We're carrying on looking at the opening chapters of Luke this morning. Last week we looked at Zechariah didn't we?
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.
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.
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.
And the slight difference between them is the point that Luke wants to make this morning.
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?
They both ask questions. Do you remember? Zechariah asks the question back in verse 18, how shall I know this?
And Mary asks a similar question in verse 34, how shall this be since I am a virgin?
So they are similar, and they both have questions and doubts, I guess, but they are not the same.
Because last Sunday morning we saw that Gabriel rebuked Zechariah for his question, but Mary doesn't get rebuked for her, does she?
Her question, she receives honour. Elizabeth says, verse 45, blessed is she who believed what was spoken to her would be fulfilled.
Mary, by contrast, is held up as a model to us of how to respond to God.
She's a model of faith.
Both of them have their doubts and their questions, but between them there are different kinds of doubts.
There are different ways of questioning God.
Doubt is nuanced by Luke.
It's not a black and white thing.
There is one way of doubting God that he disapproves of,
and another that he is gentle and patient and kind and honours.
We all have doubts, don't we?
We all have questions.
But the question is, which sort of doubts do we have?
Luke wants us to question our questions this morning.
So let's dive in and see the subtle contrast between these two characters.
And think to yourself, which one am I most like?
Think, I need to question my questions.
What makes Mary's questions different?
Well, three moments in her story.
First of all, see her simple acceptance.
See her simple acceptance.
If you look closely at the questions that Zechariah and Mary ask,
there is a subtle difference between them.
Back in verse 18, look very closely at his question.
How shall I know this?
Your barren wife is going to have a child.
How shall I know this?
Zechariah asks for a proof of what has been promised.
He wants a confirmation.
He wants a sign that this miracle is going to happen at all.
At what sign will you give me?
How will I know that this is going to happen, he says.
What evidence are you going to give me?
There is a sense, isn't there, that his doubt is in the event itself actually happening.
He questions the credibility of God's words, of the miracle.
Whereas Mary asks something subtly different, verse 34.
How will this be?
Since I'm a virgin.
Zechariah, how will I know it?
Mary, how will it happen?
See, Mary wonders at the mystery of the mechanics, of the how.
But not that the miracle will actually happen.
She's not married.
She's never been with a man.
So, how will I get pregnant?
But in the question, there is this underlying sense of acceptance.
She may not understand how.
There are unknowns about how this is going to happen.
But she is willing to accept that it will happen.
And she doesn't ask for a proof that it will happen.
Even if she hasn't got the foggiest clue how.
She says, I am the servant of the Lord.
Let it be according to your word.
She does want an explanation how though.
And the angel is willing to give it.
The miracle is not inexplicable.
There is an answer to the hard question.
And the angel says, verse 35,
It will be the work and power of the Holy Spirit coming on you.
Let's break that down a little bit.
What is the angel saying?
Well, one of Mary's eggs will be fertilised.
And there will be a real human conception.
But there will be no male sperm.
The egg will be miraculously fertilised.
How?
By the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary's half of DNA and chromosomes will be used in the usual way.
An enormous kind of conception from her point of view.
And this baby will be conceived in her womb.
But somehow the rest will be done by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And the angel says, nothing will be impossible with God.
It will be the power of the Holy Spirit.
And that is the explanation the angel gives.
The angel allows the question and gives an answer.
The Holy Spirit.
Is that crystal clear, Mary?
Any questions?
The problem with that answer, or for some people,
is that it could just raise more questions, couldn't it?
Hang on a minute, hang on.
Before you go, what do you mean by the power of the Holy Spirit?
How is the Holy Spirit going to do that?
What actually will happen on a microscopic level?
How will the Holy Spirit fertilise my egg?
How will this conception happen?
See, the answer to the first how question
just releases a wave of more how questions, doesn't it?
But Mary doesn't ask those how questions.
There comes a point where Mary stops asking how
and she accepts how.
