The Heart of Christmas: Girl Interrupted, Mary’s Response

 The Heart of Christmas: Girl Interrupted, Mary’s Response

Opening Illustration:

We often have an idealized and romanticized picture of the days leading up to the first Christmas.

We see Christmas cards and nativity scenes, and we assume those days were stress-free. But that’s far from how those involved in the first Christmas actually felt.

The very first Christmas didn’t start out as a merry time for most of those involved. The news that Jesus was coming stressed everyone out.

• Mary was confused and worried. An angel had told her that she would give birth to the Son of God. She didn’t know what would happen to her engagement. Her future seemed bleak.

• Joseph was hurt and brokenhearted. His fiancée had told him that she was pregnant. He felt hurt and cheated on.

• The shepherds were afraid. They saw a bright light and watched angels appear out of nowhere.

• The wise men were exhausted. They traveled a long way to get to Jesus. They were ready for rest.

You may be in similar shoes this Christmas. You may feel confused, hurt, afraid, or simply exhausted. After all, 2020 has been filled with challenge after challenge. We have church members who are dealing with unbelievable family drama. We have church members who have been in and out of the hospital multiple times this year. We have all suffered under the weight of COVID-19. Just the mention of the virus has polarized God’s people. There has been tremendous political and racial unrest. I remember the title of my first sermon in 2020. I preached it January 5. The title of the message was “Seeing 20/20 in 2020”. Well friends that message should prove that I am no prophet because none of us have seen clearly this year. None of us saw what would happen or how things might unfold. Now we are on the doorstep of Christmas and we are all tired and exhausted. 

What does this Christmas story have to say to you?

Well when you look at these characters I mentioned you see one common thread. They all turned to God. They all had that in common. They all turned to God. 

The Bible says, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:13 NIV).

No matter what you’re going through, God loves you. When you turn to God, he won’t turn away.

On that very first Christmas, every one of these characters turned to God. They all looked to him to meet their greatest needs.

God was there for Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. He’ll be there for you, too. Yet, it is easy to forget that God is there for us when you turn on the tv and you see a constant barrage of death, disease and destruction. That seems to be the message of today, but what is the message of Christmas?

Point:

Turn on your television or surf the web this Christmas, and you’ll discover all sorts of Christmas messages. But for the One who invented Christmas, there’s only one message that really matters.

God wants to share eternity with you.

That’s what Christmas is all about. You weren’t created just to live 80 or 90 years on Earth and then die. You’re far more valuable than that to God. God has some long-range plans for you. He made you to live forever.

One day your heart will stop. That’ll be the end of your heart, but it won’t be the end of you. You’ll last for eternity — trillions of years! And God wants you to be a part of his family.

He sent Jesus to Earth as a baby so one day he could die for your sins, and then you can spend forever with him.

That’s the great news of Christmas. This offer is available to anyone. Again the Bible says of Jesus, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 NLT).

Fill in those blanks for me this morning. The good news about Christmas is that through Jesus eternity is available for anyone!

The Good News About Christmas: Availability For Anyone! 

God wants to spend eternity with you, so he made the way to him simple: You believe, and you receive. You believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and you receive him into your life. God sent his Son to Earth 2017 years ago to die for you. That’s God’s very first Christmas gift, sent to you thousands of years before you were even born.

Honestly, celebrating Christmas and not receiving the number one gift God has for you is dumb. Do that, and you’re missing the point entirely. Acts 10:35 says, “It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from — if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open” (The Message).

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Background and Context:

So, before we read from Luke this morning. Let’s take just a moment to talk about what is taking place. The background and context if you will of the passage. 

The story picks up in the 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  Elizabeth was cousin to Mary.  These two women, their families and their countrymen lived under Roman rule.  It was a brutal and dark time for Jewish people as Rome was a military power who ruled with brutality.  You will remember that Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt because Roman political figures wished to kill him.  Recall that it was Herod, a Roman governor, who ordered all the children under 2 be butchered to prevent Jesus from coming to power.  

God sends Gabriel to Nazareth to deliver to Mary a message of terrifying proportion.  She is pregnant.  This news is problematic as Mary is engaged to be married.  Under Levitical law, Joseph could have had Mary stoned.  No doubt she was fearing the worst.  Yet, the angel offers Mary comfort and hope.  

Understand the message of the newly arriving Messiah is not just for Mary.  This message brings us hope even today.  Let’s read it together.  

Today’s Scripture

Luke 1:26-36, 38 NIV

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." [29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [31] You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." [34] "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" [35] The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [38] "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

The Sermon:

