Introduction

Good morning, beloved in Christ. I am humbled and overjoyed to stand before you today, to share the Word of God with you, to hold up the lamp of Scripture that our steps may be guided, our hearts warmed, and our spirits nourished. We gather here today in the beautiful embrace of our Lord, united in His love, under the banner of His grace, and in the fellowship of His Spirit.

We are about to embark on an exploration of a familiar yet profound passage from the Gospel of Luke. A passage that unveils a divine encounter, a courageous decision, and an awe-inspiring manifestation of faith. We are about to peer into the depths of Luke 1:26-38 .

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?' 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. 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. For nothing will be impossible with God.' 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.

Miraculous Message Mary Received

The angel greeted Mary with words of honor, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' These words were divine affirmations, affirming Mary's favored status in the eyes of God and His presence with her. This was not because of anything Mary had done, but because of God's sovereign choice and grace.

But Mary was greatly troubled at the angel's greeting. She didn't understand what it meant. She didn't know why she was favored or why the Lord was with her. Her humble response reveals her heart. She was not seeking glory or honor, but was simply a servant of the Lord, willing to do His will. This humble heart is what God looks for in His servants. It's not about our abilities or achievements, but our availability and willingness to do His will.

The angel then revealed the miraculous message to Mary. She was going to conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, and she was to name him Jesus. This was not just any son, but the Son of the Most High, the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of the world. This was a message of hope, not just for Mary, but for all of humanity. This message reminds us that God's plans are always greater than our plans, His ways higher than our ways. It also reminds us that God is the God of miracles, who can do the impossible.

Mary's response to the angel's message was one of faith and obedience. She didn't fully understand how it would happen, but she trusted God and submitted to His will. 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,' she said. This response reveals Mary's faith in God and her willingness to obey Him, even when it was hard and didn't make sense. This is the kind of faith and obedience God desires from us. It's not about understanding everything, but trusting God in everything.

Mary's Momentous Decision

As we continue to reflect on this passage, we find that Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message is nothing short of extraordinary ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO