WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 Now this might sound strange, but I wish I was more like a teenage girl. 00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:14.439 No, I don't wish I was more in love with Justin Bieber or spent all my money on my hair and 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:17.600 clothes or whatever teenage girls spend their money on. 00:00:18.379 --> 00:00:22.000 But I wish I was more like a teenage girl and you should too. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:28.780 This week as we consider how to be prepared for Christmas, after last week we're going 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:31.679 to be considering a particular teenage girl. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:38.740 Not just any teenage girls or teenage girls in general, but one in particular, Mary the 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:39.840 mother of Jesus. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:47.500 Last week we looked at the start of this chapter of Luke and we saw what God had in store for 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:50.260 an old couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:54.719 They were going to have a baby John and he would prepare the way for Jesus. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:01:02.179 And in this first chapter, there's a deliberate comparison between Zechariah who doubts and 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:03.719 Mary who believes. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:10.579 And this comparison is going to show us this morning that Mary is someone worth modelling, 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:13.799 even if she is an unlikely prospect. 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:20.400 So please open your Bibles, keep them open at Luke chapter 1 verse 26 with me. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:29.500 From verse 26. 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:38.160 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:42.520 pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:45.020 The virgin's name was Mary. 00:01:45.019 --> 00:01:51.259 God sends his messenger from a priest, from Zechariah in the temple, the very heart of 00:01:51.259 --> 00:01:57.659 Israel, to speak to Mary, a humble girl from Nazareth. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:05.579 Nazareth is a know-nothing backwater hick town, not even mentioned in the entire Old Testament. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:07.379 It's nothing. 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:10.099 It's this town we know not much about. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:19.219 Later on, Nathaniel, one of Jesus' straight-talking disciples, he questions Jesus' origins and says, 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:21.419 can anything good come out of Nazareth? 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.620 This is all about all we know of Nazareth. 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:27.740 It's not a great place. 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:32.719 But it's here that God sends his angel next. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:41.439 And he sends him to speak to Mary, likely to be very young, probably between the age of 12 and 16. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.879 Girls like her were unlikely to have any education. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:57.979 They would marry humbly, give birth to poor children, not travel far from their home, and die like many others before them in a nothing town. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:04.039 But it is this girl that was chosen by God to carry his son. 00:03:04.659 --> 00:03:13.780 The greatest news ever in human history that God was going to come as a man came first to this girl in the middle of nowhere. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.879 Later in the song that she sings in praise of God, she says, 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:39.539 God's message of hope and salvation came to this needy and humble girl, not to the powerful and rich, not to the center of the city. 00:03:41.139 --> 00:03:45.979 And this angel that has come approaches her and speaks to her in verse 28. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:46.539 Have a look. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:50.359 Greetings, you who are highly favored. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:52.699 The Lord is with you. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:59.840 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:02.899 It's a peculiar greeting, isn't it? 00:04:03.399 --> 00:04:08.719 One which has baffled many, not just Mary, but many scholars as well. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:22.420 An over-translation from the Latin led some people to think that the comment, you who are highly favored, was instead a comment you may have heard before, hail Mary full of grace. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.160 These are from the same verse. 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:27.879 One is an over-translation. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:37.379 And so some who believe in this line, hail Mary full of grace, they think it's saying that Mary, well, she's actually something more than human. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:39.100 She's actually full of grace. 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:41.899 She can actually dispense grace like Jesus. 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:48.259 And that's why we should pray to her, because she has grace herself. 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:55.860 It's totally inaccurate and inappropriate in keeping with the rest of the Bible. 00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:59.360 But that does not mean that we should lower Mary. 00:04:59.579 --> 00:04:59.899 Hey, mate. 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:08.060 Just because some people have considered Mary to be greater than she was doesn't mean that we should reduce her. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:12.220 The angel described her as highly favored. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.579 And in her song, she said that all nations would call her blessed. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:18.660 Is it right to call Mary blessed? 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:21.079 Well, I think it is. 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:26.819 She is the only woman in human history to ever carry God's son. 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:35.939 She's the only one who ever nursed him, fed him, changed him, the only one who was ever called mother by Jesus. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:39.060 She is indeed a woman blessed. 