THE MYSTERY OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
Luke 1:26-38
Proposition: “The mystery of the impossible shows us what amazing things that the Lord is able to do due to His power.”
Objective: My purpose is to help people to know that what seems impossible to the world is an open secret to a child of God.
INTRODUCTION:
G. Campbell Morgan: "To deny the supernatural origin of Jesus is to make Him natural merely. To do that invalidates the records, not of His Being alone, but of His teaching, and His power in human history. The reason why men reject this story is discovered in their philosophy of God" One commentator writes: “In this passage we are face to face with one of the great controversial doctrines of the Christian faith—the Virgin Birth. The church does not insist that we believe this doctrine…But let us ask, ‘If we do not take the story of the virgin birth literally, how did it arise?’ The Jews had a saying that in the birth of every child there are three partners—the father, the mother and the Spirit of God. They believed that no child could ever be born without the Spirit. And it may well be that the NT stories of the birth of Jesus are lovely, poetical ways of saying that, even if he had a human father, the Holy Spirit of God was operative in his birth in a unique way…In this matter we may make our own decision. It may be that we will desire to cling to the literal doctrine of the virgin birth; it may be that we will prefer to think of it as a beautiful way.”
Some Christians have never been able intellectually to accept the idea of the Virgin Birth. But if you believe it’s impossible, then I would question your view of God. You are limiting God. In the words of J. B. Phillips’s great book of thirty years ago, Your God Is Too Small. We Christians believe in a God who is big enough to deal with our most pressing personal problems. He is big enough to deal with our most pressing national problems and the problems of our world. Our Creator and Redeemer is the God of the impossible.
“The Greek word ‘musterion’ means something where meaning is hidden from those who have not been initiated, but crystal clear to those who have. It would describe a ceremony carried out in some society whose meaning was quite clear to the members of the society, but intelligible to the outsider.” The Bible speaks of “mystery” to describe the Christian faith. It means “an open secret” which is something previously unknown, but now a revealed truth.
What an honor to be chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary humbly submitted to the Lord because she had faith that He would keep His promise. Her decision would bring her sorrow and suffering, but she willingly yielded it. She was “blessed among women” because of the grace of God given to her (vvs. 28, 30). The NT makes no attempt to prove the virgin birth. Luke and Matthew record it; Paul indicates that the Redeemer was born of a woman; but the NT as a whole accepts the doctrine of the virgin birth as being harmonious with the life of the Savior whose miracles and ministry explain the existence of the NT. And the explanation of Gabriel was equally simple. He revealed Elizabeth’s experience to Mary, her kins-woman, concluding that nothing is impossible with God. Mary’s response to the annunciation was in simple, yet simple, sublime words (v. 38).
I. THE MYSTERY OF THE ANGELIC REVELATION (vvs. 26-29) “The angel said to her”—A heavenly visitor speaks to her.
1. The mission (v. 26) “The angel Gabriel was sent”—“Now in the sixth month,” when Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Mary had not yet had sexual contact with a man, but she was pledged to be married to Joseph (2:5). In Jewish culture then a man & woman were betrothed or pledged to each other for a period of time before the actual consummation of their marriage.
2. The maiden (v. 27) “The virgin’s name was Mary”--Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth & told her that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was probably a teenager, for Jewish girls married young. She was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph (Matt. 13:55); she came from the line of David (Luke 3:31) and was a virgin (v. 27; Isa. 7:14). Engagement was tantamount to marriage, and to break the engagement was like a divorce.
3. The message (v. 28) “Rejoice…the Lord is with you”—Mary experienced God’s undeserved, unmerited grace. This does not change who Mary is or give her a status beyond other people. It singles her out as a special instrument that God chose to use. The grace Mary received was God’s presence with her.
4. The manifestation (v. 29) “When she saw”—A divine messenger had stirred up confusion in a young teenager. An angel who promises a special audience with God is even more confusing. So Mary stirred these thoughts around in her mind, trying to find a meaning to them and the steps to take in light of them. She had never received such a greeting. What was she to make of it?
