Mary and the Little Lamb
Luke 1:26-38; John 1:29
Formatted text, audio/video, and PowerPoint are at:
http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LittleLamb.html
I suppose one the most familiar nursery rhymes is the poem, Mary had a Little Lamb. The lamb in the nursery rhyme was pure and sweet.
Surely, every child is at some point introduced to the poem. But more than that, every child and adult ought to be introduced to the Lamb in our Scripture texts this morning, including…
John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
First of all…let’s look at Mary. Mary had several qualities which made her an outstanding woman of God. There’s no doubt God would take great care in selecting the human vessel for the high honor of being the mother of His Son. God found a virgin named Mary to be qualified for this high and holy office.
Qualities to consider:
1. Mary’s Humility
v. 46-49 I’m dealing w/ her humility right off the bat to point out that while Mary should be admired and respected, she should not be worshipped. Our Catholic friends make a huge mistake when they elevate her to a goddess and engage in worship of her in that way. We’re not Catholic bashers, but we ARE truth proclaimers…and in 1854 Pope Pius IX defined in writing the Roman Catholic doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception”.
I heard that term and for years thought it was a reference to the virgin birth of Christ, but it is not. Acc’d to Catholic dogma, it’s a reference to the so-called “sinlessness” of Mary.
It says, “the most blessed virgin Mary, from the moment of HER conception, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.” To say that about Mary, or for that matter, about anybody apart from Christ, is heresy!
Sinlessness applies only to the Lord Himself.
Tho’ this doctrine was put in writing in 1854, traces of it go back to at least the 4th C. For example, some early predecessors of the Catholic church:
St. Ephraim said, “there is in thee Lord no stain, nor any spot in thy mother.”
St. Ambrose, “Mary was entirely free from every stain of sin.”
If you’ve ever wondered why they pray to Mary, now you know.
I want to be kind, yet clear, that Mary should not be deified and worshipped. In her own words in v. 49 she makes that clear! She takes great care in not stealing any of God’s glory, so she glorifies Him!
This is Mary’s humility.
Ill.—diamonds are a girl’s best friend. [humbling to all the men as we realize who our best friend is!]
-Well, when a jeweler is asked to put together something special, he first of all looks for what? The diamond! It has to be perfect, w/ no inclusions! The setting is secondary.
Shortly before we moved here I bought Kimberly a new setting for her diamond, making it EVEN HEAVIER than it already was [she had trouble brushing her hair already!] It was meant to accent and make the diamond more special, but it didn’t for long…prongs broke, it tarnished, but the diamond is forever the thing of value!
Jesus came into this world a diamond in the rough, and Mary was just the setting…He is the focal point, He is the object of value!
Humility is tough to cultivate in your life, esp. if God does something great thru you!
Ill.—woodpecker working on a tree, then it got struck by lightning, obliterating it into a smoking, splinterery mess. He flew away in shock, came back after a few minutes w/ 5 other woodpeckers and said, “there it is boys, right over there!”
And isn’t that the way we are when God does something great and we’re nearby? We get to thinkin’ we’ve done something! No, He that is mighty hath done great things…glory to His name!
Mary is a role model to all of us, and we should admire her for her humility. Also…
2. Mary’s Purity
v. 34 “know” is a sexual term.
v. 27 “virgin”
In many modern translations of the Bible today they have taken out the word virgin and replaced it w/ “young woman”…that’s a grave danger! Many young women are not virgins, esp. today! It’s heresy…no, it’s blasphemy! If Jesus had not been born of a virgin, He could not have been the sinless Son of God!
Young people, Mary was a young girl at this time…and a chief quality she had which made her chosen was that she had kept her virginity. You may think it was easier back then, but it was not. Nazareth was a wicked, immoral city, known for it’s moral corruption. Most girls had a baby before they were 14. This is just speculation, but it’s reasonable to imagine that Mary was not as popular as the other girls were…because she wouldn’t hang w/ the crowd that they did, or do those things! She was likely made fun of for “still being a virgin”…lustful boys would make comments like, “if you loved me you would!” [if a boy pushes you like that you slap him so hard his brains ring like church bells on a cold morning!]
God looked down and saw a vessel of purity…and she stands as an example to all of us!
I realize there’s many evil influences today, from music on the radio, to the filth on tv and movies…peer pressure from friends and advertising surrounds you from every direction, but I’m here to say this morning that you can STILL live for God, be morally pure, you can say no, and you can be wise enough not to see how close to the line you can walk w/out crossing over…like Mary, you can do it, and if you don’t…well, you can’t blame society! It’s your decision.
Guys, I’m talking to you just as much…think about Joseph. I don’t mean this Joseph, engaged to Mary, tho’ he waited and was a good example…but think about Joseph of the OT, in Egypt, who was just a teenager when Potiphar’s wife seduced him. [by the way, the wife of such a high official had to be a major hottie!] But he fled from that situation and said, how can I do so wickedly, and sin against God!
It’s been debated for a long time, is it the guy’s fault or the girl’s? Who is it up to? The answer: it depends on whether you’re a guy or a girl! [everybody’s responsible!]
We can admire mary for her humility, her purity, also…
3. Mary’s Availability [popular song, "Mary Did You Know?"...YES, SHE DID! The angel told her!]
v. 38 This was a major task, but she immediately submitted to it! Let’s not forget what this cost her. Do you realize that for the rest of her life she would live under a cloud of shame? The Bible shows that most people of those days never believed Jesus was born of a virgin. Mary was regarded so long as a goodie-two-shoes and when SHE became pregnant well, it was all over the place…enquiring minds want to know! And “if SHE had sex outside of marriage well, we can ALL feel better about our sin now!” “Poor little Mary got in trouble!” “And now she has the audacity to lie about it and claim to be a virgin! Ooh, that’s rich!”
You know the feeling, when you walk into a room and people suddenly stop talking, point or, begin whispering. Very few things hurt as badly as being misunderstood, or falsely judged.
We should admire Mary for her availability!
Now, how about you? Have you presented your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord? Have you come to the point of Christian maturity where you realize that God does NOT exist to serve us, but that WE exist to serve Him?!
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The best gift you can give Jesus for His birthday this year is not money, it’s YOU!
We have a couple here today that has given their very lives to go around the globe, all for Christ’s sake! That’s availability. We have a need for 2 more children’s workers…are you available? Mary was! We need people who will say, I’ll go Lord! Van driver needed? I’m available!
Nursery?/Choir?/Cooking?/Maintenance?/Teaching?/Cleaning?/
Visitation?
God help us to cultivate humility, purity, and availability into our lives!
Being available to God begins with accepting Jesus as your personal Savior! It will involve humility on your part, and you’ll receive the purity of a clean slate, sins forgiven…are you available?
So what about Mary’s little lamb?
This Lamb was a…
• Substitutionary Lamb - “the lamb”
A. Lambs were commonly used for sin-offerings in the Old Testament.
Leviticus 4:32
And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
B. Three lambs were used for cleansing a leper.
Lev. 14:10
C. Two lambs were killed every day (9 a.m.) & (3 p.m.)
Ex 29:38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
This speaks of continual substitution. The blood was shed every day, twice a day, for the sins of Israel. There was daily intercession!
And it says in Heb 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
D. The Paschal Lamb was slain every year at Passover.
Ex 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
In each of these offerings, the lamb was the substitute for Israel’s sins. They died in place of Israel. Jesus, Mary’s little Lamb, was our substitute. He died in our place. He died a vicarious death!
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb. Secondly, He was a:
• Supernatural Lamb – Behold the Lamb “of God”
Gen. 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.All other lambs were chosen by men, but not Mary’s Lamb. He was chosen, appointed, approved and accepted by God.
v. 30-32, 35 [of luke 1]
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, and then thirdly He was a:
• Sacrificial Lamb - “that taketh away the sin”
The death of the lamb was the sacrifice demanded by God.
Through His sacrifice on Calvary, Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away everything that is offensive to God and destructive to men.
He takes away the:
A. Penalty of sin by the merit of His death
B. Power of sin by the Spirit of His grace.
The word “taketh” is in the present tense. The “expiatory” effect of Christ’s sacrifice is perpetual. The fountain of His forgiveness never fails.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, and then fourthly, He was a:
• Special Lamb - “of the world”
Jesus purchased pardon for all who will repent of their sins and turn to Him, believing the gospel.
1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, a special Lamb, and then lastly, He SHOULD be a:
• Sought Lamb - “Behold” [we should follow John’s 1st word, and we should echo John’s first word!]
It is our duty to “behold” the Lamb of God! Christ’s sacrifice is effectual for every man, but it is only effective for those who behold Him with the eyes of faith.
Poem - Mary’s Little Lamb
Mary had a little Lamb, His name was Jesus Christ.
Though some may not believe it, He came to give us life.
This little Lamb was special, For He was sent from God.
And so to earth He came one day, On His mission He did trod.
He grew to be a fine young man, Mary’s little Lamb.
He healed the sick and raised the dead, and taught as no one can.
Then, in the prime of man-hood, His mission He did alter,
He set His heart toward an old rugged cross, and never ever faltered.
He gave Himself a sacrifice for the sin of mortal man.
His death and blood atone for sin like no other lamb’s can.
Yes, Mary had a little Lamb, Who did us all great favor.
He gave His life a sacrifice, So He could be our Savior.
(Tony Fox, sermoncentral.com)
Do you know Mary’s little Lamb? John said: “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
Formatted text, audio/video, and PowerPoint are at:
http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LittleLamb.html
