1. Famous Firsts
• Virginia Dare 1587
1st child born in the American colonies, on August 18th, on what is now Roanoke Island, NC
• André-Jacques Garnerin
1797 --- 1st parachute jump. Dropped from about 6,500 ft. over Monceau Park in Paris in a 23-ft.-diameter parachute made of white canvas with a basket attached (Oct. 22).
• Charles Blondin (Jean Francois Gravelet)
1859 --- 1st person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope
• Jesse James
1873 --- Committed the world’s first train robbery on July 21. (Adair, Iowa)
• Herbert Hoover
1874 --- 1st US President born west of the Mississippi (West Branch, IA)
• Annie Moore -- 1892
1st immigrant to pass through Ellis Island. She was 15 years old and from County Cork, Ireland
• Alexander Winton 1903
Set the 1st land speed record in car racing. Set at Daytona Beach, his speed was 68.18 mph.
• Arthur R. Eldred
1912 --- 1st boy to reach the rank of Eagle Scout -- the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America program. He was of Oceanside, NY.
• Dolly, the lamb -- 1996 1st cloned mammal.
• And Mary the mother of Jesus was the First to carry the Gospel
2. A Special First – Virgin to bear the Son of God
a. Fulfillment of Isaiah 7.14
b. Many Unusual Births
Isaac – Samson – Samuel – John
c. Yeshua (Jesus – born to a virgin
1) Seems Impossible
2) Bumper Sticker – The Difficult we will do Today; the Impossible will Take a Little Longer
3) C.S. Lewis has said with penetrating insight, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”
3. God’s perfect timing – 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4.4-6
4. Imagine the surprise and confusion of Mary as the angel appeared to her with striking news – Luke 1.26-38
I. God Makes the Ordinary – Extraordinary
A. Common Names
1. Many boys named Joseph
2. Many girls named Miriam (Mary)
a. Relates to the sister of Moshe (Moses)
b. Some families had an Elder Mary and a Younger Mary
B. Common Status
1. Joseph was a Builder (had he been a rabbi???)
2. Mary was to be a homemaker
3. Both were Torah Observant
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways! Psalm 119.1-3
C. Common Process of Marriage
1. I read that Marriage Contracts were often made up on Wednesday
2. And that the marriage would take place by the end of the year in which the Ketubah had been signed
3. The wedding in Cana (John 2.1) occurred on the “third day” – custom because on the third day of creation God said, “It is good” twice – the only day with a double blessing
II. God Makes the Impossible – Possible
“If God is going to do something wonderful, he starts with a problem;
If God is going to do something spectacular, he starts with impossibility!”
A. Things of God Go Beyond Explanation
Back in 1961, Redbook Magazine hired a top pollster to survey a cross section of students from seminaries across the nation. Questions ranged from their attitude toward Scripture, to whether or not they believed in life after death. Of those seminary students who were surveyed, 56 percent rejected the idea of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
1. “Greeks study to understand; Hebrews study to revere.”
2. WE want to understand and explain
3. Sometimes we want to explain AWAY the things of God
• 10 plagues were natural coincidences
• Red Sea – actually Reed Sea – was not all that deep and a wind separated the waters for the Hebrews at just the right time – miracle that Egyptians died in ankle deep water
• From NEMJ a few years ago: David killed Goliath because the giant had a rare growth disorder that causes tumors to grow in the endocrine glands which help regulate the body’s growth and functions; a cyst on the giant’s forehead may have made him vulnerable to David’s slingshot; such a cyst would be a softer spot and allow the rock to enter the brain of Goliath, killing him instantly
[A Preacher tried to explain “miracle” to a children’s SS class:
Suppose I am on the roof of a 10 story building and I fall off; on the way down a strong whirlwind catches me and sets me gently down on the street – what would you call it?
One boy – “Luck!”
No, let me try again – he repeats the story – what would you call it?
A little girl – “An accident!”
No (frustrated) – he repeats the story again – what would you call it?
This time the whole class has their hand in the air – and the preacher calls on one boy – “Practice!”
It is amazing how far we go to NOT say the word, “miracle”
4. There comes a point that we can no longer explain or understand, only revere – as Job
B. Things of God Go Beyond Expectation (Isaiah 55.8-9)
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1. Amazing Assignments in the Bible:
God is always using to the wrong people
• Fatherless Abraham to be the Father of a Nation
• Stammering Moses to be the Leader of a Nation
• Undisciplined Samson to be the Judge of a Nation (was also judged)
• Little David to be King – family did not think it could have been him – Man looks out, God IN
• Unholy Isaiah to be a Prophet of a Nation
• Uncouth John the Baptist to be the PR Man for Jesus
• IRS Agent Matthew to be a Disciple of Jesus
• Crooked Zacchaeus to be the Host for Jesus
• Unstable Peter to be the Rock of the Church
2. He continually points us to himself –
26 For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; 27 but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; 31 therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1.26-31
III. God Makes the Fearful -- Unafraid
A. Mary’s Risks:
1. Loss of her family (stigma – would you believe her explanation?)
2. Loss of Public Approval (Prodigal Son)
3. Loss of Fiancé and future securities of a home and finances – often led to prostitution
4. Loss of Life – Burning/Stoning/Strangulation
B. Mary’s Response – Let it Be
1. God had chosen Mary – Amazing (BTW, he chooses us, too!)
2. Mary had a choice, too – she chose to obey! Amazing (We?)
Conclusion
1. Generally, near the beginning of the Sabbath, a Jewish woman lights the Sabbath candles for her family. It is an appropriate action when we consider that woman would bring the light of the world to us.
2. Everyone in this account took risks – Shepherds; Magi; Joseph; Mary – to bring Son of God into world with eyewitness evidence
3. God did impossible things in the lives of Joseph and Mary – wants to do so in our lives
4. Stop trying to rely on self; understand all of the logistics – simply let him into your life with wonder and awe – Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3.20
5. The importance of Child-like Faith
Mary was just a child – With GREAT faith