Illus: “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.”
II. THE MYSTERY OF THE AMAZING REDEEMER (vvs.30-33) “You…shall call His name Jesus”—Gabriel reassures her.
1. The proclamation (v. 30) “Do not be afraid, Mary”—“Stop fearing, Mary.” The heavenly messenger understood her troubled mind, so the angel repeated the comforting words Zacharias had heard (v. 13). Why should she not be afraid? God’s grace removes all fear.
2. The presence (v. 31) “You will…bring forth a Son”(& call his name Jesus, a Savior). The significance of the name “Jesus” immediately struck a responsive call within the heart of Mary inasmuch as this is the Greek equivalent of the “Joshua” of the OT. All this was announced by an angel to Joseph, after this visitation to Mary ( Matt. 1:20-21).
3. The provision (v. 32) “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest”-- There is undoubted reference in this passage to Isa. 9:6-7. By His being “great” is meant He shall be distinguished or illustrious; great in power, in wisdom, in dominion on earth and in heaven. He will be great, both as to His Person & His work. The reference to the “Highest” is another way to refer to the majesty of God to which Jesus has a unique relationship as Son. He is identified as the Son of God—the Son of the Highest.
4. The protection (v. 33) “He will reign”-- The angel predicted five things about Mary’s Son: FIRST, He will be great. SECOND, He will be called the Son of the Most High (cf. v. 76). The fact that her Baby was to be called the “Son of the Most High” pointed to His equality with Yahweh. In Semitic thought a son was a “carbon copy” of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities (e.g., the Heb. trans. “son of wickedness” in Ps. 89:22 [KJV] means a wicked person). THIRD, He will be given the throne of His father David. Jesus, as David’s descendant, will sit on David’s throne when He reigns in the Millennium (2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:3-4, 28-29). FOURTH, He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. Jesus is the ruler of His kingdom and we are in God’s kingdom and the spiritual children of Abraham by faith. FIFTH, His kingdom will never end. These promises must have immediately reminded Mary of the promise of Yahweh to David (2 Sam. 7:13-16). David understood the prophecy as referring not only to his immediate son (Solomon) who would build the temple, but also to the future Son who would rule forever. Mary would have understood that the angel was speaking to her of the Messiah who had been promised for so long.
Illus: During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son
by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole & held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can’t see you!" The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.
III. THE MYSTERY OF THE ACCEPTING RESPONSE (vvs. 34-38) “Let if be”—She recognized the will of God and accepted it.
1. The answer (v. 34)-Mary is betrothed but not yet married. Betrothals, legal and binding, were usually arranged between families when women were quite young, still girls. Unlike Zacharias, Mary had faith that God would do what He promised. She asked, “How shall this be?” & not “How can this be?” Since Jesus existed before His mother, He could not be conceived in the womb in the normal way. The virgin birth is a miracle of God that brought the eternal Son of God into the world without any taint of sin in His human nature (v. 35; 2 Cor. 5:21).
2. The acknowledgement (vvs. 35-37) “For with God nothing shall be impossible”--The birth of the child will be effected by the overshadowing descent of the Holy Spirit (v. 35; Exod. 40:35; 1 Kings 8:10; Hag. 2:6-9); and as a sign that this will come to pass, Gabriel informs Mary of the pregnancy of her kinswoman Elizabeth (vvs. 36-37). As a final word , the angel recalls the words spoken to Abraham and Sarah when they doubted the word that they were to have a child: “For with God nothing will be impossible” (v. 37; Gen. 18:14).
1). Divine activity (v. 35) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you”--The angel did not rebuke Mary, as he had rebuked Zechariah (v. 20). This indicates that Mary did not doubt the angel’s words but merely wanted to know how such an event would be accomplished. The answer was that the Holy Spirit would creatively bring about the physical conception of Jesus (v. 35).
