife

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.740
 but they had not

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:01.000
 joined in a physical union.

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.779
 And it's this circumstance

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.759
 that produces

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.319
 Mary's logical question

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.460
 in verse 34.

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.620
 Look at it with me.

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.099
 Mary says to the angel,

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.839
 how will this be

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:12.500
 since I'm a virgin?

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.759
 Now this is exactly

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.720
 what we should expect

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.900
 Mary to ask right now.

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.480
 And she's not asking it

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.600
 out of unbelief.

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.300
 If you go back earlier

00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.259
 in Luke chapter 1

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.259
 you'll see when the angel

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.680
 appears to Zechariah

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:28.160
 he's actually overcome

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.519
 with a bit of unbelief

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.000
 and doubt

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.100
 in the message of the angel

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.640
 and he faces the consequences.

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.759
 He's stricken mute

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.259
 for the entire duration

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.160
 of his wife's pregnancy.

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.380
 Can't talk

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.140
 until the day

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.400
 that John the Baptist

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.500
 is born and dedicated

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.259
 to the Lord.

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.080
 That's not the same thing

00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:44.040
 that's happening with Mary.

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.960
 It's not that she's

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.920
 doubting the message.

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.700
 This is a question

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.440
 of confusion.

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.579
 She'd never known

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.620
 a man in intimacy

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:54.279
 so she asked

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.940
 for clarification

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.900
 about how it was

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.620
 even possible.

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.940
 And the answer

00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.640
 is wonderfully

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.200
 mysterious.

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.180
 In fact

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.140
 that's exactly

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.660
 the language

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.660
 that the New Testament

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.340
 uses over and over

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.240
 and over again

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.360
 regarding the incarnation

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.100
 of Christ

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.519
 and the gospel message.

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.720
 it's not that it's

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.980
 un-understandable

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:17.139
 but it is mysterious.

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.960
 The early church

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:21.299
 perhaps this was a hymn

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.700
 that the early church

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.180
 would sing

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.599
 in 1 Timothy chapter 3.

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.680
 Great indeed

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.420
 we confess

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.539
 is the mystery

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.379
 of godliness

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.500
 and it begins with

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.839
 he was manifested

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.740
 in the flesh.

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:33.359
 This whole thought

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.920
 of incarnation

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.960
 is a mystery.

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.019
 We can understand

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.339
 the logic of it

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:39.200
 as it's described

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.900
 in the scriptures

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:42.040
 but the fullness

00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:43.440
 of Christ's divine

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.420
 and human identity

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.840
 is really beyond

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.460
 our ability

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.080
 to comprehend.

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.540
 So the angel

00:26:49.540 --> 00:26:50.220
 helps Mary

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.780
 he answers her

00:26:51.780 --> 00:26:52.960
 in three distinct ways

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.340
 that I think

00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:53.880
 will be helpful

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.420
 to us.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.200
 First

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.080
 he gave her

00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.840
 an explanation.

00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.380
 He gave her

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.040
 an explanation.

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.140
 Verse 35

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.420
 and the angel

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.100
 answered her

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.640
 the Holy Spirit

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.780
 will come upon you

00:27:04.780 --> 00:27:06.640
 and the power

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.660
 of the Most High

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:09.740
 will overshadow you

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.960
 therefore the child

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.620
 to be born

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.660
 will be called

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.000
 Holy

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.059
 the Son of God.

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.779
 He says here's how

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.519
 it's going to happen

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:18.900
 Mary.

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.519
 This will be a

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.420
 creative act

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.940
 of the Spirit

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.440
 of God.

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.299
 Incarnation.

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.319
 What does

00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.319
 incarnation mean?

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.460
 It simply means

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.420
 God

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.940
 takes on flesh.

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.120
 God

00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:37.299
 becomes a man

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:39.180
 and in doing

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.559
 so

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.559
 God does not

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.000
 stop being God.

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:42.819
 That's the mystery

00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.379
 of it.

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.899
 Jesus Christ

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:47.279
 fully

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.359
 divine

00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.200
 truly

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.200
 God

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.579
 truly

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.819
 man

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:55.259
 and he

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.139
 had to be

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.460
 born of

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.779
 woman.

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.500
 It had

00:27:59.500 --> 00:27:59.859
 to be

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.639
 incarnation

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:02.079
 first

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.220
 because he

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.680
 had to be

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.359
 born under

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:04.879
 the law

00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.899
 in order

00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.419
 that he

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:06.819
 might

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.659
 fulfill

00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.240
 the law

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.839
 on our

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.319
 behalf.

