Good News for Those who Need It (Luke 1:39-56)
Gary McManus, 12/14/2014Part of the Christmas series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Today’s message owes much to Joseph F. Kelly,
The Birth of Jesus According to the Gospels
Mary. . .a simple peasant girl. Faithful, yes.
Well-connected? No.
Amazing fact: an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary!
[Besides at the resurrection, Matthew 28:5, Luke 24:4-5,
only one other angel to woman meeting;
Manoah’s wife (Judges 13). Manoah was Samson’s
father.]
“Greetings you (who) are highly favored!”
--literally Grace to you. . .grace IS yours!
These are DECLARATIONS.
For emphasis, it could be said,
“The Lord IS WITH YOU, WOMAN !”
Back in the day, that was quite a statement!
Paul had said that God came in a humble way.
[Philippians 2, 2 Corinthians 8:9(NIV)]
He took our nature upon Himself
IN THE MOST HUMBLE WAY!
(We declare it in our statement of faith.)
The focus of Mary’s praise is the fulfillment
of God’s promise in and through the covenant
to David by bringing about Jesus’ conception as Messiah.
Gabriel emphasizes God’s role. (1:32-33, 35)
Verse 37 is often quoted while missing the emphasis;
(NIV) “For no word from God will ever fail.”
Another version: “Nothing said by God can be impossible.”
The “Magnificat” (Latin); Luke 1:46-55.
God’s servant--Mary
The Great God has chosen to work the salvation
of the world through a woman; a peasant woman.
HER child shall be called GREAT
The people whom the worldly admire--
the angel was not sent to them!
The Lord God cares for the hungry and the lowly.
The Lord God cares for the orphan and the widow.
(See Exodus 22, Leviticus 19 and 23)
God has chosen the lowly, the poor, the humble
to bring about God’s promises.
There is assurance that God’s word shall be done.
All of those who are oppressed,
God has NOT forgotten them.
Jesus’ own ministry will show that:
Zacheus, a widow’s son, women, even
the severly mentally disturbed
(and they are healed)
(Matthew 27:55, Luke 23:49, Luke 8:3)
To these women it was declared:
“he is not here, he is risen.”
This salvation comes to all. . .even the leper,
even a thief on the cross
God has lifted up the lowly.
God has lifted up the humble and the humbled.
This is the Lord God who sent his angel Gabriel
. . to a poor peasant girl.
The angels will echo this great good news to the shepherds
. . .”I bring you good news of a GREAT joy which shall be
for ALL people.” (Luke 2:10-11)
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