00:05:41.219 --> 00:05:45.100 And Mary responds to this peculiar greeting by the angel. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:48.180 And it shows how we should act. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.480 She was troubled and she wondered at his words. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:59.560 When Zechariah, that we saw last week, when he was confronted by the angel, he was gripped with fear. 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:04.019 He doubted the words of the angel and he asked for a sign. 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:09.579 Mary did not respond like a flighty young girl would. 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:13.319 But she reflected on his words. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:16.699 And she kept pondering the meaning of this greeting. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:22.360 What is our response to the message of the birth of the Savior? 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.199 Is it to consider it briefly? 00:06:25.840 --> 00:06:27.720 Or do we weigh the words? 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:29.759 Do we plumb the depth of this message? 00:06:30.780 --> 00:06:34.280 Are we so used to information being disposable? 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:37.000 Short articles in newspapers. 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:38.199 Tabloid journalism. 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:41.340 Twitter, which has so few characters. 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:48.520 Are we used to news and television that is just exciting and short to catch our attention? 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:54.819 Because we no longer have attention spans that can process any kind of information. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:02.319 What would it look like for you to stop and truly process this message? 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:10.360 When Sam read the passage before, it would mean, well, not just flicking your eyes over the passage as he read it. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:12.920 Actually considering each verse. 00:07:13.159 --> 00:07:15.439 Instead of saying, ah, yes, I've heard this story before. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:16.759 It's the one with Mary and the angel. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:17.879 Yep, I know how this goes. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.060 I'll just tune out and think about the week ahead. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:29.060 What would it actually look like to sit and reflect and ponder each word and each line? 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:34.480 Let's do that now as we listen to what the angel said in response. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.279 In verse 31. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:42.600 You will be with child and give birth to a son. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.000 And you are to give him the name Jesus. 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:48.459 Nothing particularly unusual here. 00:07:48.899 --> 00:07:50.439 Jesus is a fairly common name. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:51.360 It means salvation. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:53.879 But then have a look at verse 32. 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:58.560 He will be great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:04.860 The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:07.259 His kingdom will never end. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:09.620 This is special. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:11.659 This is very, very unique. 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:17.199 This child of Mary's will be the expected son of God mentioned in the book of Samuel. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:18.939 He will be God's son. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:22.240 He is going to reign and his kingdom will have no end. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:32.759 This humble virgin girl who lives in a hick town in the middle of nowhere is going to give birth to the son of God. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:36.379 A claim which no one else could ever make. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:45.120 And to this amazing message from the angel that this small town girl hears, how does she respond? 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.439 Does she respond like Zechariah with doubt and say, I want proof? 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.679 Have a look at verse 34. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:54.519 How will this be? 00:08:54.979 --> 00:08:56.259 Mary asked the angel. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.659 Since I am a virgin. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.519 Now this is not a question from doubt. 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:07.579 It's more of a mechanical, biological type of question. 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:10.759 It's a question, God, how is this going to happen? 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:13.779 She's not doubting God. 00:09:13.839 --> 00:09:15.439 She's not saying, God, this is impossible. 00:09:15.599 --> 00:09:16.199 I'm a virgin. 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:21.540 No, no, no, it's more of a biological question. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:23.379 A believing question. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:25.420 God, I believe you can do anything. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:27.759 But let me know. 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:29.720 Just give me a bit more information. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.460 I'd like to know how you're going to bring about this. 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:37.800 Questions like this acknowledge that God is all powerful. 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.639 But at the same time, God is approachable. 00:09:42.319 --> 00:09:44.719 He is not a God who does not care for our plight. 00:09:46.719 --> 00:09:49.659 What's your attitude towards God? 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:51.479 What kind of questions do you ask him? 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:57.339 Do you firmly believe that God works for the good of those who love him? 00:09:58.479 --> 00:10:02.219 Do you ask questions of him, believing that he will listen and respond? 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:09.399 This young girl's response to God's message is radical. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:14.660 She believed that God would do the impossible and shows how we, 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:19.300 we who think we are often mature Christians, still lack faith. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:26.540 And again, to this question, the angel responds, have a look in verse 35. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:31.860 The angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come upon you. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:35.240 And the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:39.080 So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:43.540 Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:47.120 And she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.960 For nothing is impossible with God. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:55.600 Firstly, it's important to note there are no sexual overtones here. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:11:00.720 This is not a God mating with a human, like in Greek mythology, 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:05.160 to produce a half human, half divine, you know, some kind of demigod. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.040 That is not what is on view here. 00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:13.660 This is an act of the God who was first characterized in the Bible as a creator. 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:21.480 And here again, he is creating life, this time directly in a womb, by the power of the Spirit. 00:11:22.339 --> 00:11:26.500 And the word overshadow here, it's used of the transfiguration. 00:11:26.719 --> 00:11:29.819 When Jesus, with Peter, James and John, climb a mountain, 00:11:30.219 --> 00:11:32.459 they meet with Moses and Elijah, 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:37.360 and God in his presence comes upon the mountain in a cloud, 00:11:37.780 --> 00:11:39.660 and he overshadows the mountain. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:41.759 And he speaks and says, 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:43.680 This is my Son whom I love. 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.840 Listen to him. 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:49.759 This word overshadow here shows that God is going to be present with Mary 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.660 as he creates this life. 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:55.660 It truly will be a virginal conception. 00:11:55.659 --> 00:12:02.100 When Gabriel came to Zechariah, Zechariah didn't believe, 00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:05.139 and he asked for a sign, and he got a negative sign. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.719 He was cast blind. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:11.620 Here, Mary does not disbelieve like Zechariah. 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:15.539 She does not ask for a sign, but she is given one anyway. 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:19.699 She can see God's power to do the impossible through Elizabeth. 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:24.919 Gabriel points to Elizabeth's pregnancy that God can do the impossible. 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:34.120 And finally, Mary responds to the angel's explanation of how things would happen. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.719 Have a look at verse 38. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.100 I am the Lord's servant, Mary answered. 00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:44.600 May it be to me as you have said. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:49.159 Who here could say that they have responded to God in this way? 00:12:49.579 --> 00:12:51.079 I am the Lord's servant. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:54.039 May it be to me as you have said. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:13:01.139 Her obedience to the message from God makes her both the mother and a disciple of Jesus. 00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:05.379 She totally submits to God and his will. 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:09.259 Even though she will probably have a tough time of this. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.199 You know, a virgin betrothed to be married winds up pregnant. 00:13:13.959 --> 00:13:16.919 She's going to definitely have to answer some questions. 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:21.339 But Mary here is a model disciple. 00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:24.819 She obeys and submits to the Lord. 00:13:25.699 --> 00:13:27.819 Jesus would later teach his disciples to pray, 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.979 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:40.720 For us, obedience and submission to God should look like Mary's, not only in words, but in attitude. 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.779 It's very easy to get frustrated with God and go, 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:47.399 Fine, God, whatever you want, I'll do things your way. 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:52.420 Or to try a number of options and then to get angry with God and go, 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:56.840 Okay, I'll do it your way, but only because I've tried everything else myself. 00:13:56.840 --> 00:14:03.000 But Mary's attitude to obedience is radical. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:05.899 It's shocking for such a young woman. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:08.660 What does she say? 00:14:09.660 --> 00:14:10.820 I am the Lord's servant. 00:14:12.040 --> 00:14:14.120 May it be to me as you have said. 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:17.580 Will we joyfully exclaim this? 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.220 I am your servant. 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:25.500 Do we believe that God works for the good of those who love him? 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:30.240 Mary obviously wasn't perfect. 00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:36.259 She might be a model disciple, but she is still one of the members of Jesus' family, 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:41.259 who in Mark 3 wanted to take charge of him because they thought he was out of his mind. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:45.899 She found it hard to believe Jesus when he began his public ministry. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.740 But she is still a helpful example for us today. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:55.379 So as we prepare in these last few days before Christmas, 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:59.080 why should we be like a teenage girl? 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:04.180 Firstly, Mary had humble beginnings. 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.200 She was not self-sufficient. 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:10.440 She was totally dependent upon God. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.580 So that when this message was spoken to her, 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:16.019 she was ready to listen to it. 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:19.399 Just like our core values, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.340 we should be valuing humility. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.340 Imagine with me for a minute 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:26.980 what it would look like 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:30.139 if you acted a little bit more like this teenage girl. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:37.220 What would it look like if you had her humility? 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:44.879 That you didn't rely on the amount of money you can earn at work to survive for the next couple of weeks? 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:50.220 Your ability to do everything that you want to do today. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:55.160 What would it look like to not have to rely upon yourself, 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:58.879 but instead to humbly rely upon God? 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:06.139 Secondly, Mary reflected on the words from God. 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.460 She turned them over. 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.939 She tried to understand them. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:12.179 She did not superficially accept them. 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:18.320 Again, our core value of Christ-centered Bible saturation for our church, 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:21.899 it doesn't mean that we should just be reading the Bible all the time, 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:24.639 but that we would read it deeply 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.480 and we would know it to our very core, 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:30.959 meditating on God's Word day and night. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:35.039 If we were to do this, what would this look like? 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:38.579 Would we read the Bible differently? 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:42.600 Would we continue to read the Bible just to tick a box, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:45.039 to say I've spent time with God today? 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:50.860 Or would we read each line and each verse, 00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:54.099 mulling them over, committing them to memory, 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:58.539 singing them to ourselves as we work, 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.059 so that at times of trouble or tribulation, 00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:04.039 they would come back to us 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.480 and the Lord would speak to us through them? 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.339 Thirdly, Mary believed God at His Word. 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:18.099 We must cultivate a heart that believes in the promises of God. 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.259 Again, if we were to do this this week, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:24.419 if we were to actually believe the promises of God, 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.759 what would this look like? 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:31.220 What would it look like to believe that God will send His Son 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.879 to take His people home? 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:37.359 What would it look like to believe that there is more to this life 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.639 than physical pleasure and the accumulation of stuff? 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:44.379 Especially at Christmas. 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:48.159 Would you act like you believed it? 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:54.399 Lastly, like Mary, we must be obedient and submissive to God. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:18:00.379 Imagine what it would look like to obey just one of God's commandments. 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:04.539 To just love your neighbor as yourself. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.799 Okay, that can get a bit hard. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:12.039 Imagine what it would look like just to love your family as yourself. 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.980 Maybe that's even harder for some. 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.480 I'm not sure what your family is like. 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:17.460 You'll be reminded of them over Christmas. 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:20.159 But imagine, let's just narrow it down further. 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:25.639 What would it look like to love your husband or your wife as yourself? 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:31.259 We must be obedient and submissive to God. 00:18:32.780 --> 00:18:37.060 Let's thank God for the model of His mother, for Jesus' mother, 00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:43.380 and the encouragement to be shaped by her son like she was even before He was born. 00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.280 Let's pray. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:53.799 Heavenly Father, thank you for the message that Gabriel brought to Mary. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:58.119 That she would have a son who would be a king, 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:02.180 whose name was Jesus, which is salvation. 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:07.779 Lord, thank you for the model of the disciple that Mary was. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:12.579 Help us to be like her. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:15.500 That we would obey you. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:17.460 That we would believe in you. 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:25.200 That we would listen and read your word with such a heart to understand it. 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.379 That you would constantly change us to be more like your son. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.000 In whose name we pray. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.039 Amen.