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.219
 Second

00:28:11.219 --> 00:28:12.740
 he had

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:12.979
 to have

00:28:12.979 --> 00:28:13.559
 had flesh

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.079
 and blood

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.459
 to actually

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:16.159
 be a

00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:16.699
 sacrifice

00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:18.219
 for sin.

00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:20.179
 The incarnation

00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:22.319
 is absolutely

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.079
 essential to

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.539
 the gospel

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.079
 message.

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.859
 Without it

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:27.159
 we have

00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:27.779
 no gospel.

00:28:28.959 --> 00:28:29.799
 But this

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.240
 was not

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.200
 the divine

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.819
 human

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.240
 cohabitation

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:33.900
 that is so

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.740
 often reflected

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.279
 in pagan

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.859
 religions.

00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.099
 Overshadow

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.859
 here comes

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.200
 from the

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.720
 same word

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.160
 used to

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.640
 describe

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.440
 what took

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:41.940
 place on

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.240
 the mount

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.400
 of

00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.240
 transfiguration.

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.559
 You remember

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.099
 Peter and

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.559
 James and

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:45.920
 John are

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.339
 with Jesus

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.700
 on the

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.000
 mountain.

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.400
 Jesus

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:47.700
 is

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.359
 transfigured

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.059
 and then

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.460
 when they

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:49.940
 are made

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.839
 aware of

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.160
 what is

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.579
 happening

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.319
 they are

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.859
 overshadowed

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:54.740
 by the

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.319
 presence of

00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.539
 God,

00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:55.980
 the spirit

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.380
 of God.

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.319
 It's the

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.000
 same idea

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.680
 conveyed in

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:58.980
 the Old

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.339
 Testament

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.379
 when at

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.019
 the dedication

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.740
 of Solomon's

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:01.980
 temple.

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:02.699
 Remember the

00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:03.179
 temple was

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:03.839
 filled with

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.179
 the spirit

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.480
 of God.

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:04.740
 It's that

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.259
 same idea

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.579
 of being

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.639
 overshadowed

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.579
 engulfed

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.799
 with the

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.480
 presence and

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:09.919
 the power

00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:10.359
 of God.

00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:10.759
 That's what

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.159
 the angel

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.480
 is saying.

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:11.779
 You will

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.319
 be engulfed

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.299
 by the

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.899
 presence of

00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.079
 God,

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.220
 overshadowed

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.019
 by his

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.659
 glorious

00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:19.159
 presence.

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.519
 There are

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.039
 no physical

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.079
 relations between

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.519
 God and

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:22.759
 Mary.

00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:23.619
 This was the

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.519
 creative act

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.259
 of the spirit

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.980
 of God and

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.240
 it was

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.799
 absolutely

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.399
 necessary.

00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:29.620
 MacArthur,

00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:31.100
 had Jesus

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.880
 been conceived

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.540
 by the act

00:29:32.540 --> 00:29:33.220
 of a man,

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.500
 whether Joseph

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.980
 or anyone

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.259
 else, he

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.720
 could not

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.000
 have been

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.519
 divine and

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.040
 could not

00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.360
 have been

00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:39.900
 the Savior.

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.540
 His own

00:29:41.540 --> 00:29:42.160
 claims about

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.860
 himself would

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.100
 have been

00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:44.060
 lies and

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.860
 his resurrection

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.880
 and ascension

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.660
 would have

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.600
 been hoaxes.

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.140
 Mankind

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.019
 would forever

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.320
 remain lost

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.660
 and damned.

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:54.900
 the fact

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.140
 of the

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.480
 incarnation

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.360
 is essential

00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:56.700
 to the

00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.440
 gospel and

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.040
 it's affirmed

00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.880
 again and

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.320
 again in

00:29:59.320 --> 00:29:59.560
 the New

00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:00.000
 Testament.

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.840
 John 1

00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:02.580
 14,

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.700
 the word

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.860
 became flesh

00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:06.160
 and dwelt

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.980
 among us

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.820
 and we

00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:08.220
 have seen

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.860
 his glory

00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:09.940
 as of the

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.540
 only son

00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:10.920
 from the

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.320
 father,

00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.480
 full of

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.120
 grace and

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.500
 truth.

