The Christmas Message, Part Two
Gtcotr/ss121204
In this season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. Traditionally we read the Christmas Story out of the book of Luke.
There we find several key figures surrounding the birth of Jesus. Three primary characters which Luke draws our attention to are:
1. John the Baptist
2. Mary, the mother of Jesus and
3. Jesus Himself
Each one had their part to play in the unfolding plan of God which we now call The Christmas Story.
Last week we learned that John the Baptist was an Ambassador
* He was sent on a mission for God
* As a representative of the kingdom of God
* With a message from God
* This classified him as an Ambassador
The message he was given was this:
Prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We concluded last week’s message with a scripture:
2 Corinthians 5
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
* We too are on a mission for God
* As a representative of the kingdom of God
* With a message from God
Our message is the same: Prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We found that even though the man, John the Baptist, is gone, this ministry of ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness’ remains.
Today we will look at a second key figure in this Christmas Story
I. Mary, Mother of Jesus
Luke 1
26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
A. We can clearly see that God Chose Mary
B. We can also clearly see that Mary Chose God
1. When exactly did she choose God?
2. When she decided to Believe & Confess
* Believe In The Impossible (even though she could not comprehend it) and
* Express Her Faith
> Faith that God had chosen her (behold the handmaid of the Lord)
> Faith that God’s word would come to pass in her life.
C. What did she believe?
1. What the messenger of God told her:
2. “With God nothing shall be impossible.”
D. What did she say?
1. Just what she believed
2. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”
3. “Be it unto me according to Thy word.”
E. When Mary chose God …
II. Mary Signed On For Life
A. She was there for Jesus’ birth
B. She was there for His baby dedication
* Luke 2
C. She was there for 30 years to raise Him
* Matthew 2
D. She was there for His first debate at 12 years old
* Luke 2:49
E. She was there for His first miracle at the wedding in Cana
* John 2
F. She was there for His great meetings in Capernaum
* Matthew 12 & John 2
G. She was there for His crucifixion
* John 19
H. She was even there in Acts 2 in the upper room at Pentecost when God poured out the Holy Spirit on all 120 believers.
I. She was there when Peter preached in the streets of Jerusalem and saw 3000 people converted to Christianity.
J. She was no doubt a continuing part of the first local church in the city of Jerusalem
* One of her sons, James, the half brother of Jesus, was the Senior Pastor of that church for many years.
III. What Can We Learn From Mary
A. How can she influence us in this unfolding plan of God?
B. We learned last week that we have taken up the ministry and responsibilities of John The Baptist.
C. This week I offer to you that we also have taken on the ministry and responsibilities of Mary
D. What was her ministry, what were her responsibilities, what can we learn from her as our example?
* She was there --- always there - Mary showed up!
* She was a spectator, a participator and a facilitator
* She was a part of what God was doing through Jesus and the Holy Spirit
We should not underestimate the importance of showing up.
IV. In Conclusion
A. Mary
1. Believed God
2. Expressed Her Faith In God
3. Chose God’s Will For Her Life
4. Showed Up & Participated In Whatever God Was Doing
B. Us --- Here Is A Four Question Test:
1. Do We Believe God Like Mary Did?
2. Do We Express Our Faith Like Mary Did?
3. Have We Chosen God For Our Whole Life Like Mary Did?
4. Do We Show Up & Participate In Whatever God Is Doing Like Mary Did?
C. If Not -- Why Not?
D. I wish for you a Mary Christmas!
