Pastor Allan Kircher
Shell Point Baptist Church
Dec 9th, 2012
Luke 1:26-38
BEHOLD THE LAMB PREPARED
Way back in the dawn of time, man violated a sacred trust and fell into sin.
• At that time, God promised man that there would come One Who would balance the scales
• Defeat evil and deliver humanity.
• For thousands of years men waited.
• And while men waited, God worked.
God worked by choosing a man named Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans.
• Through/man God raised up a nation known as Israel.
• God worked through/nation to establish His Law/His worship in the earth.
Yet, the people of Israel were constantly turning away from the Lord Who had called them and bought them.
• But, He was patient with them, and He continued to work.
• He worked in spite
of their tendency to follow false gods.
of them turning a deaf ear to His Word
to the preachers and prophets He sent to lead them.
of the fact that they really did not seem to care about Him at all.
God worked because He was completing a plan that begun before the world was ever made.
He worked…..
• because He was determined to send a Redeemed to this world to save the lost.
• because He was motivated by a heart of love to see His people saved.
• in spite of everything they did and in working
• His love for them overcame every obstacle they placed in His path.
God kept on because He had promised to send a Lamb into the world to die for sin.
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Today, I want to talk about that part of God’s work that brought His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world.
Of all the obstacles God faced in completing His plan to save lost sinners
• the most challenging
• from a human perspective
• was getting His Lamb into this world.
We have seen how God promised a Lamb;
• Today, I want to see how that Lamb was prepared.
• I want to preach on this thought
• Behold The Lamb Prepared.
• I want to take these verses and show you how God accomplished the impossible through the birth of His darling Son.
I. v. 26-28 THE PLACE RESERVED FOR THIS PREPARATION
A. It Was A Pure Place
• We are told that the angel came to “a virgin.”
• The word used refers to a female that is sexually pure.
• The virginity of Mary is affirmed twice in verse 27.
Contrary to what liberals and others may say, the word does not simply speak of a “young woman,” but it speaks of one who has never engaged in sexual intercourse.
The vessel God chose--bring His Son--world--perfectly pure vessel.
• Some might wonder why this is important.
• Important/God promised/Savior/humanity would be
• “the seed of the woman,” Gen. 3:15
This simply means/God/send/Savior into the world through the body/woman w/o the aid/human male.
• Why? Because all humans are sinners and that sinfulness is passed on through the seed of the man, Rom. 5:12.
• When Adam sinned in the garden, he became a sinner.
• he passed on his human nature to his offspring
• And passed his sinful nature to his children.
• They inherited his sin and they too passed it on down the line.
God’s plan/send/Savior into/world involved Him sending a pure Savior
By sending Jesus into this world through the womb of a virgin, God was able to give His Son a human body and a human nature, without His inheriting a fallen nature as well.
• This enabled Jesus to be born without sin;
• Live without sin and die without sin.
• He was able to give His live as a pure
• Perfect sacrifice for fallen man, 2 Cor. 5:21.
• He was able to satisfy God forever through the offering of His Own body on the cross, 1 John 2:2; Heb. 9:11-14
I certainly do not understand all the mechanics of how God sent His Son into the world through the womb of a virgin, but I do know that the virgin birth of Jesus is a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith.
• Without a virgin birth….
• We do not have a Savior.
• We have no hope.
• We have no foundation to build the house of our faith!
• To deny the virgin birth of Jesus is to deny Christ.
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B. It Was A Prophesied Place – As I have already mentioned, God promised to send His Son into the world through a woman, Gen. 3:15.
• As the years past
• that prophesy was expanded by the prophet Isaiah
• Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6.
Both of these verses tell us that God would move in a miraculous manner to bring the promised Messiah into the world.
Therefore, the virgin birth of Jesus should not surprise anyone.
• When God makes a promise
• He is well able to make it happen, Rom. 4:21.
• When He makes a promise
• He fully intends to bring to it pass.
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C. It Was A Prepared Place –
God/His grace chose a girl/Nazareth/Galilee/mother/promised Messiah!
• When it comes to Mary
• People tend to go to one or two extremes.