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.420
 Philippians 2

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.360
 6-8,

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.620
 though he

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.040
 was in the

00:30:18.040 --> 00:30:18.480
 form of

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:18.820
 God,

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.740
 did not

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.700
 count equality

00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.200
 with God

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.680
 a thing to

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.480
 be grasped,

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.460
 but emptied

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.880
 himself by

00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:25.420
 taking on

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.799
 the form

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.080
 of a

00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:26.440
 servant,

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.840
 being born

00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:28.120
 in the

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.660
 likeness of

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:28.940
 men,

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.380
 and being

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.000
 found in

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.620
 human form.

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:32.940
 He humbled

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.740
 himself by

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.140
 becoming

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.880
 obedient to

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.200
 the point

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.640
 of death,

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.160
 even death

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.440
 on the

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.920
 cross.

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.759
 Hebrews

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.500
 chapter 1

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:40.840
 in verse

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.200
 3,

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.320
 he's the

00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:44.000
 radiance of

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.380
 the glory

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.840
 of God.

00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:45.799
 He's the

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.820
 exact imprint

00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.480
 of his

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.299
 nature and

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.880
 he upholds

00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.600
 the universe

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.620
 by the word

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:50.860
 of his

00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.240
 power.

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.640
 God in

00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.220
 the flesh.

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:55.600
 You see,

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.200
 the fact is

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.700
 that Jesus

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.420
 didn't begin

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.240
 to exist

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.039
 at the

00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.580
 moment he

00:30:59.580 --> 00:30:59.880
 entered

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.299
 Mary's

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.620
 womb.

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.600
 Jesus has

00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:03.279
 always been.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.440
 He's the

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.080
 second person

00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:06.380
 of the

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.740
 Trinity,

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.880
 co-equal,

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.140
 co-eternal

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.779
 with God

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.299
 the Father

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.700
 and God

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.060
 the Holy

00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:11.480
 Spirit.

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.680
 And this

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.240
 miraculous

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:13.920
 conception

00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.860
 simply marks

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.460
 the moment

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.060
 that he

00:31:16.060 --> 00:31:16.660
 entered our

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.460
 brokenness

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.240
 and suffered

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.980
 for our

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.180
 sins.

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.180
 Gabriel's

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:22.840
 message is

00:31:22.840 --> 00:31:23.259
 not only

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.600
 one of

00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.180
 salvation,

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.319
 but salvation

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.440
 through

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.900
 incarnation.

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.340
 God

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.000
 himself

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.200
 has become

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.640
 man.

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.319
 Emmanuel,

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.079
 God is

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.240
 with us.

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.120
 He gives

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.360
 her an

00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:37.840
 explanation.

00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.000
 Then he

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.480
 gives her a

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:39.880
 sign.

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:40.920
 A sign.

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.240
 Look at

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.960
 verse 36.

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.740
 And behold,

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.319
 your relative

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.100
 Elizabeth in

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.519
 her old

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.660
 age has

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.460
 also conceived

00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:46.940
 a son.

00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:48.500
 And this

00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:48.819
 is the

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.400
 sixth month

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:49.840
 with her

00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:50.880
 who was

00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.120
 called

00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:51.539
 barren.

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.940
 God is

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.440
 so gracious

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:54.860
 to give

00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:55.500
 us signs

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.640
 that strengthen

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.259
 our faith

00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.559
 in his

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:57.980
 truth.

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.059
 And that's

00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.740
 precisely what

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.000
 he did

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.480
 for Mary.

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.420
 If you

00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:01.740
 read through

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.180
 the beginning

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.660
 of chapter

00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.019
 one,

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.460
 you'll see

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.100
 exactly how

00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:04.579
 this story

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.420
 unfolds.

00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:06.140
 Zechariah

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.759
 and Elizabeth,

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.440
 the parents

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:07.799
 of John

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.279
 the Baptist,

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.700
 were well

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.380
 beyond child

00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:11.160
 bearing years.

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.300
 the angel

00:32:12.300 --> 00:32:12.820
 appears to

00:32:12.820 --> 00:32:13.519
 Zechariah

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.259
 and says,

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:16.060
 your wife

00:32:16.060 --> 00:32:16.340
 is going

00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:16.540
 to be

00:32:16.540 --> 00:32:16.880
 pregnant.

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.120
 You're

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.580
 going to

00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:17.880
 have a

00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.240
 baby.

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.540
 He's so

00:32:19.540 --> 00:32:20.180
 old and

00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.840
 she's so

00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:21.620
 old that

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.040
 he doesn't

00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.700
 even believe

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.560
 this heavenly

00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.460
 being who

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:24.880
 has suddenly

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.440
 appeared to

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.779
 him with

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.340
 this message

00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:26.860
 from God.

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.560
 That's how

00:32:27.560 --> 00:32:27.960
 old they

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.300
 are.

