Sermon Notes for 12/8/13 Advent II (Luke 1:26-38)

The Angel is Calling to You, Too


A. A prophecy is fulfilled

1) The Lord is with you (26-29, Isaiah 7:10-14)

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. (26-29)


2) You are to call him Jesus (30,31)

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. (30,31)


3) He will reign over Jacob's house and his kingdom will never end (32,33)

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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (32,33)


B. The angel's call and Mary's response

1) The call (34-37)

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 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. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.For nothing is impossible with God." (34-37)


2) The answer (38)

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.(38)



Summary
Here we see that Jesus' birth was clearly the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy. The three characteristics of the savior I described last week are all found in Jesus. This special event, planned by God, is beyond our comprehension, but Mary believed that nothing is impossible with God and accepted his will for her life. Like Mary, will you accept the one who offers to fill your life with joy and peace?

For Discussion
1) How is Old Testament prophecy evident in these verses?
2) How did Mary, who started out asking, "How will this be?" get to the point of saying, "May it be to me as you have said"?

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