They either magnify her so much that Jesus takes second place
Or they ignore her and fail to give her the esteem she deserves
• Elizabeth, filled with the Spirit
• “the mother of my Lord”
• That is reason enough to honor her.
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What do we know about Mary?
• She/Jewess/tribe/Judah, a descendant of David.
• She was engaged/carpenter/Nazareth named Joseph
• And apparently both of them were poor.
• History tells us that every faithful Jewish girl was looking for the messiah.
We are also told that every Jewish girl hoped that she would be the vessel chosen through which God would send His Messiah into the world
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When you consider Gabriel’s greeting, you can understand why Mary was perplexed and afraid:
• “Greetings, you who are highly favored!”
• “The Lord is with you!”
• she is amazed and she is startled
• but she is a woman prepared to respond to the will of the Lord in faith and faithfulness, Luke 1:38.
• It appears that God, in His grace, had begun a work in her young heart long before this moment
• so when this moment arrived
• Mary was ready and willing to do all the Lord desired of her.
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Imagine the faith required/Mary/respond to the Lord as she did.
• For a young unmarried woman/pregnant in that day
• was to be the focus of shame, disgrace
• And a possible death sentence.
But, Mary was willing to bear the shame and the burden of being the vessel that God would send His Son into the world.
• Her response reveals her humility/honesty before God.
• She never expected/see/angel/receive special favors
• Did you ever expect to be a child of God?
• Aren’t you still in shock and amazed?
Thank God for people like Mary who are willing to do all the Lord requires, regardless of what it may require of them.
May the Lord find a heart like that beating within every one of our chests!
After all, nothing reveals our love for Jesus like our unquestioning obedience to all He requests of us, John 14:15, 21!
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II. v. 29-33 THE PROMISE REVEALED IN THIS PREPARATION
A. v. 31, 32 The Promise Of A Special Child
Mary is told that she will become the mother of a son, but that this Son will be no ordinary child.
• He will be her son, therefore, He will be a human
• But He will also be the “Son of the Highest.”
• He will be a man, but He will also be God.
• This was the prophecy of Isaiah, Isa. 7:14.
• This was the message of the angel to Joseph, Matt. 1:23.
• This was most profound moment of all time and eternity
The moment God became flesh and walked among men, John 1:1; 14; Phil. 2:5-8.
The moment that the Creature became dependent upon the creature.
• When Christ/conceived/womb/virgin
• The plan of the ages moved out of eternity and into time.
• God Himself robed Himself in human flesh
• Came into this world to die/cross to save His people from their sins.
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B. v. 31 The Promise Of A Saving Child
Mary is told that the child’s name is to be “Jesus.”
• This name was a common name in that day.
• In the Hebrew tongue, it was the name “Joshua”.
• Many Jewish parents named their male children Joshua
• or as the Greeks rendered it, Jesus.
• Of course, while the name might be common
• the child to Whom it was given was not.
The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is Salvation.”
Although Mary did not understand all that she was being told, she hears for the first time that Name which is above every name!
• She does not understand it now, but the child she will name Jesus will grow up and one day He will die on a cross to save lost sinners from their sins.
• He will be the only hope lost sinners have, John 14:6.
• His Name will be the only Name that will open the gates of Heaven;
• redeem the human soul from the bondage of sin;
• deliver lost men from the threat of Hell;
• and speak peace and hope to those who do not know God.
For this child would be the fulfillment of a plan set into motion before the world was ever formed, Rev. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:20.
• He would die on a cross
• rise from the dead
• ascend back into Heaven to guarantee salvation for all who would trust Him by faith.
• Thank God for the day God sent His Son into the world to be the Savior of God’s people, Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11.
C. v. 32-33 The Promise Of A Sovereign Child
Mary is also told that this special child, this saving child would also be a sovereign child.
• She is told that He would be a sovereign
• That He has a special pedigree.
• He would rule on the throne of David
• Thus fulfilling the prophecy given to David over 1,000 years before, 2 Sam. 7:11-13; Psa. 132:11.
• He would also rule over the house of Jacob
• Fulfilling the prophecy of Jacob made thousands of year’s earlier, Gen. 49:10.
Beyond that, He would also rule over a kingdom that would have no end.
He would rule over His kingdom forever, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, Isa. 9:6-7; and others of the Old Testament prophets.