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.600
 And then

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:31.960
 it comes

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.680
 to be that

00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.460
 Elizabeth is

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.779
 pregnant.

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.220
 And the

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.600
 whole point

00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:35.840
 of the

00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.180
 sign is

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.560
 this.

00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:37.779
 If God

00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.279
 was able

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.779
 and willing

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.640
 to bless

00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.360
 Zechariah

00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:40.940
 and Elizabeth

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.400
 with a

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:41.740
 child

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.180
 through

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.740
 natural

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.279
 means,

00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.440
 there would

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.759
 be no

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.400
 reason for

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:45.860
 Mary to

00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:46.940
 wonder if

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.200
 he could

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:47.500
 do the

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:47.900
 same with

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.720
 her through

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.320
 supernatural

00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:50.500
 means.

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.420
 So he gives

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:51.980
 her a sign.

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:52.700
 And then

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.080
 finally,

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.140
 he gives

00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.400
 her an

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:54.980
 assurance.

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.820
 An assurance.

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.920
 Verse 37,

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.820
 for nothing

00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:00.279
 will be

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.779
 impossible

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:02.120
 with God.

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.240
 Nothing

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.620
 will be

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.100
 impossible

00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:05.440
 with God.

00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:08.160
 Now,

00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:08.980
 secularists

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:11.019
 will deny

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.539
 the virgin

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.039
 birth of

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.380
 Jesus

00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:14.000
 because it

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.380
 is not

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.080
 scientifically

00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:15.820
 possible

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:17.140
 for such

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.500
 a thing

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.299
 to occur.

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.779
 And of

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:19.920
 course,

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.340
 as long as

00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:20.539
 they're

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.299
 removing God

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.600
 from the

00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.039
 equation,

00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:22.240
 they're

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.559
 exactly

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:22.940
 right.

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.460
 It's not

00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:24.940
 possible.

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.059
 The problem

00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:27.460
 is that

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:27.960
 there's no

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:29.460
 basis for

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.180
 their denial

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.759
 of God's

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.380
 existence

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:31.860
 existence

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.680
 outside of

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.260
 the fact

00:33:33.260 --> 00:33:34.760
 that they

00:33:34.760 --> 00:33:35.320
 just don't

00:33:35.320 --> 00:33:35.720
 want to

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.220
 believe it's

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.480
 true.

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.180
 In other

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:38.500
 words,

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:40.060
 they cannot

00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.740
 prove that

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.280
 God doesn't

00:33:41.280 --> 00:33:41.760
 exist.

00:33:42.340 --> 00:33:43.080
 They can

00:33:43.080 --> 00:33:43.880
 only operate

00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:44.480
 under the

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.940
 assumption

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.360
 that he

00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:45.820
 doesn't.

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.720
 And if

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.140
 this is the

00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.980
 foundation of

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.620
 your belief,

00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.500
 this verse

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:50.960
 won't mean

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.580
 anything to

00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:51.920
 you.

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.180
 But then

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.620
 there's another

00:33:53.620 --> 00:33:54.100
 type of

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:55.600
 person who

00:33:55.600 --> 00:33:56.060
 is open

00:33:56.060 --> 00:33:56.600
 to God's

00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:57.060
 existence,

00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.500
 but is

00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.260
 skeptical of

00:33:59.260 --> 00:33:59.660
 anything

00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.460
 supernatural,

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.779
 that might

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.980
 require faith

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.740
 that stretches

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:06.519
 beyond our

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.400
 capacity for

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.119
 understanding.

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:10.179
 Most of us

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:10.820
 probably at

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.300
 some point

00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.079
 in time have

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.559
 either fallen

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.019
 into that

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.960
 category or

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.039
 maybe routinely

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.820
 slip into that

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.639
 category even

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.000
 still.

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.300
 We have a

00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:19.920
 faith in God's

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.340
 existence.

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.820
 We're not

00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.340
 willing to

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.000
 deny that.

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.400
 There's too

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.059
 much evidence

00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:24.360
 to the

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:24.760
 contrary.

00:34:25.720 --> 00:34:26.519
 But when it

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.039
 comes to the

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.740
 things when the

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.639
 Bible talks about

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.720
 virgins being

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:31.459
 made pregnant,

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.039
 when it talks

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.739
 about people

00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.500
 being raised

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:33.879
 from the

00:34:33.879 --> 00:34:34.159
 dead,

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:34.480
 when it

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:34.879
 comes to

00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:35.199
 some of

00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.779
 these things

00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.659
 that are

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.559
 difficult for

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:37.939
 us to

00:34:37.939 --> 00:34:39.500
 explain by

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.619
 scientific and

00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:41.519
 natural means,

00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.559
 we really begin

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.459
 to struggle with

00:34:43.459 --> 00:34:43.819
 what the

00:34:43.819 --> 00:34:44.399
 scripture tells

00:34:44.399 --> 00:34:44.659
 us.

