Communication Of Our Messiah Series

“COMMUNICATION OF OUR MESSIAH” Luke 1:26-38

FBCF – 12/15/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Tommy Bolt was a professional golfer in 1950’s. Was playing in LA. Had a caddy w/ reputation of constant chatter. Before they teed off, Bolt told him, “Don’t say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no.”

During the round, Bolt found the ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake & onto the green. He got down on his knees & looked through the trees & sized up the shot.

“What do you think?” he asked the caddy. “5-iron?” “No, Mr. Bolt,” the caddy said.

“What do you mean, not a 5-iron? Just watch this shot.”

The caddy rolled his eyes. “No-o-o, Mr. Bolt.”

But Bolt hit it & the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. He turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron & said, “Now what do you think about that? You can talk now.” “Mr. Bolt,” the caddy said, “that wasn’t your ball.”

Accurate communication is an important aspect of our lives. And it was an important aspect of Jesus coming into the world. Today, we are going to look at how God communicated this news to Mary & what that means for us today.

EXPLANATION – Luke 1:26-38

Luke’s Gospel is filled w/ good news for everybody! Key verse – Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek & save the lost.” This message of this book is a message for anybody anywhere. Luke shows us the universality of Jesus & the universality of the Gospel. As we will look at next week, the coming of Jesus into the world as our Savior is a message that is filled w/ “good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL people” (Luke 2:10) – not to SOME people – not to GOOD people – not to DESERVING OR WORTHY people – but to ALL people!

Let’s divide our passage up into 3 sections:

HERE’S WHO’S BRINGING THE NEWS – v. 26-29 – It’s no coincidence that the angel chosen to bring the greatest news the world has ever heard has a name that actually means “God is great.” Gabriel means “God is great.” He had already appeared to the priest, Zechariah, w/ the great news that he & his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son who would be John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Unfortunately, Zec looked at his circumstances instead of to God & didn’t believe Gabriel. Result? He was struck dumb & couldn’t talk for next 9 months.

- “Zacharias paid a price for his unbelief. His unbelief did not make God take HIs promise back; it just kept Zacharias from enjoying it.” (https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-1/)

- Same commentator: “Strangely, many Christians would not consider this a punishment – they don’t mind keeping quiet about the good news of Jesus.” (https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-1/)

500 yrs before his visit w/ Zechariah, Gabriel had taken a message from God to Daniel. Next stop for Gabriel after Zechariah was Nazareth. No need for GPS or Google Maps – God sent him directly to Mary’s home. Gabriel, the “God is great” angel, sent by our great God to deliver the great message that Jesus was coming. What a great assignment for Gabe!

HERE’S WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN – v. 30-33 – Before he could tell her why he was there & what was going to happen, he had to calm her down since she was “greatly troubled” – “confused & disturbed” (NLT). Angels always had to say “Fear not” – “Don’t be afraid” – b/c, contrary to popular opinion, angels are not cute, chubby little babies in diapers on toilet paper packages. They are warriors & mighty messengers from God! Right now, they are fighting an unseen battle against demonic forces in the heavenlies, thwarting & hindering Satan’s plans & schemes against us.

After he calms her down, he gives her the most unbelievable message she had ever heard or would ever hear in her life. Here it is:

- “God has blessed you.”

o v. 28 - “O favored one…” v. 30 – “…you have found favor w/ God…”

o Be clear: Mary was not any more special than anyone else. Not chosen b/c she was more holy or more spiritual. God’s favor toward her was an act of His grace. She didn’t deserve this blessing. Just like us!

- “You are going to get pregnant.”

o Even though she was a virgin & had never been intimate w/ a man.

- “You are going to have a baby boy.”

o The focus of Christmas, the focus of the Gospel, & the focus of God’s perfect plan of salvation is on this boy, not on Mary. This boy & this boy alone can save. No one else can – not Gabriel, not Mary, not Joseph – only this boy. Which is why Gabriel said…