2). Definite anticipation (v. 36) “Elizabeth…has also conceived a son in her old age…This is now the sixth month”—She must be encouraged by Elizabeth’s experience. Like Zechariah, Mary was given a sign: Elizabeth… is going to have a child. Mary affirmed her part in her Son’s subsequent birth by assenting to the plan of God: May it be to me as You have said. She willingly submitted to God’s plan, calling herself the Lord’s servant (“slave”; cf. Luke 1:48).
3). Delightful assurance (v. 37) “With God nothing will be impossible”—Literally, “for shall not be powerless any word from God.” No word which God sends forth into the affairs of His creation will be powerless to execute its end. God has given His Word; what He has said will take place, whether or not the finite human mind can understand the how of it.
3. The acceptance (v. 38)—The submission—Mary bows in humble obedience to the Word of God. Mary yielded herself to the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:1) knowing full well that she would experience shame and misunderstanding. “Maid-servant” suggests humility before the Lord and a readiness for faithful and obedient service, which should characterize every believer.
CONCLUSION:
1. The angel brought the remarkable message to Mary.
2. Mary received it as divine revelation.
3. Her quietness and submission expresses complete obedience. She said “YES’’ to the impossible and “YES” to the plan of God.
4. The human mind cannot conceive of the totality of the mind of God. It seems mysterious to us but God specializes in doing the impossible.
5. How do we respond to the Word of God? Are you available to God? God needs people who will say, “I am available to do Your will?
Illus: “Faith understands that God intervenes in the natural course of events; on the other hand, if the natural course of events should happen to answer prayer--that which we call a coincidence--faith still believes God is present.” Brett Blair.
“The mystery of the impossible shows us what amazing things that the Lord is able to do due to His power.”
Illus: The Power of Forgiveness—In recent years, a frail black woman rose slowly to her feet in a South African courtroom. She was 70-something, the years deeply etched on her face. Facing her from across the room were several white security police officers. One, a Mr. van der Broek, had just been found guilty of murdering the woman’s son and her husband. The man had come to the woman’s home a number of years earlier. He had taken her son, shot him at point blank range, and then burned his body while he and some other officers reveled in the act.
Several years later, van der Broek had returned to take away her husband as well. For two years, she could learn nothing of what happened to him. Then, Van der Broek came back for the woman herself. She was led to a place beside a river. There, she saw her husband bound and beaten, lying on a pile of wood. The last words she heard from his lips as the officers poured gasoline over his body and set him aflame were, "Father, forgive them." But not long ago, justice caught up with Mr. Van der Broek. He had been found guilty, and it was time to determine his sentence. And as the woman stood, the presiding official of the court asked, "So, what do you want? How should justice be done to this man who has so brutally destroyed your family?"
In reply, the woman said, "I want three things. I want first to be taken to the place where my husband’s body was burned so that I can gather up the dust and give his remains a decent burial." She pauses, and then continues. "My husband and son were my only family. I want, secondly, therefore, for Mr. van der Broek to become my son. I would like for him to come twice a month to the ghetto and spend a day with me so that I can pour out on him whatever love I still have remaining within me." "And, finally," she says, "I want a third thing. I would like Mr. Van der Broek to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Jesus Christ died to forgive. This was also the wish of my husband. And so, I would kindly ask someone to come to my side and lead me across the courtroom so that I can take Mr. van der Broek in my arms, embrace him and let him know that he is truly forgiven."
As the court assistants led the elderly woman across the courtroom, Mr. van der Broek, overwhelmed by what he heard, fainted. Then quietly, from those in the courtroom, friends, family, and neighbors - all victims of similar oppression and injustice - began to sing "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. ’Twas blind, but now I see.”
Illus: “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” Thomas Aquinas
Illus “God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.” Martin Luther.
Prepared by: Gerald Steffy, 6206 N. Hamilton Rd.
Peoria, IL 61614, Phone: 309-691-3680,
E-Mail grsteffy@yahoo.com to receive weekly MY SERMON NUGGETS