That is the explanation she gets.
It's the Holy Spirit, Mary.
It's not a gullible acceptance, though.
Don't think that.
We know that Mary actually is a very deep thinker.
She's the kind of person who mulls things over.
She thinks about things a lot.
We read elsewhere in the Gospels
that Mary pondered the words that she heard.
She took them into her heart.
She pondered them.
She thought about them.
Here in verse 29, when the angel first greets her,
she tries to discern what kind of greeting this was.
You could translate that as she examines these words.
She took stock.
She took a step back.
She tried to ponder what this greeting was.
Mary was a thinker.
She wasn't a stupid, gullible, impressionable teenager.
She was the kind of woman who asked,
what on earth is going on here?
Am I seeing things?
Is this real?
She's actually a very rational woman.
But for Mary, the rational, intelligent thinking person,
she knows that her rational thinking has a limit.
And for her, nothing more is necessary
than to just know that nothing with God is impossible
and it will be the power of the Holy Spirit.
She doesn't say to the angel,
oh, I get it now.
I totally understand how this is going to work.
I'm totally convinced that it will all be easy and wonderful
and I get it completely.
Of course not.
She doesn't know everything.
There are lots more how questions to be asked.
But she knows enough.
She would have known about the Spirit of God
as a devout Jew
through the Bible that she had
and his immense power
that he was there in creation
and he created something out of nothing.
That he's worked in the history of God's people.
That he's brought life from the dead.
That this is the kind of power that this Holy Spirit has.
That he has.
So she does know enough.
And so there can be a simple acceptance.
Because as soon as you mention the power of the Holy Spirit
she knows, whoa, I'm out of my depth here.
And although she knows to use a rational mind
and although we should do that too,
being a Christian does not mean throwing your brain in the bin
and just being impressionable
but being a Christian means that we realise
that God is bigger than our brains.
God's work and his miraculous work
is bigger than our thinking can grasp.
And Mary realises that.
And so she just says
I am the servant of the Lord.
Let it be according to your word.
It's basically saying,
Amen, even though I do not get it.
God doesn't expect us to submit our faith to him
without reason and without explanation.
But often God's explanation
will push the limits of our minds, won't it?
And of our reason.
Nothing will be impossible with God.
It will be the power of the Holy Spirit.
And the limits of our mind
mean that she will not be able to understand
all of the hard questions.
The work of the Holy Spirit
who is God
bursting the boundaries
of our human understanding.
And often when we ask God how
the answer just gives us more questions.
Because our minds
and our human limited thinking
can never be enough
to contain the power of the Holy Spirit.
We just can't do that.
And if we could
then he wouldn't be God, would he?
A virgin birth?
How will the Holy Spirit do this?
Let me tell you the answer this morning.
I just haven't got a clue.
None of us have.
It's not that we're stupid.
It's just that God
is infinitely more intelligent than us.
It would be like trying to explain
particle physics to an ant,
wouldn't it?
This is the God of the Bible
who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit
in one God
who can be accepted
and believed by a simple child
and trusted in
by the most simple of the people
and yet the most deeply thinking theologians
are dwarfed
by the profundity of who he is
and what he can do.
And when someone hears the gospel
and asks that question
how can this be
actually you can be sure
you've heard the gospel properly.
There is a sense where
if we don't ask that question at all
we haven't really heard the gospel fully
or we've just forgotten it
or it hasn't been explained fully.
If we find the God of the Bible
just a little bit impossible
or inconceivable
or even ridiculous
of a just God
who forgives wicked people
of a holy God
who comes to dwell
with sinful people
of dead people
coming back to life
of a God
who became a man
to die for wicked people
so that they could know him forever
there is something hugely
mysterious about that.
hugely perplexing
about the whole thing
deeply mysterious.
There should be this sense
where we ask God
how
in everything that he does
there is something healthy
in those kind of questions
to understand the magnitude
of his power
the Holy Spirit
that there must be
those sort of questions from us
doesn't there as creatures?
