The Most Miraculous Birth Ever

Luke 1.26-38

The way Jesus came into the world is wonderful.
Being Born.
There were numerous Christophanies, appearances of God's Son in the Old Testament. God could have formed a body like He did for Adam, made His Son come as an adult, but Jesus was born as a baby. He engulfed the whole human experience: from conception to death.

The Virgin Birth. God chose a young woman who had never given birth or ever known a man to be the mother of Jesus Christ.

Nazareth, an out of the way place, no prophet ever came from there, "Nazareth?! Can anything good come out of Nazareth?!"- Nathaniel

Joseph and Mary were betrothed. This upset all her plans. When the LORD comes into our lives He does that! When we let Him do that He does something more wonderful than we can imagine.


1. The Innocent Trust of Mary
Humility
It is easy to see the family resemblance with ancestor David. The way they both handled news of God honoring them, giving them the privilege of being His servant. It is beautiful. It is a not a small thing for God to call us. It ought to bring a sense of unworthiness and humility.
I am always concerned about those, especially the young who feel they are doing God a favor by serving Him. When it is spoken about what they could have done or what they were doing before they embarked on following His will always concerns me or what they gave up. You never heard Jesus speak of what He left to come to this earth! You never heard him tell of the sacrifice He was making to boost Himself up. I don't care if the President would step away from his office to preach the Gospel it would still be nothing in comparison to what Christ did for us in leaving heaven to come to earth!

So David, on his run from Saul, doesn't talk about how good he had it back in Bethlehem watching the sheep. Paul, the apostle, considers all he had going for him as a Pharisee, dung, rubbish, that he might gain Christ and be found in Him.
Mary doesn't complain. She treasures these things up in her heart. She ponders them but we seldom hear her speak at all. Would that everyone who has left the old life to follow Jesus would be of the same mind and heart as these.

Being Afraid
v.48

Wonder God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming.

At first she assumed (as did the whole town of Nazareth including Joseph at first) that this was going to be a natural ordinary conception and birth.


2. The Word From Heaven

The Angel Gabriel told her this conception would be like no other.

We are given some explanation into this miracle but it still a miracle, wonder and a sign.
Isaiah 7.14

This was one of the Messiah's coming.
The place was another sign- Bethlehem.

A Word from heaven often takes apart our preconceptions, alters our faith and puts us in the realm of great blessing. We ought to saturate ourselves in the Word of God! My friend whom I was witnessing to a few years back was honest when he told me that the reason he didn't read the Bible is that he was afraid what he might find in it.

This Word from Gabriel gave explanation to Mary's questions but also raised some issues.


3. The Submission to the Will of God

It meant trouble.
Look at their lives the first few years. Moving twice and two substantial moves at that!... one out of the country.

Luke 3.23 tell us that it was thought that Jesus was Joseph's son. They lived under condemnation by people while being approved and accepted and honored by God. Yes, this is possible, and happens more often than you can imagine. When you do God's will and are His servant as you follow Jesus you bear reproach as He did often.

Listen to the words of Simeon 2.35

Submitting to God's Will does not mean the absence of trouble. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble!
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

As children of God and followers of Jesus we are tempted to believe the lie that we are to be healthy, wealthy and happy and successful. We forget the Word in Hebrews about men and women of faith.
Hebrews 11:35-40 There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

I was up early on Tuesday to see the funeral of Nelson Mandela, 4am there are some real wackies on TV... this guy was telling how he had a financial anointing on him. He could pronounce that blessing on others so they could become rich. He was clever too! He was telling about exploits they could do for God if they just had money. They could build orphanages, feed hungry children. He made it sound appealing but underneath he was appealing to greed. He was going against the scriptures that say if we have food and clothing we ought to be content with that! Interestingly I was just reading about Bob Pierce in the early days of World Vision, how he said he would rather 10,000 people each give a dollar than one wealthy benefactor give $10,000. He said that behind those little gifts are the prayers of 10,000 people where with the single giver there would just be one person praying for the work of God.

Submission to God's Will ...
It was fraught with uncertainty
Mary knew Joseph could have walked out on her or worse!
If he pushed it he could have had her stoned.
At one point he was going to divorce her quietly. Obviously he didn't believe her story.
She knew she would live under a cloud her whole life.
Being a pregnant unmarried teenager in Nazareth 2000 years ago was a lot different than today, a world of difference!

Mary saw the wonder, the privilege, the honor and the joy. These things do not always come apart from uncertainty. Often they are wrapped up in it!

God's blessing often come to us through difficulties. Many times His wonders come with great challenges to our lives an to our faith. We have to count the cost in receiving honor in God's kingdom. It is not handed out indiscriminately.

It was in God's Hands.

And so it must be with us. Our times are in His Hands... and even though we will have trouble in this world we can know the peace that surpasses all understanding and that He has overcome the world. Or we can be like Atlas across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral in the city with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Far too often in my own life I worry. I have to repent. I am learning.

You worry about things you cannot change. You cannot figure them out. The mental energy output leaves us exhausted. We become spiritually fatigued and wonder "Why am I so tired?" The answer often comes down to trusting the LORD wholeheartedly.

We need to hear this word about this most miraculous birth, this most wonderful conception ever: vs.37-38 For nothing is impossible with God. I am the LORD's servant", "Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said" Then the angel left her.

Nothing is impossible with God. Not the virgin birth or any struggle you may be facing in your life this day. Certainly the LORD did not work in Mary's life the way she could ever anticipated! This was not something she would have chosen for herself. To begin with she was way too humble! But God did do a wonderful thing for Mary and through Mary. When she asked how it would all happen she was given an answer but that answer gave her even more questions. She submitted and received the wonderful Word of God. For nothing is impossible with God. You can depend upon it!

Why not surrender your worries and troubles to Him today? Let the miracle of Christ's birth grip your heart. God works wonders. Luke 1:50-51 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm...