The Messiah Foretold Series

Grace Community Church

Winchester, VA

www.GraceCommunity.com

Rev. Bradford Reaves, Sr. Pastor

Watch This Message on our Youtube Channel

Introduction

How many of you as parents knew every detail of your child’s life before they were even born. Every single one of us remembers distinctly the moment we found out we were going to be parents. We remember the feeling of joy, confusion, or even fear of that realization and sharing that with others of the coming of our child. But how many of all the children born today can be specifically and accurately described before he or she was even born? Humanly speaking of the billions of people born, only a couple of people have had such a supernatural announcement. Last week John the Baptist was foretold by Gabriel to Zechariah.

This week I want to share with you the greatest child ever to be born. It is not enough for us to say that Jesus was a good man or that he did great things. It is not enough to comment on the miracles he performed or the marvelous teaching he provided. These are all great things, but they are things or accomplishments that individually can be accomplished by nearly any man. What makes Jesus unique is these things and more are all accomplished in his life and they are all foretold by Scripture and some of these are touched on by Gabriel in his annunciation to Mary.

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:26-38)

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

I. The Greatness of the Child

The Angel Gabriel comes to Nazareth which is located in the region of Galilee. In this small village is a young girl, probably around 13, named Mary. Her engagement with Joseph was recently set and Gabriel announces to her something miraculous: she is going to have a child. In a couple of weeks you will hear why the virgin birth is necessary, today I want to draw your attention to who she is carrying.

you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

From the time of his birth, throughout his entire life, and even in his death, resurrection, and his continuing ministry through the disciples and today. The greatness of Jesus unfolded as he lived his life. His teach was unlike any teaching.

John 7:46 ESV

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

His greatness was not only in his teaching, but in his life and the miracles. Healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding crowds of people, walking on water, taking authority over demons, and of course, overcoming death and the grave himself. Do you realize that not only are Jesus’ miracles verifiable, but he made his own resurrection verifiable?

Matthew 17:22 ESV

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,