WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.660 We're carrying on looking at the opening chapters of Luke this morning. Last week we looked at Zechariah didn't we? 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:24.480 And as we look at Mary this morning, like with Zechariah last Sunday, we see another one of Luke's sort of diversions off of the events and the happenings into a personal story of faith. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:39.460 Of people dealing with extraordinary announcements of God doing extraordinary things, of miracles, of pregnancy and old age for Zechariah and his wife, and now a virgin birth and pregnancy. 00:00:39.919 --> 00:00:52.619 And Luke places Mary's story next to Zechariah, who we saw earlier, because they are two very, very similar stories, but they are not the same. 00:00:53.819 --> 00:00:59.280 And the slight difference between them is the point that Luke wants to make this morning. 00:01:00.339 --> 00:01:08.879 And they are similar, Zechariah and Mary, because both of them seem to have shades of doubt in what the angels announced, don't they? 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:17.679 They both ask questions. Do you remember? Zechariah asks the question back in verse 18, how shall I know this? 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:26.699 And Mary asks a similar question in verse 34, how shall this be since I am a virgin? 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:34.640 So they are similar, and they both have questions and doubts, I guess, but they are not the same. 00:01:36.100 --> 00:01:46.100 Because last Sunday morning we saw that Gabriel rebuked Zechariah for his question, but Mary doesn't get rebuked for her, does she? 00:01:46.099 --> 00:01:57.500 Her question, she receives honour. Elizabeth says, verse 45, blessed is she who believed what was spoken to her would be fulfilled. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:03.319 Mary, by contrast, is held up as a model to us of how to respond to God. 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:05.099 She's a model of faith. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:11.539 Both of them have their doubts and their questions, but between them there are different kinds of doubts. 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.379 There are different ways of questioning God. 00:02:16.139 --> 00:02:18.479 Doubt is nuanced by Luke. 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:21.539 It's not a black and white thing. 00:02:22.579 --> 00:02:27.259 There is one way of doubting God that he disapproves of, 00:02:27.959 --> 00:02:32.180 and another that he is gentle and patient and kind and honours. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:35.520 We all have doubts, don't we? 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:37.159 We all have questions. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:41.620 But the question is, which sort of doubts do we have? 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:47.020 Luke wants us to question our questions this morning. 00:02:47.760 --> 00:02:51.780 So let's dive in and see the subtle contrast between these two characters. 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:55.600 And think to yourself, which one am I most like? 00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:59.000 Think, I need to question my questions. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:01.780 What makes Mary's questions different? 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:04.659 Well, three moments in her story. 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.060 First of all, see her simple acceptance. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:10.659 See her simple acceptance. 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:15.979 If you look closely at the questions that Zechariah and Mary ask, 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:17.819 there is a subtle difference between them. 00:03:18.460 --> 00:03:22.360 Back in verse 18, look very closely at his question. 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.840 How shall I know this? 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.860 Your barren wife is going to have a child. 00:03:31.260 --> 00:03:32.980 How shall I know this? 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:39.160 Zechariah asks for a proof of what has been promised. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.820 He wants a confirmation. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:47.260 He wants a sign that this miracle is going to happen at all. 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:50.060 At what sign will you give me? 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:53.219 How will I know that this is going to happen, he says. 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:55.959 What evidence are you going to give me? 00:03:56.759 --> 00:04:02.500 There is a sense, isn't there, that his doubt is in the event itself actually happening. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:09.340 He questions the credibility of God's words, of the miracle. 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:13.719 Whereas Mary asks something subtly different, verse 34. 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:16.600 How will this be? 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:18.939 Since I'm a virgin. 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:23.060 Zechariah, how will I know it? 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:25.980 Mary, how will it happen? 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:32.000 See, Mary wonders at the mystery of the mechanics, of the how. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.480 But not that the miracle will actually happen. 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:37.560 She's not married. 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:39.639 She's never been with a man. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:41.879 So, how will I get pregnant? 00:04:43.659 --> 00:04:47.620 But in the question, there is this underlying sense of acceptance. 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:51.180 She may not understand how. 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.579 There are unknowns about how this is going to happen. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.699 But she is willing to accept that it will happen. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:00.160 And she doesn't ask for a proof that it will happen. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:03.300 Even if she hasn't got the foggiest clue how. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.740 She says, I am the servant of the Lord. 00:05:08.659 --> 00:05:10.620 Let it be according to your word. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.079 She does want an explanation how though. 00:05:14.159 --> 00:05:15.740 And the angel is willing to give it. 00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:17.620 The miracle is not inexplicable. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.300 There is an answer to the hard question. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.519 And the angel says, verse 35, 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:28.060 It will be the work and power of the Holy Spirit coming on you. 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:31.800 Let's break that down a little bit. 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:35.120 What is the angel saying? 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.720 Well, one of Mary's eggs will be fertilised. 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.460 And there will be a real human conception. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:47.440 But there will be no male sperm. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:52.540 The egg will be miraculously fertilised. 00:05:52.760 --> 00:05:53.160 How? 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:56.360 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:57.760 --> 00:06:01.960 Mary's half of DNA and chromosomes will be used in the usual way. 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:05.279 An enormous kind of conception from her point of view. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:11.699 And this baby will be conceived in her womb. 00:06:12.139 --> 00:06:15.859 But somehow the rest will be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:20.220 And the angel says, nothing will be impossible with God. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:21.939 It will be the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:25.900 And that is the explanation the angel gives. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:30.439 The angel allows the question and gives an answer. 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.399 The Holy Spirit. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:37.800 Is that crystal clear, Mary? 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:40.620 Any questions? 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:45.920 The problem with that answer, or for some people, 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:49.079 is that it could just raise more questions, couldn't it? 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:51.339 Hang on a minute, hang on. 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:55.220 Before you go, what do you mean by the power of the Holy Spirit? 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.259 How is the Holy Spirit going to do that? 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:01.539 What actually will happen on a microscopic level? 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:04.480 How will the Holy Spirit fertilise my egg? 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:07.839 How will this conception happen? 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:11.459 See, the answer to the first how question 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:15.740 just releases a wave of more how questions, doesn't it? 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:20.319 But Mary doesn't ask those how questions. 00:07:21.539 --> 00:07:25.560 There comes a point where Mary stops asking how 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:28.860 and she accepts how. 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:32.199 That is the explanation she gets. 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:34.639 It's the Holy Spirit, Mary. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.699 It's not a gullible acceptance, though. 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:39.540 Don't think that. 00:07:39.699 --> 00:07:42.379 We know that Mary actually is a very deep thinker. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:45.019 She's the kind of person who mulls things over. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.100 She thinks about things a lot. 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:49.459 We read elsewhere in the Gospels 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:52.540 that Mary pondered the words that she heard. 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:55.120 She took them into her heart. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:56.160 She pondered them. 00:07:56.340 --> 00:07:57.280 She thought about them. 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:00.760 Here in verse 29, when the angel first greets her, 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:04.240 she tries to discern what kind of greeting this was. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:08.340 You could translate that as she examines these words. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.120 She took stock. 00:08:10.320 --> 00:08:11.420 She took a step back. 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:13.879 She tried to ponder what this greeting was. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:15.939 Mary was a thinker. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:21.019 She wasn't a stupid, gullible, impressionable teenager. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:23.740 She was the kind of woman who asked, 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:25.420 what on earth is going on here? 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.600 Am I seeing things? 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:28.300 Is this real? 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:31.639 She's actually a very rational woman. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:36.960 But for Mary, the rational, intelligent thinking person, 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.440 she knows that her rational thinking has a limit. 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:45.260 And for her, nothing more is necessary 00:08:45.260 --> 00:08:48.980 than to just know that nothing with God is impossible 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.940 and it will be the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.160 She doesn't say to the angel, 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:55.380 oh, I get it now. 00:08:57.060 --> 00:08:59.380 I totally understand how this is going to work. 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:04.100 I'm totally convinced that it will all be easy and wonderful 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:06.260 and I get it completely. 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:07.660 Of course not. 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:08.799 She doesn't know everything. 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:12.779 There are lots more how questions to be asked. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.480 But she knows enough. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.719 She would have known about the Spirit of God 00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:20.620 as a devout Jew 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:23.579 through the Bible that she had 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:24.839 and his immense power 00:09:24.839 --> 00:09:26.360 that he was there in creation 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:29.039 and he created something out of nothing. 00:09:30.219 --> 00:09:32.439 That he's worked in the history of God's people. 00:09:32.579 --> 00:09:35.759 That he's brought life from the dead. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:38.779 That this is the kind of power that this Holy Spirit has. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.539 That he has. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:42.179 So she does know enough. 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:46.139 And so there can be a simple acceptance. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:49.340 Because as soon as you mention the power of the Holy Spirit 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:51.799 she knows, whoa, I'm out of my depth here. 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:56.460 And although she knows to use a rational mind 00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:58.299 and although we should do that too, 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:01.960 being a Christian does not mean throwing your brain in the bin 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:03.580 and just being impressionable 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:07.740 but being a Christian means that we realise 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:10.680 that God is bigger than our brains. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.600 God's work and his miraculous work 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.080 is bigger than our thinking can grasp. 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:20.620 And Mary realises that. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:23.460 And so she just says 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:25.420 I am the servant of the Lord. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:28.039 Let it be according to your word. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.059 It's basically saying, 00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:32.039 Amen, even though I do not get it. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:36.939 God doesn't expect us to submit our faith to him 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:39.000 without reason and without explanation. 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:42.500 But often God's explanation 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:47.299 will push the limits of our minds, won't it? 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:48.860 And of our reason. 00:10:50.459 --> 00:10:52.159 Nothing will be impossible with God. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.759 It will be the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:55.580 And the limits of our mind 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:57.679 mean that she will not be able to understand 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.799 all of the hard questions. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.080 The work of the Holy Spirit 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:00.919 who is God 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:02.340 bursting the boundaries 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:04.360 of our human understanding. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:08.179 And often when we ask God how 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:10.960 the answer just gives us more questions. 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.080 Because our minds 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:15.860 and our human limited thinking 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:17.399 can never be enough 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:20.439 to contain the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.500 We just can't do that. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:24.340 And if we could 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:26.539 then he wouldn't be God, would he? 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.840 A virgin birth? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.279 How will the Holy Spirit do this? 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:33.039 Let me tell you the answer this morning. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.759 I just haven't got a clue. 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:39.159 None of us have. 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.000 It's not that we're stupid. 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.320 It's just that God 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.580 is infinitely more intelligent than us. 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.480 It would be like trying to explain 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.440 particle physics to an ant, 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.080 wouldn't it? 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:55.100 This is the God of the Bible 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:57.420 who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit 00:11:57.420 --> 00:11:58.440 in one God 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.000 who can be accepted 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.860 and believed by a simple child 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.779 and trusted in 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:04.399 by the most simple of the people 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:07.259 and yet the most deeply thinking theologians 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:08.539 are dwarfed 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:11.399 by the profundity of who he is 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.340 and what he can do. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.220 And when someone hears the gospel 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.519 and asks that question 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.959 how can this be 00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:20.959 actually you can be sure 00:12:20.959 --> 00:12:22.399 you've heard the gospel properly. 00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:25.059 There is a sense where 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:27.179 if we don't ask that question at all 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:29.899 we haven't really heard the gospel fully 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:32.340 or we've just forgotten it 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.100 or it hasn't been explained fully. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:37.779 If we find the God of the Bible 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:40.060 just a little bit impossible 00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:42.120 or inconceivable 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.399 or even ridiculous 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:45.360 of a just God 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.960 who forgives wicked people 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.960 of a holy God 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.460 who comes to dwell 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.620 with sinful people 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:53.139 of dead people 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.240 coming back to life 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:55.519 of a God 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.019 who became a man 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.300 to die for wicked people 00:12:58.300 --> 00:12:59.820 so that they could know him forever 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:02.019 there is something hugely 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:03.580 mysterious about that. 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:06.700 hugely perplexing 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.740 about the whole thing 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.800 deeply mysterious. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.980 There should be this sense 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:13.220 where we ask God 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:13.820 how 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:15.820 in everything that he does 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:18.080 there is something healthy 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.259 in those kind of questions 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:21.460 to understand the magnitude 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.300 of his power 00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.279 the Holy Spirit 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.340 that there must be 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.820 those sort of questions from us 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:26.879 doesn't there as creatures? 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:28.720 And yet 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.820 we can simply accept 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.639 that we can't understand it all 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.620 and we can't keep asking 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.100 how and ever get to the point 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:39.899 where the questions will stop. 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:41.580 That is why 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:43.220 God is worth knowing 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:44.879 and worshipping 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:46.100 and asking about 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.299 that there are always 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.539 more depths 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:50.120 to his character 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.819 and his work 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:51.819 to dive into 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:52.779 deeper and deeper. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:55.879 and so we have got 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.679 to come to a point 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.519 like Mary 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.100 where we humbly 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.360 just settle down 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:01.220 and accept 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.459 that we are not God 00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:04.439 and that we are not 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:05.279 as clever as him 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.379 and we are not as powerful 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:07.939 as the Holy Spirit 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:09.079 and like Mary 00:14:09.079 --> 00:14:10.039 say 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:11.319 oh the power of the Spirit 00:14:11.319 --> 00:14:12.879 well that is enough then. 00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:15.439 And so this thinking 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.039 woman 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:17.319 Mary is the model 00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:18.720 in that simple faith 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.919 in that simple acceptance. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.199 acceptance. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.719 And secondly though 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:25.059 she has an active obedience. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.939 She has an active obedience. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:29.279 The thing with Mary 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.199 is that she turns 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:31.740 acceptance into action. 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.159 I'm the Lord's servant 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:34.779 she says 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.399 and she 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:36.699 she arises 00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:38.000 with haste 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.639 verse 39 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.500 and goes to the hill country 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.459 and to Zechariah 00:14:42.459 --> 00:14:43.980 and Elizabeth's house. 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.939 She acts 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:45.959 she does something. 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.480 And because it is one thing 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.259 to agree with God's word 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.960 but it's another 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:52.200 to act upon it. 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:55.039 And Mary shows us 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.039 that the root 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.320 of belief 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:59.560 is obedience. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.659 This isn't just 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:03.820 some intellectual 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.620 assent 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:05.820 to what the angel says. 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.279 It is 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.039 an entire surrender 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.060 to what the angel 00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:09.680 has said. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:10.860 Just think 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.539 what that would have 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.399 meant for her. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.200 Accepting 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.740 and obeying 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.639 God's plan. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.860 it will mean 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.000 something extremely 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.120 difficult for her 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.539 actually. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.139 It could mean 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.659 a lifetime 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.620 of embarrassment 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.659 and of stigma 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.879 as the woman 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.519 who in that 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.399 conservative society 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.159 had a child 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.240 out of wedlock. 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.759 She could become 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.080 a social outcast 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:33.860 as she brings 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.439 this child 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:35.740 into that sort of world. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.259 And think for her 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.399 plans of life 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.100 with Joseph. 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.879 She would have been 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.580 like any other 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.159 young woman 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.439 who was engaged 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.059 to be married. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:45.479 She maybe imagined 00:15:45.479 --> 00:15:46.519 setting up the family 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.379 home, didn't she? 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.539 She had plans 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.459 maybe they could 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.039 have kids 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.759 two, three, 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.500 maybe four. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.579 Joseph runs 00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:53.479 the family business. 00:15:54.359 --> 00:15:55.079 She probably had 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:56.239 it all mapped out. 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:58.359 And now suddenly 00:15:58.359 --> 00:15:59.139 all of that 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.179 has to change. 00:16:01.459 --> 00:16:02.519 And she's plunged 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.659 into the unknown 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:05.819 where life feels 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.359 like there are 00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:07.619 just more questions 00:16:07.619 --> 00:16:08.179 than there are 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.639 answers. 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.979 And it could have 00:16:10.979 --> 00:16:12.079 been so hard 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.300 for her to believe 00:16:13.300 --> 00:16:15.160 because it was 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:15.900 going to be 00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:17.580 so hard to obey. 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.100 She might not 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:21.660 get it all. 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.320 She may not 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.660 even like it all. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:25.960 But she does it. 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.920 Whatever comes, 00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:30.200 she says to the angel, 00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:31.480 I accept it. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.740 And I can put 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.820 all of my plans 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.720 and all of my hopes 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.800 aside since this 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.620 is God's will. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.680 And Mary shows 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.719 that belief is tied 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:42.500 to obedience. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.979 But on the flip side 00:16:45.979 --> 00:16:47.159 she shows us as well 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.959 that the problem 00:16:47.959 --> 00:16:49.379 with disbelief 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:51.839 is disobedience. 00:16:54.219 --> 00:16:55.239 And often people 00:16:55.239 --> 00:16:56.339 don't believe 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.179 God's word 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.959 and the gospel 00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:59.939 because they 00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:00.819 don't want 00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:01.639 to obey 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:03.399 the gospel. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.399 The philosopher 00:17:06.399 --> 00:17:07.740 Blaise Pascal 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:09.980 said that in faith 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.720 there is enough 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.660 light for those 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.799 who want to believe 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.539 and enough 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:16.019 shadows to blind 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.220 those who don't. 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:20.400 As long as you 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.259 don't want to 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.380 obey God 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.579 you'll find 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:24.220 shadows. 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.380 You'll find 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.380 shadows in all 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:27.859 that goes on 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.380 this morning 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.220 if you want to. 