00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:45.859
 Now, if

00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.459
 that's you,

00:34:47.299 --> 00:34:48.119
 this verse is

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:48.859
 exactly for

00:34:48.859 --> 00:34:49.099
 you.

00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:51.079
 You should be

00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.539
 able to take

00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.139
 comfort in it

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.559
 actually.

00:34:53.939 --> 00:34:54.980
 As long as we

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.619
 attempt to

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.319
 understand the

00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:57.019
 things of God

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.500
 from purely

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.119
 a natural

00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.860
 perspective,

00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.519
 our doubts

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:01.920
 will never

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.539
 go away.

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.460
 But there's

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:05.880
 tremendous

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.679
 comfort in

00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:08.219
 recognizing that

00:35:08.219 --> 00:35:08.860
 the God who

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.719
 gave us this

00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:11.739
 truth is able

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.420
 and willing to

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.960
 perform this

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.380
 truth.

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:17.079
 I'm thankful

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.639
 for God's

00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:18.259
 explanations.

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.980
 It's actually

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.800
 not all that

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.539
 common that God

00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:21.980
 deals in

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.900
 explanations in

00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.320
 the Bible.

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.659
 He deals in

00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.480
 promises, not

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.300
 explanations for

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.860
 the most part.

00:35:27.080 --> 00:35:27.580
 But even in

00:35:27.580 --> 00:35:28.519
 this case, he

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.100
 gives an

00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:29.880
 explanation because

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.519
 the explanation

00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.539
 is so necessary

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.019
 for us to

00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.460
 understand.

00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:33.840
 I'm thankful

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.300
 for that.

00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:35.820
 I'm thankful

00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.519
 for the signs

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:36.980
 as well.

00:35:37.680 --> 00:35:38.420
 I'm thankful

00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:38.980
 that when we

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.539
 come to the

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.120
 scriptures, we

00:35:40.120 --> 00:35:41.039
 can find all

00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.620
 of the ways,

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:43.220
 the factual

00:35:43.220 --> 00:35:44.500
 historical events

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.360
 that unfolded

00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:46.600
 that point to

00:35:46.600 --> 00:35:47.460
 the truth that

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.460
 Jesus is indeed

00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.440
 who he says he

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.220
 was and that he

00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:50.980
 did these things

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.539
 and it's undeniable

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.100
 some of these

00:35:53.100 --> 00:35:53.560
 things.

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.100
 I'm thankful

00:35:55.100 --> 00:35:56.039
 for those signs.

00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:58.280
 But nothing

00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.039
 should bring us

00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.920
 more comfort and

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.720
 assurance than

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:02.160
 the fact that

00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:02.680
 nothing is

00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:03.560
 impossible for

00:36:03.560 --> 00:36:03.860
 him.

00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.100
 At the end of

00:36:06.100 --> 00:36:07.260
 the day, the

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:07.960
 God who spoke

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.760
 this world into

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:11.220
 existence, who

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:12.120
 holds it in his

00:36:12.120 --> 00:36:14.600
 hand, who knows

00:36:14.600 --> 00:36:16.060
 you, who knows

00:36:16.060 --> 00:36:16.800
 everything there is

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:18.019
 to know about

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.420
 you.

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:21.539
 as I think it

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.019
 was R.C.

00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.980
 Sproul said, who

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.099
 in his power,

00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:24.880
 there is not

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.019
 one maverick

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:27.079
 molecule in the

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.900
 entire universe.

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.559
 That as the

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.500
 Bible says over

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.019
 and over and

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.820
 over, all things

00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:33.639
 are from him,

00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:34.800
 all things are

00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:35.619
 through him,

00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.740
 all things are

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:38.099
 to him and to

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:38.720
 his glory.

00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:40.400
 That same God,

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:42.059
 this is nothing

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.780
 for him.

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.019
 We understand

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.619
 that, right?

00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:47.039
 There is

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.639
 comfort in

00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:47.880
 that.

00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:49.659
 And when we

00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.199
 come to these

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:51.000
 difficult things

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.619
 that we cannot

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.420
 explain and that

00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.259
 we cannot fully

00:36:53.259 --> 00:36:54.500
 comprehend, just

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.420
 because we cannot

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.699
 comprehend it does

00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.460
 not mean that it

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.199
 is not true.

