(Luke 1:26-37)
INTRODUCTION
There are less than 3 weeks left until Christmas! That means Christmas parties galore, last minute Christmas shopping, and spending more money than we necessarily want to. Of course, there is much more to it than that. Spending time with family, reflecting on things we are thankful for, being a blessing to the people around us.
But there is a part of Christmas that makes it special; a silver lining that speaks to us in a different light. I believe that to be the God-Factor. That is, Christmas is more than just gifts and family, and decorations. Christmas is not Christmas without the “reason for the season.”
But before there was a reason for the season, there was a purpose, there was a plan, and there was a person. That person was Mary. And the story of Mary teaches us an important lesson, that God is still at work in our lives.
Today, we’re going to look at Mary’s story and see how her life relates to us today and how it can help us look at this season in a different light. As we dive in to Luke chapter 1, let us take a look at 3 lessons that we learn from Mary.
1. GOD SHOWS UP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
Luke 1:26–27 — “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph… The virgin’s name was Mary.”
Luke is intentional with these details.
Nazareth was insignificant.
- • Small obscure village in Galilee
- • Was not mentioned in the OT
- • Not known for any religious significance
- • Can anything good come from Nazareth?
- • A town that people passed through, not visited
- • Nazareth was the kind of place where nothing important ever happened
Mary was unknown.
- - Ordinary young woman
- - No title, no platform, not influence
- - Lived a normal quiet life
- - Not educated or wealthy
- - She would not have been considered a leader
- - **God doesn’t choose people based on how known they are—He chooses based on how willing they are.
- - Regardless of how insignificant you see yourself as, God can still use you in a significant way.
Mary was not searching for a miracle. She was not praying for a sign. She was simply going about her day. And that’s often how God arrives—right in the middle of ordinary life.
Whether things are going good or things are going bad, things are are easy or things are hard, regardless of the season new are in, God will meet you right where you are at.
2. GOD’S PLANS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEARS
When the angel appears to Mary, his first words are full of encouragement:
V. 28
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
What a wonderful message that God has for Mary!
“29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.”
But Luke immediately tells us that Mary is troubled by this greeting. This is something that is exciting! Yet, Mary is troubled, she is afraid. Fear often shows up when God is doing something new. Now, I don’t think that Mary was afraid because she lacked faith. I don’t think that was it at all. Instead, I believe she was afraid because she knew that her life was about to change and she was not prepared for it.
That is something we all can relate to. Fear is birthed from uncertainty. Fear comes when the future feels unclear, when plans shift, and when life takes a turn when we didn’t expect it. We have all been there. However, one thing I have been reminded is the potential of a problem in our life. Pastor Ron preached a message on potential. I was encouraged when we were reminded that within every problem is the potential for God to do something great in our life. Problems do present challenges that many times produce fear. However, one thing we learn from this text is that God’s plans are bigger than our fears.
Look at how the angel responds:
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
In other words, God acknowledges her fear, but He does not allow fear to have the final word. Instead, He allows the potential of His purpose for her life to ring in her heart.
Mary’s fear was real. However, it did not cancel God’s plan for her. Not only that, but her fear did not disqualify her either. Fear makes you focus on what you can’t do, shortcomings, or the obstacles that stand in your way. However, God looks beyond our obstacles and shortcomings into the His future plans that He has for our life.
Why? Because His plans are bigger than our fears. We see that with God’s response to Mary:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
God responds to Mary’s fear with His future purpose for her life.
This encourages me. Because you may not know all the plans that God has for you, you may not know what it will look like, you may not know how you are going to accomplish them, but one thing you do know is that God is going to do it.
Whatever life brings you this Christmas, know that in the midst of your fear is God’s plan and future purpose through it all.
3. GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Luke 1:34–37
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man? 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
While God has a plan for Mary, He doesn’t say, “Figure this out on your own.” Instead, He says, “I will be with you.” He promises that He will be with her every step of the way. God was not expecting Mary to carry this calling alone, and neither are we.
God is not asking you to do what He has called you to do all in one moment. He is not calling you to carry it out on your own. Instead, He plans to be right there with you every step of the way.
I am sure Mary had no idea how she was going to do what God had called her to do. However, she didn’t have to. All the had to do was to be faithful where she was at. All she had to do was to trust God with the next step.
Many times, that is all that God is asking us to do, to trust Him with the next step. You don’t have to figure it out all on your own. Why? Because God is with you every step of the way. All you have to do is to trust Him. How do you do that? By saying yes to Him in your ordinary life. It is through our yes in the ordinary that God is able to do the extraordinary through us.
38 “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
This is where Christmas truly began. Not in Bethlehem. Not in a manger. But in a heart that is surrendered to God. Mary’s “ordinary” yes made room for Jesus to enter the world in an “extraordinary” way.
Similarly, when you say yes to God in your everyday ordinary life, Jesus is able to shine through you in extraordinary ways. You don’t have to have all the
answers. You don’t have to know how God is going to do it. All you have to do is trust God and know that He is with you every step of the way.
TAKEAWAYS
- 1. God meets you right where you are
- 2. Fear does not have to be the final word in your life
- 3. All God needs is for you to trust Him with the next step
CLOSING
God was not asking Mary to do something extraordinary, He was asking her to say yes in her ordinary. This Christmas, God is not asking you to do something extraordinary. He is only asking you to say yes in your ordinary
