Christmas Series One
MARY -- "I’M AVAILABLE"
Hope Christian Church
Tamarac, Florida
November 30, 2003
Dr. David L. Haun
Take a moment to remember when you were 14 years old. It was an awkward time (though you didn’t think so then). Your hormones were doing funny things. Your voice and your body was changing, and there was such a hurry to grow up, stay out late, and be on your own. You were in junior high. You couldn’t legally drive yet, but you were longing for the day. You still lived at home, and wondered how it could be that you know so much more about so many things than your parents. Take a moment to think: what if you had experienced at 14 what Mary did when she was that age? For Mary was chosen by God to be part of a most amazing drama. (1)
Our Scripture today is found in selected portions in the first chapter of Luke:
26 In the sixth month, 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 be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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. ... 37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
... 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. Luke 1:26-35, 37-38, 46-49 (NIV)
I.
MARY WAS A COMMON ORDINARY GIRL, WHO COULD HAVE PLAYED IN THE BAND AT OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.
A. She was chosen but she was not divine.
1. There is a temptation sometimes to give items of God’s creation more significance than we should.
Angels are an important part of God’s plan, but they are created by God for one purpose: to serve God as God desires. If they are involved in the lives of humanity, it is because God has placed them there. So, it is God that we honor, not an angel.
2. In the same way, a national publication in 1997 reported that a movement had been born among some Roman Catholics to petition the Papal Father to decare Mary the "Co-Redeemer, Mediator of all Graces, and Advocate for the People of God. (2)
3. A fellow pastor, Brian Bill, who helped me in thinking through today’s sermon, writes that "Mary was special, but she has no place in our redeption. It is only by the shed blood of Jesus that you and I can have forgiveness of sin and open access to God the Father. Mary needed to have her sins forgiven, just like we do. Don’t give to Mary that which belongs only to Jesus." (3)
4. However, she is God’s chosen for a special blessing, and deserves more remembrance than an occasional picture on a Christmas Card.
B. We know five things about Mary. (4)
1. She was a teen ager. - Most scholars indicate between 13 and 15 years of age.
2. She was a virgin. - This was pointed out three times in the Scripture
3. She was from a middle class family. - Engaged to carpenter / businessman
4. She was a devout believer in God.
5. She was engaged to be married.
C. Mary was approached by the angel Gabriel and given a most shocking message.
1. You are highly favored. - That was good news
2. The Lord is with you. - This was exciting news
3. You’re going to have a baby. - This was the problem...
4. You will name the baby Jesus.
5. He will be great, called the Son of God, He will reign over the house of Jacob, and his kingdom will never end.
D. Is there any wonder Mary was "troubled"?
II.
WHAT DID MARY HAVE THAT SET HER APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE, AND LED GOD TO CHOOSE HER?
A. Not exceptional courage or boldness. She was scared.
1. Fear of the Supernatural
An angel showing up in her bedroom - beyond her experiences - If it had been me, I’d panic. She probably did too.
I’m a virgin - how can this happen - beyond her intellect
2. Fear of criticism, gossip, and exclusion.
Pregnancy before marriage was a SERIOUS offense in that century.
If she wasn’t put to death (as she could be) she would be the target of much scandalous talk.
3. Fear of how this will change her life.
"Mary could not know what the future would hold. Before it was all over, she would experience heartache, opposition, slander, confusion, anguish, despair and loneliness. In the end she would face the greatest pain a mother can endure whenshe would watch her son murdered on a cross. (5)
4. Fear that Joseph will break the engagement. And he was going to - though gently.
5. Fear of being unable to do what God demands. How in the world does one rear the son of God whose kingdom will never end? Do you praise him or feed him? Does one spank the Messiah or follow him?
B. Not exceptional ability or learning.
She was a commoner, though I doubt that reading a first century Dr. Spock would have helped
her much.
C. Mary had one attribute that made her worthy of God’s selection.
She was willing to be Available
She could have said "no"
She was willing to move beyond the five fears into obedience.
III.
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT YOU AND I COULD BE USED IN OUR LIVES AS MARY WAS IN HERS?
A. Yes! God is looking for the same availability in us that was in Mary
B. We’ll have the same limitations and the same fears that she had.
1. What will people think if I become really committed? Will I be a "Jesus Freak"?
Remember Moses. He was afraid of commitment too
2. I’m afraid to follow Christ’s example. I’m afraid it may end up in loss or suffering.
Remember the words of Jesus: "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
3. Some of us are carrying heavy burdens today. Some of us will be lonely this year.
Some of us are facing a financial crisis that looks hopeless to you right now.
Some of us are out of work and don’t have a single lead on a good job.
Some are looking at a marriage that seems worse than hopeless.
Some are estranged from members of your own family;
Some have children who are far away from God.
Some of us feel empty and far away from God yourselves. (6)
C. The call God gives you and me is the same call he gave to Mary.
1. Will we bring Jesus into our thoughts and actions. Will we allow him to be "born"in us in our walk and loyalty
2. Will we bring Jesus into the world by our sharing him with others?
A survey was taken that asked the question"What is your greatest hindrance to sharing your faith?" The largest responses (51%) said their biggest problem was the fear of how others would react. (7)
FINAL THOUGHTS
A. God’s announcement in Luke really wasn’t about Mary. It was about Jesus.
B. God’s call to you and me really isn’t about you and me. It is about the Spirit working through us.
C. Can you hear God asking: "Christian, are you available?"
FOOTNOTES
(1) Adapted from the sermon by John Nadasi, "First Mary, Now Us" SermonCentral.com
(2) Christianity Today. 12/8/97
(3) Brian Bill "Misunderstanding Mary: SermonCentral.com
(4) Douglas Bryan, "The Kind of People God Uses" SermonCentral.com
(5) Bryan Bill. op.cit
(6) Ibid.
(7) John Nadasi. op.cit