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.599
 Because with God,

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.679
 nothing is

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.259
 impossible.

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.480
 He's proven it

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.119
 time and time

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:04.440
 again.

00:37:04.819 --> 00:37:05.400
 You can step

00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.039
 outside these

00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:06.659
 doors and look

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.339
 around you this

00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:07.900
 morning and you

00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:09.159
 will see that God

00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:10.559
 is there and

00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.119
 nothing is

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.039
 impossible for him.

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:12.759
 I thought about

00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:13.359
 it when I drove

00:37:13.359 --> 00:37:14.059
 the truck here this

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:14.599
 morning with the

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.380
 trailer and I

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:15.759
 was getting out

00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:15.980
 and it was

00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:17.059
 raining so hard.

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:17.799
 And I don't

00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.259
 know why this

00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:19.139
 was on my mind,

00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.719
 but I thought

00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.599
 about my grass.

00:37:22.319 --> 00:37:22.920
 And I thought

00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:23.819
 this is so good

00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.980
 for my grass.

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:25.360
 And then I

00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:25.679
 thought, you

00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.119
 know, if I was

00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:26.639
 really thirsty

00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.460
 right now, I

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.860
 could probably,

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.380
 I don't know why

00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:28.739
 I thought about

00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:29.279
 this, this is weird,

00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:29.819
 but I did.

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.420
 And I thought,

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.139
 if I was really

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:31.880
 thirsty right now,

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.380
 I could dump

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.079
 out my coffee and

00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.940
 I could just

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.420
 stick it out here.

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:34.839
 I could have

00:37:34.839 --> 00:37:35.539
 something to drink.

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.420
 And then it

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:36.880
 kind of hit me

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.279
 there for a

00:37:37.279 --> 00:37:37.500
 moment.

00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.559
 The God that

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.059
 we're preaching

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.759
 about today, the

00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:40.179
 God that we're

00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:41.039
 studying today,

00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.399
 he designed all

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:42.819
 of this.

00:37:43.859 --> 00:37:44.839
 He designed our

00:37:44.839 --> 00:37:45.639
 bodies to function

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.179
 in the way that

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.480
 we do.

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:46.919
 And then he

00:37:46.919 --> 00:37:47.460
 designed an

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.199
 environment in

00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:48.679
 which we can

00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.440
 live that

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.659
 perfectly is

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:51.599
 suitable for the

00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.159
 bodies that he

00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:52.879
 created us to

00:37:52.879 --> 00:37:53.319
 possess.

00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:55.799
 That God,

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.500
 nothing's impossible

00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.119
 for him.

00:37:59.879 --> 00:38:00.980
 He can make the

00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:01.839
 virgin conceive.

00:38:02.899 --> 00:38:04.099
 He created her.

00:38:05.279 --> 00:38:06.379
 This is all his

00:38:06.379 --> 00:38:06.779
 plan.

00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.379
 It's all within

00:38:08.379 --> 00:38:09.000
 his power.

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.440
 And in the

00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:10.920
 moment this

00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:11.579
 Christmas season

00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.159
 that you begin

00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:13.619
 to doubt the

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.400
 facts of this

00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:16.260
 story again, go

00:38:16.260 --> 00:38:17.340
 to this verse and

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.179
 remind yourself,

00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:20.079
 with God, nothing

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:21.420
 is impossible here,

00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.260
 of course.

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.500
 Let's finish with

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.179
 verse 38.

00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:27.860
 Mary said,

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.639
 Behold, I am the

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:29.139
 servant of the

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.360
 Lord.

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.800
 Let it be to me

00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.519
 according to your

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:32.880
 word.

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.639
 And the angel

00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:36.559
 departed from her.

00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:38.219
 This is really

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:38.980
 amazing coming

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.400
 from a 12 to 14

00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:40.920
 year old girl,

00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:41.360
 isn't it?

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.860
 If you think

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:43.440
 that's amazing,

00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.179
 wait till next

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:44.780
 week when we get

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:45.039
 to the

00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:46.440
 Magnificat later

00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:46.940
 on in this

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.579
 chapter and it's

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.320
 going to blow

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:48.719
 your mind.

00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:50.500
 I don't even

00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:51.300
 think this way as

00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:52.280
 a 35 year old,

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.559
 much less as a

00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:54.240
 12 year old.