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:30.079 You'll find 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.799 shadows in every 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.480 conversation 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.720 that you have 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.380 with someone 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.160 who believes. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.240 shadows. 00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:35.759 You'll find 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.700 shadows if you 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.560 want them to be 00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.840 there in every 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:39.420 part of the 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:39.759 Bible. 00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.240 You'll be looking 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:41.960 for shadows 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.140 all of the time. 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.759 Maybe you've met 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.600 people like that. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.680 They major 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.660 on the unknowns 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:51.019 as if they are 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.680 an excuse 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.720 not to act 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.220 and obey. 00:17:54.800 --> 00:17:55.420 You just keep 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:55.820 saying well 00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:56.440 I've just got 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.220 more questions. 00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.259 But our problem 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.019 in that is that 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.440 we could be 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.500 waiting too long 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.320 before we obey. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:04.220 You say 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.779 you've got 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.240 questions 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.720 you've got 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.179 doubts 00:18:06.179 --> 00:18:06.799 you're just 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.359 looking into 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.480 it 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:07.819 you're just 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.539 investigating 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.839 but some of 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.339 us have just 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:10.799 been doing 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.399 that for far 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.019 too long. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.339 But you won't 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:14.779 do anything 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.220 and you won't 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.000 move anywhere 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.960 until you feel 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.579 you've been 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.399 satisfied with 00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.000 all your answers 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.480 and all of 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.059 your doubts 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.279 and you want 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.240 it all so 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.899 you're holding 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.519 back from 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.460 obeying the 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:24.939 Lord Jesus. 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.279 But let me 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:26.779 tell you this 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.399 morning having 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.359 questions and 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.319 doubts does not 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.099 set you apart 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.819 from anyone else 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.539 in this room. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.319 having questions 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.500 is no reason 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.579 not to believe 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.220 and obey. 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:39.000 It is no 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.579 excuse. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.539 It wasn't 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.119 for Mary. 00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:45.399 Your disbelief 00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:46.039 actually with 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.539 all due 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.179 respect 00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:48.299 it is because 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.639 of disobedience. 00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:51.879 It's an 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.679 unwillingness 00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.359 to say to 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:53.759 God 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.220 I'm your 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.559 servant. 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.460 And you 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:57.859 don't want 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.679 to do that 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.720 because you'll 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.240 have to let 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.799 go of your 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.500 control. 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.320 But others 00:19:05.320 --> 00:19:05.799 of you 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:07.100 you've maybe 00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:07.880 got questions 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.519 and even 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:08.980 doubts 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.400 but you 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.940 want to 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.560 move forward 00:19:10.560 --> 00:19:11.580 and you 00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:12.100 want to 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.580 obey. 00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:13.660 You've got 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.539 no idea 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.320 how God 00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:15.600 is going 00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:15.840 to do 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.240 the things 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.600 that he's 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:16.880 promised 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.240 he's going 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.480 to do 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.779 in your 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.039 life. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.480 You don't 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:18.880 know the 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.420 hows. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:19.900 There are 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.420 still lots 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.120 of questions 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.259 but the 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.900 alternatives 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.440 to the 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.940 Lord Jesus 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.019 are far 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.799 less credible 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.600 in the world 00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.100 and around 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:27.740 the world 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.139 and you've 00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:29.439 been with 00:19:29.439 --> 00:19:29.879 his people 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.419 for long 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:30.819 enough to 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.099 know that 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.359 there is 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:31.659 something 00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:32.099 different 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.539 about the 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:32.959 Lord Jesus 00:19:32.959 --> 00:19:33.419 his people 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.039 and so 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.679 you're 00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.339 willing to 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:35.740 go with 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.019 it. 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.740 Even if 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.319 you don't 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.079 understand it 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.819 all entirely. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.659 What I'm 00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.199 trying to say 00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:43.639 is that in 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.159 this room 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:44.559 there is a 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.459 whole spectrum 00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:46.079 isn't there 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.000 of belief 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.459 and of 00:19:47.459 --> 00:19:47.859 faith. 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:49.919 And what 00:19:49.919 --> 00:19:50.939 we realise 00:19:50.939 --> 00:19:52.079 here Luke 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.639 shows us 00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.299 that some 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.039 can doubt 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.399 with an 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.299 open mind 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:57.440 and others 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.059 can doubt 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.419 with a 00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.339 closed mind. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.859 And Mary 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.519 has the 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.279 right kind 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.919 of doubts 00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:04.720 and questions 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:06.299 because even 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.879 though she 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:08.259 has questions 00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:08.960 she still 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.619 obeys 00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:11.379 and she's 00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:11.839 willing to 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.579 let go of 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.279 control of 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:13.799 her life. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.619 She doesn't 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.339 know everything 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.139 but she 00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.099 knows enough. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.399 It's the 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:18.899 power of the 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:19.480 Holy Spirit 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.019 and she's 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:20.519 willing to 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.159 act on it. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.460 Some people 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.139 doubt asking 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.020 questions like 00:20:25.020 --> 00:20:25.340 her. 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.259 Some people 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.220 doubt closing 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.600 off the 00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:29.300 possibility of 00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:29.759 answers. 00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.460 And you're 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.040 always looking 00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:32.780 for shadows 00:20:32.780 --> 00:20:34.500 but it's 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.280 disobedience 00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:35.759 really. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.400 C.S. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:38.860 Lewis in 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.240 his book 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.640 The Great 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.120 Divorce 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.660 pictures a 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.280 conversation 00:20:41.280 --> 00:20:41.900 between a 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.560 believer and 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:43.420 a non-believer 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:45.420 and one guy 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:45.940 he's a 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.940 disbeliever 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.440 says to the 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:48.740 other 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.259 for me 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.840 there is no 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.420 such thing 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.020 as a final 00:20:52.020 --> 00:20:52.560 answer. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.539 The free 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.099 wind of 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.059 inquiry must 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.099 always continue 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.639 to blow 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.099 through the 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.779 mind must 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.299 it not. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.839 Just keep 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.059 asking questions. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.700 He says 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.579 on the 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.099 journey of 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.559 faith to 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.480 travel is 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.980 better than 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.819 to arrive. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.000 In other 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.399 words it is 00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:11.700 better to be 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.599 sceptical 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.119 forever. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.339 Don't act 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.819 don't believe 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.500 don't move 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.039 forwards 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.879 don't trust 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.940 just hold 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.799 back and keep 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.720 asking questions. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.380 that is 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:22.799 better. 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.600 And actually 00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:23.960 that is 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.380 kind of the 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:24.940 modern way 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.279 isn't it? 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.700 That's the 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.559 virtuous way. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:27.960 The second 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.720 replies there 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.720 was a time 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.180 when you 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.240 asked questions 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.839 because you 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.019 wanted answers 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.720 and you 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.259 were glad 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.660 when you 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.380 found them. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.819 It was 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.100 when you 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:39.339 were a 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.779 child. 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.920 So become 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.600 that child 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:43.539 again even 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.019 now. 00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:45.779 The 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.220 disbelievers 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:46.779 said ah but 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.360 when I became 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:47.880 a man I 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.539 put away 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.140 childish 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.700 things. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:52.279 asking 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.059 questions 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.680 because you 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.160 wanted 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.960 answers. 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.539 There is 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.819 something 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.279 wonderfully 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.200 simple about 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.700 that isn't 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.120 there and 00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.819 honest and 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.319 sincere about 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:01.960 that and 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.019 almost childlike 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.779 innocence in 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.080 that. 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.380 And God 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.200 honours those 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.480 kind of 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:07.980 questions. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.700 But there is 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.960 a pride at 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.140 work when we 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.120 stop that. 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.360 And actually 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.920 in Christian 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.480 faith there 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.100 comes a point 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.539 and with 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.139 Mary we 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.699 have got to 00:22:19.699 --> 00:22:20.099 know when 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.139 the asking 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:23.179 just has to 00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:23.699 lead to 00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.399 acting 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.599 finally. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.740 That whatever 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.519 God sends 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.480 my way it 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.179 is best and 00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:30.740 I surrender 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.240 to him. 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.359 And I 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.279 don't understand 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.740 all of it 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.199 I may not 00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:34.859 even agree 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.240 with it 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:37.079 all but 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.539 I will do 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:39.240 it because 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.699 he knows 00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.159 best. 