And yet
we can simply accept
that we can't understand it all
and we can't keep asking
how and ever get to the point
where the questions will stop.
That is why
God is worth knowing
and worshipping
and asking about
that there are always
more depths
to his character
and his work
to dive into
deeper and deeper.
and so we have got
to come to a point
like Mary
where we humbly
just settle down
and accept
that we are not God
and that we are not
as clever as him
and we are not as powerful
as the Holy Spirit
and like Mary
say
oh the power of the Spirit
well that is enough then.
And so this thinking
woman
Mary is the model
in that simple faith
in that simple acceptance.
acceptance.
And secondly though
she has an active obedience.
She has an active obedience.
The thing with Mary
is that she turns
acceptance into action.
I'm the Lord's servant
she says
and she
she arises
with haste
verse 39
and goes to the hill country
and to Zechariah
and Elizabeth's house.
She acts
she does something.
And because it is one thing
to agree with God's word
but it's another
to act upon it.
And Mary shows us
that the root
of belief
is obedience.
This isn't just
some intellectual
assent
to what the angel says.
It is
an entire surrender
to what the angel
has said.
Just think
what that would have
meant for her.
Accepting
and obeying
God's plan.
it will mean
something extremely
difficult for her
actually.
It could mean
a lifetime
of embarrassment
and of stigma
as the woman
who in that
conservative society
had a child
out of wedlock.
She could become
a social outcast
as she brings
this child
into that sort of world.
And think for her
plans of life
with Joseph.
She would have been
like any other
young woman
who was engaged
to be married.
She maybe imagined
setting up the family
home, didn't she?
She had plans
maybe they could
have kids
two, three,
maybe four.
Joseph runs
the family business.
She probably had
it all mapped out.
And now suddenly
all of that
has to change.
And she's plunged
into the unknown
where life feels
like there are
just more questions
than there are
answers.
And it could have
been so hard
for her to believe
because it was
going to be
so hard to obey.
She might not
get it all.
She may not
even like it all.
But she does it.
Whatever comes,
she says to the angel,
I accept it.
And I can put
all of my plans
and all of my hopes
aside since this
is God's will.
And Mary shows
that belief is tied
to obedience.
But on the flip side
she shows us as well
that the problem
with disbelief
is disobedience.
And often people
don't believe
God's word
and the gospel
because they
don't want
to obey
the gospel.
The philosopher
Blaise Pascal
said that in faith
there is enough
light for those
who want to believe
and enough
shadows to blind
those who don't.
As long as you
don't want to
obey God
you'll find
shadows.
You'll find
shadows in all
that goes on
this morning
if you want to.
You'll find
shadows in every
conversation
that you have
with someone
who believes.
shadows.
You'll find
shadows if you
want them to be
there in every
part of the
Bible.
You'll be looking
for shadows
all of the time.
Maybe you've met
people like that.
They major
on the unknowns
as if they are
an excuse
not to act
and obey.
You just keep
saying well
I've just got
more questions.
But our problem
in that is that
we could be
waiting too long
before we obey.
You say
you've got
questions
you've got
doubts
you're just
looking into
it
you're just
investigating
but some of
us have just
been doing
that for far
too long.
But you won't
do anything
and you won't
move anywhere
until you feel
you've been
satisfied with
all your answers
and all of
your doubts
and you want
it all so
you're holding
back from
obeying the
Lord Jesus.
But let me
tell you this
morning having
questions and
doubts does not
set you apart
from anyone else
in this room.
having questions
is no reason
not to believe
and obey.
It is no
excuse.
It wasn't
for Mary.
Your disbelief
actually with
all due
respect
it is because
of disobedience.
It's an
unwillingness
to say to
God
I'm your
servant.
And you
don't want
to do that
because you'll
have to let
go of your
control.
But others
of you
you've maybe
got questions
and even
doubts
but you
want to
move forward
and you
want to
obey.