00:38:56.740 --> 00:38:57.519
 The announcement

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.380
 of Gabriel is

00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.260
 truly good news

00:38:59.260 --> 00:39:00.019
 that can produce

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:00.820
 everlasting joy.

00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:01.460
 We've established

00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:01.760
 that.

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:08.880
 Mary's response

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.660
 reflects the

00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:11.100
 faith necessary

00:39:11.100 --> 00:39:12.340
 for salvation.

00:39:14.560 --> 00:39:15.460
 She believed

00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.180
 the word of God.

00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:18.780
 She turned away

00:39:18.780 --> 00:39:19.240
 from whatever

00:39:19.240 --> 00:39:20.160
 personal ambition

00:39:20.160 --> 00:39:20.800
 she might have

00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:21.120
 had.

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.080
 And she

00:39:23.080 --> 00:39:24.020
 surrendered wholly

00:39:24.020 --> 00:39:24.680
 to the Lord's

00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:26.240
 work in her life.

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:28.799
 Is that not

00:39:28.799 --> 00:39:29.259
 what the Lord

00:39:29.259 --> 00:39:30.139
 Jesus calls us

00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:30.519
 all to?

00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.399
 Believe his

00:39:32.399 --> 00:39:32.739
 word,

00:39:34.419 --> 00:39:35.279
 surrender self,

00:39:35.439 --> 00:39:36.259
 turn from sin,

00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:38.759
 and wholly

00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:39.519
 follow him with

00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:40.000
 our lives.

00:39:40.779 --> 00:39:41.599
 That's the call

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:42.239
 to salvation.

00:39:42.939 --> 00:39:43.959
 That's what Mary's

00:39:43.959 --> 00:39:44.539
 doing here.

00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.559
 But think about

00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.359
 what this faith

00:39:47.359 --> 00:39:47.859
 and surrender

00:39:47.859 --> 00:39:48.579
 meant for her.

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:51.559
 At least for a

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.019
 little while,

00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.159
 her future husband

00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:55.219
 thought to divorce

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.460
 her.

00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:56.880
 We learn about

00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:57.500
 that in Matthew

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:57.880
 1.

00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:00.039
 He was a just

00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.400
 man.

00:40:01.219 --> 00:40:01.940
 He wasn't going

00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:02.539
 to make a show

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:02.940
 of her.

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.519
 But it wasn't

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:05.199
 until the angel

00:40:05.199 --> 00:40:06.019
 Gabriel appeared

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:07.779
 to him that he

00:40:07.779 --> 00:40:08.779
 decided to continue

00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:09.279
 on with the

00:40:09.279 --> 00:40:09.639
 marriage.

00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:13.340
 The penalty

00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:14.059
 for adultery

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.719
 was death.

00:40:15.799 --> 00:40:16.579
 It wasn't

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.659
 typically applied

00:40:17.659 --> 00:40:19.219
 in her day.

00:40:20.379 --> 00:40:21.179
 But there was

00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:21.699
 always the

00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:22.739
 possibility of

00:40:22.739 --> 00:40:23.379
 Mary being

00:40:23.379 --> 00:40:24.699
 killed if

00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:25.219
 people didn't

00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:25.659
 believe her

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:26.019
 story.

00:40:26.879 --> 00:40:27.539
 And they

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.079
 didn't believe

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:28.579
 her story.

00:40:30.819 --> 00:40:31.679
 Last week at

00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:32.139
 the Thanksgiving

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:32.639
 fellowship,

00:40:32.779 --> 00:40:33.339
 it was Scobie

00:40:33.339 --> 00:40:33.839
 that was telling

00:40:33.839 --> 00:40:35.019
 me about being

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.679
 in Israel one

00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.239
 time and he

00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:36.739
 experienced

00:40:36.739 --> 00:40:37.519
 something where

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.579
 because he or

00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:40.460
 somebody around

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.719
 him was violating

00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:43.379
 the Sabbath

00:40:43.379 --> 00:40:44.480
 regulations that

00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.379
 people began to

00:40:45.379 --> 00:40:46.119
 throw rocks at

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:46.319
 them.

00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:48.039
 That's for

00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:48.699
 violating the

00:40:48.699 --> 00:40:48.980
 Sabbath.

00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:50.339
 Now, the

00:40:50.339 --> 00:40:50.859
 death penalty

00:40:50.859 --> 00:40:51.379
 may not have

00:40:51.379 --> 00:40:51.899
 been applied

00:40:51.899 --> 00:40:53.839
 in an official

00:40:53.839 --> 00:40:54.940
 sense very often

00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.799
 in Mary's day.

