Luke 1:26-38 Pregnant with a Promise
Christmas 2002
Intro. Ever had your name in a drawing? Or, been in a crowd and knew they were going to pick out someone from the crowd to win something?
When I was in the military I attended the NCO Leadership School. During the closing banquet I was given the “Commandant’s Award”. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be picked for that prestigious award.
Trans.: There is someone in the Bible who was selected for something even more special, more privileged….let us read about her in our story today.
Read text. The focus of this text is not on the "how" but on the "who" of Christmas.
In other words, the focus isn’t on the "virgin birth" or Mary, but on the Son, Jesus. He is the promised one.
Proposition: God wants to use you to receive His promised Son.
I. The Promise (Lk. 1:30-33).
A. The Recipient of the Promise:
1. Mary
Mary is called a virgin (Parthenon) (1:27 twice, and spelled out in v.34).
Virgin = a female person beyond puberty but not yet married and a virgin
Mary was only about 13-15 years old.
Perhaps it was not uncommon for young Jewish girls to dream of the coming of the Messiah.
No doubt many must have wondered if she would give birth to the Messiah.
Mary knew that what was told to her meant that she was to be the mother of the Messiah.
Messiah = anointed one, anointed by God for a special task.
Mary, the virgin, now finds herself pregnant – Pregnant with a promise from God that goes all the way back to just after creation.
2. The entire world.
Abrahamic Covenant made it clear that a descendant of Abraham would bless all nations of the earth.
B. The Prophecies of the Promise: (There are many, but here are a few).
1. Gen. 3:15; This is called the “Protoevangelium” or the “first mention of the Gospel.”
Christ would be the ultimate vindication of the woman
Gal. 4:4 "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"
2. Gen. 22:18; The Messiah would be of the Seed of Abraham
3. Gen. 21:12; Son of Isaac
4. Num. 24:7; Son of Jacob
5. Gen. 49:10 7 Micah 5:2; From the tribe of Judah
6. Isaiah 11:1-5; From the family of Jesse
7. 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Come from the house of David.
8. Micah 5:2; Teaches that He would be born in Bethlehem and His Pre-existence.
9. Isaiah 7:14; "Behold" – points to a remarkable fulfillment, not a customary birth
"virgin" – (almah) a young woman who has not physically known a man.
"Immanuel" – means "God with us" and means He will have a remarkable
nature (sinless)
10. Isaiah 9:6-7; Occupy the throne of David, and be called "the mighty God" and be
called "the everlasting father".
11. Isaiah 35:5-6; He will perform miracles
12. Psalm 78:2; He will teach in Parables
13. Zechariah 9:9; He will enter Jerusalem on a donkey
14. Zech. 11:12; He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
15. Zech. 12:10 & Psalm 22; His hands & feet will be pierced (crucified on a cross)
In fact 300 prophecies in the O.T. were fulfilled by Jesus.
33 prophecies were fulfilled in just One day.
II. The Reason for the Promise (Luke 1:31).
A. The Reason for the promise is revealed in the Messiah’s name.
Jesus = Savior
1. "Jesus" shows that Mankind was in need of saving –
from the penalty of sin was death.
Physical & Spiritual Death.
Death = separation,
Physical Death = separation from our body.
Spiritual Death = Separation from God, and eternity in Hell’s flames…).
Rom. 5:12-19 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
"Because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages – Jesus Christ the only exception. All men are thus sinners by nature and by choice…."
2. "Jesus" shows that Mankind was in incapable of saving himself –
God had to send His sinless, Son to pay for the sins of this wicked world.
1 John 2: 2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."
Rom. 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
III. The Response to the Promise (Luke 1:38).
A. Mary believed God.
She accepted the promise by Faith.
B. She was available for God.
She was willing to be used by God.
She was espoused to Joseph – this may have wrecked her plans to marry, but serving God was more important than her own will/ambition/dreams….
Some are afraid to submit to God and make themselves available to God because they don’t know what all will be involved. It all turned out for the best for her and the rest of the world too.
Be like Mary and Trust God for the results….
C. She was equipped by God.
He worked in her life to equip her in such a way to accomplish His will.
D. She was used by God.
As a result, the savior (Jesus) was born, the Gospel was preached, sins have been forgiven, the world has been changed, and souls are saved for all of eternity….
Conclusion: God didn’t have to make this promise and send His Son, but He did. It was really by God’s grace that the promise was given. It was by God’s faithfulness that the promise was fulfilled.
So, Mary was pregnant with a promise.
This promise is embodied in a person named "Jesus Christ"
This promise involved forgiveness of sin and eternal life….
This promise is a free gift to you, but the cost to God was very high indeed.
Have you received God’s promise? Have you received Jesus as your Savior?
The Poet Christina Rossetti wrote:
"What can I give Him, poor as I am,
If I were a shepherd I would give Him a lamb,
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
What can I give Him I will give Him my heart."
Invitation: God’s promised Son, Jesus, is His Christmas gift to you.
If you haven’t received Him – why not do so today by giving Him your heart.
