Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary
I want to start off this morning by doing an exercise. Not a physical exercise but a mental exercise. I want you to remember being 15 years old. What were you doing at 15? Fifteen is an awkward age – isn’t it? You are no longer a child yet you’re not quite an adult. Hormones are doing all sorts of weird things in your body. Peer pressure is important at that age. Testing the waters of life is important at that age. Wanting to be independent is important at that age. Scholars tell us that that was the about age of Mary when the angel came and visited her and told her she was pregnant. In all likelihood she was between the age 13 and 16. If you were that age – and received news like this how would you respond? Let’s look and see how Mary did.
"And Mary said: ’My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV)
This morning I would like for us to look at three characteristics of Mary.
1. Mary’s HOSANNA
(Mary’s Song of Praise and Adoration)
Mary’s response is a song of praise to God. It was a verbal offering from her heart – through her words to a Holy God. Let’s read our focal verses again and notice where the focus lies – not on Mary but on God. The focus of the virgin birth is not on Mary but on the power of God. If we were to take out a magnifying glass and examine our focal verse – we would see nothing less then a song of praise to God. We would see adoration – we would see exaltation – and pure praise to the Father. This is truly a song of worship. This is truly a song of praise.
Praise is a verbal offering to God from your HEART.
I heard someone say recently that if the only thing God has done in our lives is to save us – we should praise God from the rising of the sun through the darkness of the night. But He has done so much more for us than that. He has given you the sense of taste – so that you can enjoy your favorite food. Praise God. He has given you the sense of smell so you can enjoy flowers or bread baking in the oven – praise God. He has given you the sense of humor so you can enjoy laughter – praise God.
On one occasion an orchestra presented Handel’s “Messiah” so beautifully that the applause was thunderous, and everyone turned toward the composer. Handel stood up and with his finger pointing upward, silently indicated that the glory should be given to God rather than to himself. That is exactly what Mary did. It is as if she were saying, “Don’t praise me, but magnify the Lord who is my savior.”
2. Mary’s HUMILITY
There are three key elements to humility: Do you know what they are?
A. REALIZE you’re not in Charge.
"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:27 (NKJV)
"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?" Matthew 6:27 (MSG)
There are some things you can change – there are some things you can’t change – what you can’t change – put in God’s hands.
B. ACCEPT your position as Servant.
"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant."
Matthew 23:11 (MSG)
C. SUBMIT yourself to God.
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. James 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Humility is not thinking less of yourself – it is thinking of yourself less.
Mary knew that she would now live her whole life under a cloud of suspicion from her family and neighbors. Embedded in her decision to be fully submissive to God’s call was the willingness to suffer possible ridicule, loneliness and contempt. God chose her and she submitted to His will.
Mary accepted God’s will. Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38 (NKJV)
There is no evidence of Mary thinking that she was any different than anyone else. In fact she speaks of being a servant of the Lord and how she lived in a lowly state. She realized that among all women she was fortunate to be the one to bear the Christ child.
It is taught throughout the scriptures that God is no respecter of persons. Do you think that at the judgment seat of Christ – He will give rich people the place of honor – when it is taught in James that it is wrong to be a respecter of people because of their wealth? Do you think He will allow kings and presidents to stand before Him without bended knee – when the Bible says; Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Christ as Lord. No – absolutely not - God is not a respecter of people. He looks on the humble and the meek and He smiles with pleasure. In Mary He found a humble vessel that He could use for His glory. It is wonderful that God can take a nobody and make a some body out of them. God is not looking for rank, wealth or power. He is looking for people who have a humble heart. He is looking for one who displays true humility – like Mary.
3. Mary’s HOPE
Mary put her hope in the promises of God. She undoubtedly knew scripture. She had heard the stories passed down through the family about a God who had promosed a savior – a messiah. She knew that God was faithful. Notice what she said in verse 55: He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." Mary knew the promise that had been passed down from generation to generation. That one would be born of the seed of Abraham who would save people from their sins. She realized that she had been chosen – of all the women who had ever lived – to be the mother of that child.
The first coming of Christ brought hope to the world. But so will His second coming. Jesus has promised that one day He will return. One day Jesus will come and take His bride the church to be his wife – to live with Him forever and ever. It’s almost like a fairy tale – the Prince of Peace will come riding on a white horse to rescue His beloved – His bride – the church. It sounds like a fairy tale – yet it is absolute true. Christ will come to take His beauty home. Folks that is you and I if we are in Christ – if we know Him in a personal way – He is coming back for us. If you have a personal relationship with Him – you too can have hope for an eternal future. Because He loves you. If you don’t know Him that can change right here - right now. Here is what you do.
A. ADMIT that God has not had first place in your life and that you have sinned.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9
B. BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins.
“If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
C. ACCEPT God’s free gift of salvation.
“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9
D. INVITE Jesus to come into your life and take control.
“To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. All we need to do is to trust Him to save us. All those who believe this are reborn! — not a physical rebirth...but from the will of God!” John 1:12-13
Christ has come to give you hope. Christmas – Hope.