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.199
 But if you're

00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:57.639
 from a little

00:40:57.639 --> 00:40:58.519
 town that cares

00:40:58.519 --> 00:40:59.000
 about those

00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.639
 kinds of things

00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:00.159
 and you turn

00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:00.599
 up to be

00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:01.239
 pregnant out of

00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:02.119
 wedlock,

00:41:02.659 --> 00:41:03.199
 maybe there's

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:03.679
 some stones

00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.259
 that got thrown

00:41:04.259 --> 00:41:04.719
 her away.

00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:06.239
 Maybe that's

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:06.659
 why she went

00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:07.039
 to live with

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:07.719
 Elizabeth for a

00:41:07.719 --> 00:41:07.879
 while.

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:08.539
 Who knows?

00:41:08.739 --> 00:41:09.079
 This was

00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:09.719
 great cause

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:10.059
 to her.

00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:12.159
 Apparently

00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:12.699
 many people

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.299
 didn't believe

00:41:13.299 --> 00:41:14.179
 her as is

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:15.139
 indicated by the

00:41:15.139 --> 00:41:15.719
 times that

00:41:15.719 --> 00:41:16.119
 Jesus'

00:41:16.379 --> 00:41:18.239
 enemies implied

00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.299
 his illegitimate

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:19.739
 birth.

00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:22.299
 Obeying the

00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:23.219
 Lord and

00:41:23.219 --> 00:41:23.940
 following him

00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:24.699
 in faith came

00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:25.279
 at tremendous

00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:26.099
 cost for Mary.

00:41:26.599 --> 00:41:27.500
 It always

00:41:27.500 --> 00:41:27.920
 does.

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.559
 But what we

00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:32.259
 have in Mary's

00:41:32.259 --> 00:41:33.119
 example is the

00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:33.879
 kind of faith

00:41:33.879 --> 00:41:35.359
 that God requires

00:41:35.359 --> 00:41:35.960
 of us all.

00:41:37.819 --> 00:41:38.299
 Abandon

00:41:38.299 --> 00:41:38.739
 self,

00:41:39.379 --> 00:41:40.179
 turn from

00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:40.639
 sin,

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:42.299
 trust his

00:41:42.299 --> 00:41:42.719
 word,

00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:44.359
 follow his

00:41:44.359 --> 00:41:44.779
 son,

00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:45.980
 whatever the

00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:46.539
 cost may

00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:46.839
 be.

00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:48.159
 And there

00:41:48.159 --> 00:41:48.779
 will be some

00:41:48.779 --> 00:41:49.419
 cost in your

00:41:49.419 --> 00:41:49.759
 life.

00:41:51.459 --> 00:41:52.279
 It may be a

00:41:52.279 --> 00:41:52.980
 family cost,

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:53.619
 it may be a

00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.339
 job cost,

00:41:54.419 --> 00:41:54.919
 it may be

00:41:54.919 --> 00:41:55.279
 friendships,

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:56.199
 it may be

00:41:56.199 --> 00:41:56.980
 lots of

00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:57.339
 things.

00:41:57.939 --> 00:41:58.559
 But it will

00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.099
 always come

00:41:59.099 --> 00:41:59.719
 at a cost.

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:01.659
 And the

00:42:01.659 --> 00:42:02.279
 question is,

00:42:02.319 --> 00:42:02.799
 is the cost

00:42:02.799 --> 00:42:03.399
 worth it?

00:42:04.399 --> 00:42:04.839
 For Mary,

00:42:04.919 --> 00:42:05.379
 it was worth

00:42:05.379 --> 00:42:05.579
 it.

00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:08.699
 The story

00:42:08.699 --> 00:42:09.099
 of Christmas

00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:09.679
 is indeed

00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:10.179
 good news

00:42:10.179 --> 00:42:10.559
 of great

00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:10.839
 joy.

00:42:10.840 --> 00:42:12.960
 it's a

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.440
 message of

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:14.019
 grace and

00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.559
 salvation

00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:15.079
 through the

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:15.960
 incarnation of

00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:16.240
 Jesus.

00:42:17.280 --> 00:42:17.880
 And all

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:18.300
 that's left

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.760
 for us to

00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:20.180
 do is

00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:20.780
 believe it

00:42:20.780 --> 00:42:22.980
 and receive

00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:23.519
 the grace

00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:23.960
 that only

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:25.680
 comes through

00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:26.620
 this salvation,

00:42:27.559 --> 00:42:28.240
 Jesus Christ

00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:28.559
 alone.