• In these verses which describe this promised child
• we learn the wonderful truth that God will become a man
• He will die for sinners
• That He will rise again to rule forever.
All the wonderful truth concerning the life, ministry and death of Jesus that will be made plain later, is revealed here in seed form.
• The question for you and me is this:
• Do we know Him, or do we just know about Him?
• I know you have heard about Jesus, but have you ever trusted Him for your soul’s salvation?
• You see, this promise was made to Mary;
• but it is valid for all who will believe.
III. v. 34-38 THE POWER RELEASED IN THIS PREPARATION
A. v. 34-38 The Power To Conquer Our Doubts
Mary hears the words of the angel, but she confesses that she does not understand how this can happen.
• She wonders how she will be able to have a child
• since she has never physically been with a man.
To Mary’s mind this is a dilemma that cannot be surmounted.
• Thankfully, the angel has the answer!
• He tells her that she is about to be part of the greatest miracle the world has ever known.
• God is about to turn Mary into a miracle!
• Gabriel said “the work of the Holy Spirit!
• The angel speaks the words that conquer Mary’s doubts.
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B. v. 35-38 The Power To Carry Out His Desires
The angel addresses Mary’s problem by giving her a promise
• Gabriel says, “the HS will come upon you!
• the power of the HS will overshadow you!
• God is well able to do all things.
• Don’t you feel it in your new life?
Gabriel declares the awesome power of God and offers hope and comfort for the heart of Mary.
Even today: we hear the Christmas message and there is a human tendency to doubt.
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We hear …
• about God becoming flesh and being born in Bethlehem,
and there is a part of man that has trouble with that.
• He came/He died because He loves us
• He did it/save our souls from the fires of Hell
and part of says, “Well, what if He didn’t mean me?”
Well, Mary heard a message that was almost too fantastic to be believable.
• When she confessed the fact that she did not see how it could be real
• The angel offered her the promise of God’s power.
• A power that is real! That’s free!
• It is a power that is unbelievable/till you have it!
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If you have heard this message today and you are plagued by fears and doubts regarding the message of Jesus, here is what you need to know.
• Everything God said is true! Jesus is His Son.
• Jesus did come into this world to die for you.
• He did die for you.
• He did rise from the dead.
• He did return back to Heaven.
• He is coming back to this earth someday.
• All those who trust Him by faith will be forever saved by His mighty power.
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You say, “How can I know for sure?”
In Mary’s case, the angel told her about what God had done for her cousin Elizabeth.
God offers her a word of encouragement:
• Her barren aged relative was with child.
• Proving that “with God nothing will be impossible”
• Mary left immediately to go see Elizabeth
• when she arrived
• she found that Elizabeth was pregnant
• Just like the angel had said v. 39-56.
Mary had positive proof that God had worked in the life of Elizabeth, and that gave her confidence to believe that He would work in her own life as well.
• Mary’s believing response was to surrender herself to God.
• To be His willing servant.
• She experienced the grace of God.
• She believed the Word of God.
• Therefore, she could be used by the Spirit of God
• To accomplish the will of God.
• A “handmaid” was the lowest kind of female servant.
• That shows you how much Mary trusted God.
• She belonged to the Lord, body, soul, and spirit.
• What an example for us to follow. Rom. 12:1-2
For us today the proof is sitting right here!
• The power of God and the change of life/miracles
• Can be found by looking around this room!
• All around/lives transformed by the hand of grace.
• Look at what Jesus has done
He will certainly do the same for you who seeks, John 6:37.
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Conc: As we hear about the virgin birth and think about God sending His Son into this world to die for sinners, we might wonder why.
• Why would God go to all that trouble?
• Why would He send His Son into this world?
• Why would He allow that Son to die for lost people?
There is only one answer and there is only one reason:
He loves you!
• The Bible declares His love, John 3:16
• the death of Christ/cross/Calvary displays it for all to see, Rom. 5:8.
The blessed Lamb of God was sent to this world through the womb of the virgin Mary
Celebrate that with me during this Advent season.
Are you genuinely saved by grace?
Do you know the Lord?
God prepared the Lamb so you might be saved, and you can be if you will come to Him.
