Lesson 3: What Did Mary Know?

Series: God’s Greatest Secrets Dr. Elmer Towns

Lesson 3: What Did Mary Know? December 16, 2012

A. WHAT DID MARY KNOW? LUKE 1:26-30

“Six months after Elizabeth got pregnant; the angel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary who was living in Nazareth. She was engaged to Joseph, a descendent of David. The angels said to her, ‘You are given grace, the Lord is with you; you are favored over all women.’ Mary was troubled at the angel’s words not knowing what he meant” (Luke 2:26-30, Amplified).

1. That she was named Mary (Greek) after a great woman leader in the Old Testament, Miriam (Hebrew).

2. That her son was in line for the Messianic throne (Luke 3:23-30).

3. That she was engaged to Joseph whose son would also be in line for the Messianic throne (Luke 2:27).

4. That she was a virgin (twice mentioned in 1:27).

5. That she didn’t do anything to be called great. She was great because of her character.

6. Grace is God giving to us the exact opposite of what we deserve.

Mary was the greatest woman ever born,

Yet she needed grace to be accepted by God.

B. WHAT GOD WANTED MARY TO KNOW: LUKE 1:31-37

“The angel told Mary she would become pregnant and give birth to a son, ‘Call His name Jesus. He will be great, the Son of the Highest; He will receive the throne of David, His kingdom shall reign forever.’ Mary asked the angel how that could happen since she was a virgin? He answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you because you will give birth to the Son of God.’ The angel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth who was barren conceived a son and was in her sixth month of pregnancy. He said nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:31-37, Amplified).

1. That she was chosen for the greatest task given to any woman.

2. That she was chosen because she was the greatest woman ever born.

3. That her son would be named Jesus.

Four Things About Mary’s Son

-He would be great (v. 32).

-He would be the Son of the Highest.

-God would give her Son the throne of David.

-He would reign forever (not 40 years like David).

4. Mary asked a question of information, not unbelief, “How shall this be, seeing I have not known a man?” (1:34).

5. Mary was concerned with immediate future, the angel focused on long-range future.

C. WHAT MARY DID

“Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant, He can do anything with me that He please. May everything you have said come true.’ The angel left. Mary quickly left to visit Elizabeth in Judea. When she entered the house to greet Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s child leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and said, ‘You are blessed above all other women. I am blessed that the mother of my Lord has come to see me’” (Luke 1:38-43, Amplified).

1. Mary considered herself a servant.

2. Mary yielded to do the will of God.

3. Mary left immediately to visit Elizabeth.

a. For confirmation.

b. For guidance from an older wiser woman.

c. She didn’t know how to tell Joseph.

d. She was young.

D. WHAT WE CAN LEARN

1. While we are concerned with how things happen, God is concerned with what happened.

2. No one less than the best to furnish the DNA for Jesus.

3. While we focus on Jesus’ birth, God focuses on His eternal reign.

4. Yieldedness is the secret of usefulness.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a person completely yielded to him.” ~Varner

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.