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.359 Come what 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.139 may in all 00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.859 the unknowns 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.439 and in all 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:43.939 the fearful 00:22:43.939 --> 00:22:44.659 things that 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.219 God may be 00:22:45.219 --> 00:22:45.959 asking me to 00:22:45.959 --> 00:22:47.179 walk into 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.580 that God 00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.180 calls us 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.700 to maybe 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.100 of even 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.519 losing 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:52.380 status and 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:52.680 of being 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.220 thought of 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.680 in the wrong 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.180 way just 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.820 like Mary 00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:56.740 you don't 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.039 have to 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.680 understand it 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.240 all fully 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.700 and we're 00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.420 fools if we 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.039 say we can 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.660 understand it 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:01.140 all fully. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.140 You don't 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.799 even have to 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.620 like it all 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.340 fully yet. 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.039 You just 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.420 have to 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.080 obey it. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.200 Simple 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.779 acceptance 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:11.279 and an 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.620 act of 00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.460 obedience and 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.420 then thirdly 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.779 and lastly 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.559 a wonderful 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.399 assurance 00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:18.039 a wonderful 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.480 assurance 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.139 and this is 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.740 when Mary 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:21.059 goes to see 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.420 Elizabeth 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.119 and what 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.759 Mary 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.599 does is she 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.480 acts upon 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.119 the angel's 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.099 words and 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.139 she goes to 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:28.579 the place 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.139 where she can 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.899 get assurance 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.420 of this 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:30.940 news. 00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.339 If she 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.759 goes to 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.480 see Elizabeth 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:35.039 she will 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.160 get confirmation 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:36.940 won't she 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.899 either way 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:39.440 that the 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:39.920 angel is 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.619 real and 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.139 has told 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.740 her the 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.200 truth. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.980 So this 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.580 visit to 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:44.940 Elizabeth 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.500 is a 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.720 means of 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.380 assurance 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:48.180 for her 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.960 assurance 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.700 of faith. 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.299 Seeing 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.600 Elizabeth 00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.299 will build 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.860 up Mary's 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.220 faith and 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.600 help her 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:53.900 in her 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.340 doubts. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.700 So Mary 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.299 acts and 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.740 she goes 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.100 there. 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.000 She avails 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.500 herself of 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:58.900 the means 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.539 of assurance 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:01.400 and Elizabeth 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.480 confirms 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.400 this faith. 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.600 She confirms 00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.000 what the 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.460 angel has 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:06.779 said. 00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:07.340 If you look 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:07.660 at verse 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.319 42 and 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.360 verse 43 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.599 Elizabeth 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.159 says 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.219 blessed 00:24:12.219 --> 00:24:12.599 are you 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:12.919 among 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.339 women 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.500 and 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:14.899 blessed 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.279 is the 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.539 fruit 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:15.699 of 00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:15.899 your 00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.399 womb. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.639 Why 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.019 is this 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.359 granted 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.779 to me 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.119 that the 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:19.359 mother 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:19.839 of my 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.500 Lord 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.299 should 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.579 come 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.139 to me? 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.139 Now 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.699 as far 00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:25.019 as we 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.379 know 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.419 Elizabeth 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.099 has not 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.599 heard about 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.139 this before 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.779 Mary gets 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.139 there. 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:30.399 And Luke 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.859 shows us 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.119 in the 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.619 timings 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:31.859 there's 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.319 been no 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.919 gap 00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:34.759 of time 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.679 that Mary 00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:36.379 receives the 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:36.759 announcement 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.259 and then 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.639 goes to 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:37.899 visit 00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:38.299 Elizabeth. 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.200 So 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.139 independently 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.980 by some 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.440 God 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.859 given 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.839 prophetic 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.700 knowledge 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.759 Elizabeth 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.559 tells 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.159 Mary 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.599 what Mary 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.379 has gone 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.079 to tell 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.500 Elizabeth. 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.039 And what 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.639 a boost 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.180 that was 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.720 to Mary's 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.119 faith. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.180 That God 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.659 has told 00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:57.099 the same 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.500 thing to 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.799 somebody 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.259 else. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.259 This 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.779 wasn't a 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.599 hallucination 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.339 it wasn't 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.759 a dream 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.099 it is 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.500 real. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:03.839 And 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.460 Elizabeth's 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.019 miraculous 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.680 pregnancy 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.359 just like 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.799 the angel 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.220 says 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.940 what a 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.299 boost 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.680 to her 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.140 faith. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.799 And she 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.180 really 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.559 needed 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:11.900 that. 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.039 As stupid 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.799 and flimsy 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.500 and weak 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.559 as she 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:16.960 may have 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.500 felt to 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:17.839 go to 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.100 Elizabeth 00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:18.579 and tell 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:18.860 her this 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.380 news 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.480 she went 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.740 to the 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.240 right place 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.579 where she 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:21.920 could get 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.519 confirmation 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.200 and she 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:23.539 took a 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:23.900 risk in 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.220 a way. 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.059 And in 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.799 her obedience 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.299 even in 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.839 the unknown 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.180 she receives 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.160 a huge 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.680 blessing of 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.279 assurance. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:34.879 And if 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.299 we're like 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.599 Mary 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.220 if we're 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.619 struggling 00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.259 with the 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.779 unknowns 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.440 and with 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.899 questions 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.500 and even 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.119 with doubts 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.759 but we 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.220 want to 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.779 know answers 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.119 and we 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.879 want assurance 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.740 this is how 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.259 God deals 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:45.599 with us 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.039 isn't it? 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.220 When we 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.259 are sincerely 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.879 seeking 00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.700 assurance 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:52.460 the Lord 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.339 knows the 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.200 strains 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.960 that his 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.740 word has 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.079 on our 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.599 minds 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.920 at times. 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.920 this would 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.100 have been 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.860 a huge 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.500 psychological 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.240 strain for 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.720 Mary to 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.000 get her 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.440 head around 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:05.900 this. 00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:07.920 And the 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.740 Lord knows 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.200 that our 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.060 minds and 00:26:10.060 --> 00:26:10.500 our human 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.400 thinking can't 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.160 understand it 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.039 all like 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.600 he does. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.460 He knows 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:14.860 that we're 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.500 dust. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.380 But when we 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:18.980 come to him 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.620 and we go to 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.060 the places 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:20.740 that he's 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.580 arranged to 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.480 assure us 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.880 then he 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.420 longs to 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.019 boost our 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.440 faith. 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.500 When we 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.380 obey him 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.720 he assures 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.320 us. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.480 Dietrich 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.200 Bonhoeffer 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.560 says that 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:35.240 only he 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.020 who believes 00:26:36.020 --> 00:26:36.600 is obedient 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.840 but only 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.580 he who is 00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:40.140 obedient 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.500 believes. 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.540 It's 00:26:44.540 --> 00:26:44.900 interesting 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.280 that isn't 00:26:45.280 --> 00:26:45.400 it? 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.900 The more 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.700 we obey 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.500 and act 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.260 and move 00:26:48.260 --> 00:26:48.840 on what 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.560 we know 00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.060 as little 00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:50.440 as it 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.180 may feel 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.420 that we 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:51.720 know 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.480 the more 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.060 God 00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:54.820 assures 00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.740 and strengthens 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.380 our faith. 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:58.440 he who 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.040 is obedient 00:26:59.040 --> 00:26:59.800 believes 00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:02.120 when you 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.860 start 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:03.620 acting 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:05.420 he will 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.820 start 00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:06.360 assuring 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:06.820 more and 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.140 more 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.580 and when 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.040 we step 00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:09.440 out into 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.000 the unknown 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.500 he is 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.480 there waiting 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.060 to boost 00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:12.720 our faith. 