We have been looking at the Why’s of Christmas. We considered first of all, why Christmas at all? Why did Christ come? We then looked at the timing of Jesus’ coming, why did God pick out that particular time in history 2,000 years ago for Jesus to come? The fact is I have a lot a questions. I don’t understand all the ways and things of God. But I do know and believe God has a purpose for everything He chooses to do.
Today we will look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Why did God pick her? A poor young peasant girl from the back country of Israel. Why? And why the virgin birth? We will explore these questions today in our focal passage:
Luke 1:26–38 (NKJV)
Nobody wants to be ordinary. To be ordinary is to have no exceptional ability; to be average. No one wants to be average, right? No one wants to be of average height or make average money. No one wants an to date an average girl or guy or drive an average car. Most of the time we want something that makes us stand out from the crowd. We want to feel a notch better. In reality most of us are average. Most of us do not stand out from the crowd in either good or bad ways. That is what average means. Let’s talk about the ordinary things from our scripture text today and then what makes it not just ordinary but extraordinary. For instances:
The town of Nazareth is ordinary. A couple of thousand people at the most. Nazareth was an ordinary or average village in Galilee. It wasn't the seat of anything. It wasn't an important place at all. All of the major trade routes missed Nazareth. It was about 70 miles north of Jerusalem depending on what point in Jerusalem we begin, which was quite a ways if walking. It still is fifteen miles west of the north tip of the Sea of Galilee and about twenty-two miles from the Mediterranean. So somewhere in the middle between the tip of the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean sits this town. Nazareth had no reputation at all:
John 1:46a (NKJV) And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
In fact, if anything, Nazareth was despised.
Mary was ordinary. Nothing special about her. Even her name was ordinary – How many Mary’s do we read about in the NT? The Scriptures say nothing of her piety either before Gabriel came to her or after. She was a poor girl engaged to be married to a poor man.
Joseph was a craftsman, which may include carpentry. The word we translate “carpenter” is "tektons" in the Greek, which also means builder. Joseph probably worked in stone as well and if you have ever been to that area around Nazareth, you will see more stones and rocks than you will see trees and wood. Many men were employed as builders.
About 3 miles from Nazareth was the Roman city of Sepphoris which was being built durning that time. Joseph (and later Jesus as a young man) was probably employed there as a day laborer. So Joseph was a poor man. And we know Joseph and Mary were poor because of their offering when they went to the temple to dedicate Jesus, Mary had to offer a sacrifice for her purification.
Luke 2:23–24 (NKJV) (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
According to Levitcus 12:6 Mary needed to sacrifice a lamb, but in Levitus 12:8, if she was too poor to bring a lamb, then she could offer “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Mary and Joseph were poor. They were common, even though they were descendances of King David, so were many others and there was nothing special about them, at least to the rest of the world. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, which is like an engagement but more binding. They were considered married except they did not live together and the marriage had not been consummated. They were like so many others, except for one fact: God chose them to be the parent of Jesus.
Luke 1:26–28 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
The "sixth month" referred to the pregnancy of Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Notice the greeting Gabriel gave Mary. Mary was favored by God. Not because of who Mary was, but because God had chosen her. The emphasis is on God and His choice, on His sovereignty, not on Mary.
“The Lord is with you.” Gabriel did not say “May the Lord be with you,” but stated a fact, “The Lord is with you.”
The last part “blessed are you among women!” is not in most modern translations because it is not included the older more reliable manuscripts. In other versions is is mentioned as a footnote.
But Mary was troubled. It was not common practice for a man to approach a betrothed woman. But Gabriel was an angel and that must have been evident to Mary.
Luke 1:29–30 (NKJV) But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Wow to be greeted by an angel! The angel had a message for Mary, but he let her know she had God’s favor. If I have God’s favor, I can handle any message from anyone, including an angel. But don’t be so quick to wish for an angel to come speak to you with a message straight from God. If you were to receive such a message, your life is fixing to be turned upside down and forever changed. That is precisely what happen to Mary.
Let’s look at the message:
Luke 1:31–33 (NKJV) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Gabriel tells Mary 7 things about this Baby she will have:
1. His Humanity. He was to be born
2. His Mission is salvation. This Child to be born was to have the name of Jesus, which is the Greek form of Joshua, which means “YAHWEH is salvation.” The very name of Jesus is the Gospel.
3. He will be Great. This without a qualifier. He is not "very great" or "greater than something else." In the Greek, especially as it is used in the LXX, to be great without a qualifier is reserved for God alone.
4. Called the Son of the Most High. The "Most High" is an exclusive name for the one true God. It first came into use in Genesis 14 with Melchizedek. “Son” denotes equality with the Father. Jesus, the Son, is equal to God, the Father.
5. He will be given the Throne of David. In many places in the OT the Throne of King David will last forever. This will take place at the second coming. Mary clearly understood what that means – He will rule Israel.
6. He will reign over the House of Jacob forever. House of Jacob is another term for the nation of Israel. Jesus will be Israel’s last king. Here again, it will happen at the second coming.
7. His Kingdom will have no end. This is emphasized through the OT and in Revelation.
This is a lot for Mary to in. And she ask a very simple question:
Luke 1:34 (NKJV) Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
This confirms that Mary was a virgin. Her question was not a question of doubt, but a question of how. Zacharias asked a very similar question to Gabriel, but his question was one of disbelief and Gabriel struck him mute. So Gabriel explains:
Luke 1:35 (NKJV) And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The virgin birth has long been contested by the world. But the world does not understand that all things are possible with God. This is the why of the virgin birth. To have a earthly father, would preclude God. But Jesus is the Son of God.
Luke 1:36–37 (NKJV) Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Elizabeth was old and barren, but God worked a miracle here, the same God had done with Abraham’s wife Sarah.
But was follows is the best verse which describes Mary.
Luke 1:38 (NKJV) Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary referred to herself as a the maidservant of the Lord. The word in the Greek for maidservant denotes the lowest form of a female slave. She was completely surrendered to the will of God. But sweet gentle Mary was in for a rough ride. To be found pregnant before the marriage was scandalous. We know Joseph could have divorced her, but he didn’t (see Matthew 1:18-23). Having this holy Baby was no picnic. After a long a rugged journey to Bethlehem:
Luke 2:7 (NKJV) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
They didn't even have to decent place to stay in while having this Baby. And not long after that, after the wise men came and visited, Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus had to flee for their very lives.
Matthew 2:13 (NKJV) Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
And think of what Mary had to endure some thirty plus years later.
John 19:25a (NKJV) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother
This is not what Mary had planned but God had something greater and Mary knew it. Look how Mary rejoiced that God was able to use her:
Luke 1:46–48 (NKJV) And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
God does extraordinary things with ordinary people. This is the message today. Why Mary? Why not Mary? God chose Mary for the extraordinary task of being mother to Jesus. Mary, a poor peasant girl from the backwoods of Israel. Why? Because God gets all the glory.
What has God called you do to? God does not called the qualified, He qualifies the called. Look at who God calls:
1 Corinthians 1:26 (NKJV) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
God calls out ordinary people like you and me to do extraordinary things. Has God called you? Have you surrendered to His will, no matter how big or small it is our eyes? Are you willing to have your whole world turned upside down to follow Jesus? It is all about Him.