You've got
no idea
how God
is going
to do
the things
that he's
promised
he's going
to do
in your
life.
You don't
know the
hows.
There are
still lots
of questions
but the
alternatives
to the
Lord Jesus
are far
less credible
in the world
and around
the world
and you've
been with
his people
for long
enough to
know that
there is
something
different
about the
Lord Jesus
his people
and so
you're
willing to
go with
it.
Even if
you don't
understand it
all entirely.
What I'm
trying to say
is that in
this room
there is a
whole spectrum
isn't there
of belief
and of
faith.
And what
we realise
here Luke
shows us
that some
can doubt
with an
open mind
and others
can doubt
with a
closed mind.
And Mary
has the
right kind
of doubts
and questions
because even
though she
has questions
she still
obeys
and she's
willing to
let go of
control of
her life.
She doesn't
know everything
but she
knows enough.
It's the
power of the
Holy Spirit
and she's
willing to
act on it.
Some people
doubt asking
questions like
her.
Some people
doubt closing
off the
possibility of
answers.
And you're
always looking
for shadows
but it's
disobedience
really.
C.S.
Lewis in
his book
The Great
Divorce
pictures a
conversation
between a
believer and
a non-believer
and one guy
he's a
disbeliever
says to the
other
for me
there is no
such thing
as a final
answer.
The free
wind of
inquiry must
always continue
to blow
through the
mind must
it not.
Just keep
asking questions.
He says
on the
journey of
faith to
travel is
better than
to arrive.
In other
words it is
better to be
sceptical
forever.
Don't act
don't believe
don't move
forwards
don't trust
just hold
back and keep
asking questions.
that is
better.
And actually
that is
kind of the
modern way
isn't it?
That's the
virtuous way.
The second
replies there
was a time
when you
asked questions
because you
wanted answers
and you
were glad
when you
found them.
It was
when you
were a
child.
So become
that child
again even
now.
The
disbelievers
said ah but
when I became
a man I
put away
childish
things.
asking
questions
because you
wanted
answers.
There is
something
wonderfully
simple about
that isn't
there and
honest and
sincere about
that and
almost childlike
innocence in
that.
And God
honours those
kind of
questions.
But there is
a pride at
work when we
stop that.
And actually
in Christian
faith there
comes a point
and with
Mary we
have got to
know when
the asking
just has to
lead to
acting
finally.
That whatever
God sends
my way it
is best and
I surrender
to him.
And I
don't understand
all of it
I may not
even agree
with it
all but
I will do
it because
he knows
best.
Come what
may in all
the unknowns
and in all
the fearful
things that
God may be
asking me to
walk into
that God
calls us
to maybe
of even
losing
status and
of being
thought of
in the wrong
way just
like Mary
you don't
have to
understand it
all fully
and we're
fools if we
say we can
understand it
all fully.
You don't
even have to
like it all
fully yet.
You just
have to
obey it.
Simple
acceptance
and an
act of
obedience and
then thirdly
and lastly
a wonderful
assurance
a wonderful
assurance
and this is
when Mary
goes to see
Elizabeth
and what
Mary
does is she
acts upon
the angel's
words and
she goes to
the place
where she can
get assurance
of this
news.
If she
goes to
see Elizabeth
she will
get confirmation
won't she
either way
that the
angel is
real and
has told
her the
truth.
So this
visit to
Elizabeth
is a
means of
assurance
for her
assurance
of faith.
Seeing
Elizabeth
will build
up Mary's
faith and
help her
in her
doubts.
So Mary
acts and
she goes
there.
She avails
herself of
the means
of assurance
and Elizabeth
confirms
this faith.
She confirms
what the
angel has
said.
If you look
at verse
42 and
verse 43
Elizabeth
says
blessed
are you
among
women
and
blessed
is the
fruit
of
your
womb.
Why
is this
granted
to me
that the
mother
of my
Lord
should
come
to me?
Now
as far
as we
know
Elizabeth
has not
heard about
this before
Mary gets
there.
And Luke
shows us
in the
timings
there's
been no
gap
of time
that Mary
receives the
announcement
and then
goes to
visit
Elizabeth.
So
independently
by some
God
given
prophetic
knowledge
Elizabeth
tells
Mary
what Mary
has gone
to tell
Elizabeth.
And what
a boost
that was
to Mary's
faith.
That God
has told
the same
thing to
somebody
else.
This
wasn't a
hallucination
it wasn't
a dream
it is
real.
And
Elizabeth's
miraculous
pregnancy
just like
the angel
says
what a
boost
to her
faith.
And she
really
needed
that.
As stupid
and flimsy
and weak
as she
may have
felt to
go to
Elizabeth
and tell
her this
news
she went
to the
right place
where she
could get
confirmation
and she
took a
risk in
a way.
And in
her obedience
even in
the unknown
she receives
a huge
blessing of
assurance.
And if
we're like
Mary
if we're
struggling
with the
unknowns
and with
questions
and even
with doubts
but we
want to
know answers
and we
want assurance
this is how
God deals
with us
isn't it?
When we
are sincerely
seeking
assurance
the Lord
knows the
strains
that his
word has
on our
minds
at times.
this would
have been
a huge
psychological
strain for
Mary to
get her
head around
this.
And the
Lord knows
that our
minds and
our human
thinking can't
understand it
all like
he does.
He knows
that we're
dust.
But when we
come to him
and we go to
the places
that he's
arranged to
assure us
then he
longs to
boost our
faith.
When we
obey him
he assures
us.
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
says that
only he
who believes
is obedient
but only
he who is
obedient
believes.
It's
interesting
that isn't
it?
The more
we obey
and act
and move
on what
we know
as little
as it
may feel
that we
know
the more
God
assures
and strengthens
our faith.
he who
is obedient
believes
when you
start
acting
he will
start
assuring
more and
more
and when
we step
out into
the unknown
he is
there waiting
to boost
our faith.
There's a
story of a
king who
went into
a village
to see
his subjects
and he
met a
beggar
sitting by
the roadside
and when
the king
came along
he held
out his
bowl
for a
generous
gift
from the
king
but the
beggar
was shocked
when instead
the king
asked the
beggar for
something
so the
beggar
reluctantly
gave the
king
three
grains
of rice
at the
end of
the day
the beggar
looked in
his bowl
to look
at his
takings
and right
at the
bottom
of his
bowl
he noticed
three
grains
of pure
gold
the king
had
marked
his
obedience
with
blessing
the beggar
said to
himself
oh if
only I
had given
him it
all
Mary's
story shows
us that he
is a God
who is gentle
and he is
kind
with our
questions
and he
loves to
bless
and he
loves to
enrich
and assure
us as we
obey him
and as we
give for him
our lives
when we can
let the
asking
lead to
accepting
and acting
at last
he longs
to get
assuring
and you know
the virgin
birth is just
the beginning
isn't it
of Luke's
gospel
there's more
to come
healings
and
resurrections
and miracles
all over
the place
and there
will be
questions
there'll be
even more
questions
if you
read Luke
but the
virgin birth
stands at
the gates
of Christmas
like a
kind of
sentinel
the virgin
birth stands
actually at
the threshold
of Christianity
at the threshold
of God
himself
and it
makes us
question
our questions
and if
the questions
are just
for finding
more and
more shadows
and closing
off answers
from God
then the
virgin birth
bars the
way for us
doesn't it
towards God
but if we
can see the
virgin birth
and we can
be like Mary
we can just
say I don't
understand it
all
and I might
not get it
all
but I want
to accept
it
and I want
to act
upon it
then your
king waits
to assure
you in it
for by the
power of the
Holy Spirit
nothing is
impossible
with God
let's pray