YOU ARE TO CALL HIM JESUS
LUKE 1:26–56
Introduction
As we move through the Christmas season it is easy to overlook the common things we know about the
uncommon birth of Jesus.
We know very little about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Lottie Beth Hobbs wrote that she, “holds a place apart from all other women of the world, a position never before known and one which will never again be filled. Who was the young woman selected by God to be the mother of the Messiah? ...Her parentage is not given. She was evidently of very humble station in life.”
There’s a popular holiday song called ‘Mary Did You Know’ … I’d like to turn that around a bit and wonder about the Mary We Need To know.
1. The Mythology of Mary
Mary was an extraordi nary young woman, but sometimes there are teachings about her in the religious world we cannot find in the Bible. Some believe that….
*Mary never sinned, not even the slightest transgression.
*Mary remained a virgin throughout her life, even after her marriage to Joseph.
*Mary is a mediator between God and man. They believe that Mary prays for us along with her Son Jesus.
*Mary ended her earthly life by being taken up to heaven in bodily form.
While we disagree with some of our religious friends on matters like these, we want to affirm two things:
-All of our information about Mary come from the Bible.
-We do not want to down play her significant role and the meaning of it either.
2. The Mary We See in Scripture
Luke 1:26b-56
26 ...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. ...
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. … 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary was an ordinary young woman. MARY was the most common Jewish name for women at that time in the land of Israel. She was an ordinary teenager who had a world-changing conversation with the angel Gabriel. Though this was an amazing experience, it did not change her humble demeanor. She acknowledged she is “lowly,” and in need of a “Savior,” yet confessed that she was blessed throughout all generations (1:46-55).. She was strong without becoming arrogant.
Elizabeth Elliot says that Mary was “strong enough and holy enough to recognize her place under God. Thoughts of what people would say, what Joseph her fiancé would say, or how she would ever convince them that she had not been unfaithful were instantly set aside.”
Mary Was a Believer: She believed the Lord. She believed God had power to keep His promises. Mary submitted herself to God - “let it be to me according to your word.” (38a) Mary was redeemed - Gabriel said that Mary was
highly favored, blessed, and that the Lord was with her. Mary continued her life of belief throughout the life of Jesus and even after the resurrection, Mary was an integral part of the early church, part of the prayer ministry in the Upper Room just before Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
Mary was the Mother of Jesus. JESUS (1:31 “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.) JESUS was one of the most common names for males in the land of Israel at the time. In Hebrew or Aramaic: “The Lord saves.” Peter would later say:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be
saved.” (Acts 4:12)
There are several names given to Jesus in this chapter. “Son of the Most High”, “Horn of Salvation”, and one that appears only Luke 1:78: “the rising sun” or as the KJV has it, the ‘Dayspring’. It gives the idea of the cosmic appearance of Christ as the light of the world.
Conclusion
1. It’s a worthwhile study to learn what we can about Mary.
2. Mary was a remarkable woman, an important woman in history, who left a godly example.
3. We shouldn’t worship her, but I do believe that we can learn a lot from studying her life.
-To believe in the Word of the Lord
-To believe that He keeps his promises
-To Trust God and submit to Him
-To choose to worship God even in tough times
4. In this chapter we have Mary’s song of worship to God, often referred to as The Magnificat (Latin for "[My soul]
magnifies [the Lord]"). I have edited it a bit so that we could use it as a responsive reading this morning.
Mary’s Song - Responsive Reading
L: My soul glorifies the Lord
C: My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
L: God has been mindful of us.
C: The Mighty One has done great things for us—Holy is his name!
L: His mercy extends to those who fear him,
C: From generation to generation.
L: He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
C: He has scattered those who are proud
L: He has brought down rulers from their thrones
C: He has lifted up the humble
L: He has filled the hungry with good things
C: He has sent the rich away empty.
L: He has helped his servant Israel
C: He remembers to be merciful, Just as He Promised!
All: Amen!
5. I encourage you to follow Jesus in the spirit of what we know about Mary.
a. To hear and believe the Word of the Lord.
b. To trust that God keeps his promises.
c. To submit to the Lord in repentance and baptism
d. To follow Jesus your entire life.
Resources
https://www.judyjacobs.com/7-characteristics-of-mary-that-teach-us-today/
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/hail-mary-conceived-without-sin
Hobbs, Lottie Beth. Daughters of Eve: Strength for Today from Women of Yesterday.
Brooks, Phillips. Christmas Day, in A Treasury of Great Preaching, Volume VI.
Video of this message can be found at our YouTube channel http://youtube.com/c/forsythechurchofchrist