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.080 There's a 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.720 story of a 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.380 king who 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:16.800 went into 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.300 a village 00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:18.760 to see 00:27:18.760 --> 00:27:19.500 his subjects 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.740 and he 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.119 met a 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.539 beggar 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.579 sitting by 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.319 the roadside 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.559 and when 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.000 the king 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.059 came along 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.559 he held 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.000 out his 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.559 bowl 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.200 for a 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.519 generous 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:27.839 gift 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.200 from the 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.500 king 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.740 but the 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:29.980 beggar 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.839 was shocked 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.799 when instead 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.460 the king 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.200 asked the 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.700 beggar for 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.160 something 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.859 so the 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.240 beggar 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.920 reluctantly 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.500 gave the 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.680 king 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.359 three 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.299 grains 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:39.980 of rice 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:41.940 at the 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.180 end of 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.480 the day 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.940 the beggar 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.319 looked in 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.960 his bowl 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.720 to look 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.039 at his 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.620 takings 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.279 and right 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:46.640 at the 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:46.940 bottom 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.500 of his 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:47.860 bowl 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.640 he noticed 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.579 three 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.220 grains 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.000 of pure 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.740 gold 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:54.240 the king 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.620 had 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.759 marked 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.000 his 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.480 obedience 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.240 with 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.940 blessing 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.880 the beggar 00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:00.240 said to 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.700 himself 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.319 oh if 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.839 only I 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.160 had given 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.579 him it 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.079 all 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:06.240 Mary's 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.860 story shows 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.259 us that he 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.700 is a God 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.400 who is gentle 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:08.900 and he is 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.400 kind 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.620 with our 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.160 questions 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:12.900 and he 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.560 loves to 00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:13.960 bless 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.320 and he 00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:14.759 loves to 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.300 enrich 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:16.100 and assure 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:16.820 us as we 00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:17.560 obey him 00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.000 and as we 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.940 give for him 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.180 our lives 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:22.320 when we can 00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:22.780 let the 00:28:22.780 --> 00:28:23.519 asking 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.660 lead to 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.280 accepting 00:28:25.280 --> 00:28:26.080 and acting 00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:26.780 at last 00:28:26.780 --> 00:28:27.560 he longs 00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:27.860 to get 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.440 assuring 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:30.380 and you know 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.880 the virgin 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.600 birth is just 00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.060 the beginning 00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:32.460 isn't it 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.120 of Luke's 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:33.400 gospel 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:33.860 there's more 00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.420 to come 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.220 healings 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.519 and 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.660 resurrections 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:38.120 and miracles 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.840 all over 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.380 the place 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:39.780 and there 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:40.160 will be 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.660 questions 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.000 there'll be 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.420 even more 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.900 questions 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.220 if you 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.840 read Luke 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:44.960 but the 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.060 virgin birth 00:28:46.060 --> 00:28:46.880 stands at 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.480 the gates 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.120 of Christmas 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:49.820 like a 00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:50.080 kind of 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:50.700 sentinel 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:52.660 the virgin 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.360 birth stands 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.040 actually at 00:28:54.040 --> 00:28:54.740 the threshold 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.860 of Christianity 00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:58.120 at the threshold 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.580 of God 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.160 himself 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:01.460 and it 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.100 makes us 00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:02.780 question 00:29:02.780 --> 00:29:03.940 our questions 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:06.039 and if 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.720 the questions 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.200 are just 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.980 for finding 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.620 more and 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.380 more shadows 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:11.360 and closing 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.299 off answers 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.000 from God 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.460 then the 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.299 virgin birth 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.140 bars the 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.960 way for us 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.600 doesn't it 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:18.539 towards God 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:21.000 but if we 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.119 can see the 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.819 virgin birth 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.399 and we can 00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:25.099 be like Mary 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.839 we can just 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.539 say I don't 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.099 understand it 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:27.420 all 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.659 and I might 00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.139 not get it 00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:29.519 all 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:31.519 but I want 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.059 to accept 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.420 it 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.960 and I want 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.399 to act 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:34.980 upon it 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:37.079 then your 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.180 king waits 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.859 to assure 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.659 you in it 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:41.940 for by the 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.720 power of the 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.819 Holy Spirit 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:45.879 nothing is 00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:46.259 impossible 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.859 with God 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:49.179 let's pray