Seeing that this message is a two parter, let’s talk for just a second what we learned about last week. We discovered the graciousness of God and the greatness of God. God was gracious because He did not send Jesus to a mansion but to a manger. God did not send Jesus to be born of monarchs but instead sent Jesus to be born to the meager. Jesus would never sit on an earthly throne, instead He would learn an earthly trade. God is gracious because we can all identify with Jesus. None of us are royalty and we will never live in palaces. We could never understand that life or lifestyle. But we can understand what it means to be poor, to live paycheck to paycheck, and what it feels like to try to just make it through life. Jesus had loss in his life. His father died when he was relatively young. Jesus had siblings. Just like most of us in here, Jesus experienced life on the edge. Jesus was born in an obscure season. While some were looking for a coming Messiah, most had all but forgotten about God’s promise to redeem the world. After all, it had been some 500-700 years since anyone had heard from God. God chose and obscure site. Nazareth would be akin to Slap Out, Alabama. Small. Almost not even on the map. No one famous ever came out of Nazareth. You certainly would not think that God incarnate would come from such a hillbilly town. God chose and obscure spouse. Joseph was just an ordinary everyday man. A craftsman and stone mason by trade. Joseph did not possess a formal education. He chose an obscure servant. Mary, when she was greeted by Gabriel, was probably 14-16 years old. She was not a giant of the faith. She was not a prophet. She was no queen. It was not long ago that I got a magazine that was printed and produced from the Mobile Press Register. It was entitled the top 40 under 40. It profiled men and women who lived in Mobile or the Eastern Shore who were considered to be movers and shakers. These folks were all under 40 years old. The idea behind the magazine is that these people had bright futures. They were going places. They were on the track to wealth, power and prosperity. They were all young. They were all attractive. They clearly had it all together and the world is at their finger tips. Well let me tell you that Mary would not have made the cut. She was a nobody. But God is gracious. God chose the weak of the world to shame the wise. He chose the strange things of this world to confound the smarts of the world. 

I. What Did We Discover Last Week?

A. The Graciousness of God vs. 26-28

1. God Chose An Obscure Season

2. God Chose An Obscure Site

3. God Chose An Obscure Spouse 

4. God Chose An Obscure Servant 

I Corinthians 1:27-29 NIV

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

Point:

We also see the greatness of God. When the Christmas story finally arrives, we see how God had been orchestrating the events of the world for ages and ages so that when Jesus arrived, He would arrive at the exact perfect time. God’s ways are always better than our ways. His ways are always finer than our ways. His ways are always better and beyond than our ways. 

Psalm 96:1-6 NKJV

For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

When we start discussing the graciousness and greatness of God, i am reminded of a quote that I heard from one of my favorite pastors, Rick Warren. 

B. The Greatness of God vs. 31-33

“If you give it to God, He transforms your test into a testimony, your mess into a message, and your misery into a ministry.” -Rick Warren

So, let’s jump into this new material. How did Mary respond to Gabriel? What can we learn from this interaction between this young human girl and this eternal being?

II. Mary's Response Is Our Teachable Moment!

A. Distress vs. 29 (NIV)

Luke 21:14-15 (NIV)

But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. [15] For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Illustration: The Answer of A Girl

Frederick Buechner's little book of character sketches of people from the Bible has this to say about the angel Gabriel as he encounters Mary: "She struck him as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child. But he had been entrusted with a message to give her, and he gave it. He told her what the child was to be named, who he was to be, and something about the mystery that was to come upon her. 'You mustn't be afraid, Mary,' he said. As he said it, he only hoped she wouldn't notice that beneath the great golden wings, he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of Creation hung on the answer of a girl."

Point:

You can imagine what Mary must have been thinking.  “Why me?”  How in the world was she going to pull this off.  Notice her first response is fear.  

You know, there is a lot of fear in the Bible.  Usually fear gives birth to doubt.  Let’s look though Scripture together.  God calls Abraham to move through Egypt.  Abraham responds with fear and then fear gives birth to Abraham doubting God’s ability to protect his family.  This doubt leads to lying to Pharaoh about Sarah his wife being his sister.  

What about Sarah.  She hears God’s promise of a son.  She fears the worst and begins to doubt God’s ability to bring forth life from her old body.  

The list goes on…

Moses was fearful and doubtful at the burning bush.

Joshua was fearful and doubtful too. 

Then there is David.  David sins and his sin brings forth fear.  His fear is amplified by his doubt that God is sufficient to see his deeds which eventually leads to murder.  

Plenty of New Testament characters were fearful and doubting too…

Joseph was afraid and doubted.

Peter was afraid and doubted.

There was even a disciple named Thomas.  He was even given the moniker “doubting Thomas”. 

The disciples were all guilty of being afraid and doubt in Jesus.  

What about John Mark, he was fearful and doubted.

So, what’s my point, being fearful is not a sin.  Even Jesus was afraid in the garden.  Yet, when we allow that fear to give birth to doubt in God’s power to sustain us, provide for us or even protect us, that is sin.  Mary responded to the angel in fear, but she did not allow the fear to plant a seed of doubt in her spirit.  She did not allow the fear to germinate into sinful doubt.  

Mary responded in faith.  She responded in obedience.  

🔴The largest understatement in the Bible. 

🔴When God gives you an assignment do you panic. 

We usually think we are 

under-qualified (I don't have the right education)

ill equipped (I don't have the right tools)

not deserving (their has to be someone better)

🔴We must remember that god does not call the qualified, rather he qualifies the called. He will give you the knowledge, the tools and the people to help you. Here's a few examples. 

Adam had Eve.

Moses had the staff and Aaron. 

David had 5 smooth stones and a slingshot

God gave Solomon wisdom to be King

He spoke through willing prophets

When God calls us, never fear because he will help us. We must be willing and obedient to the call. 

Luke 21:14-15 (NIV)

But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. [15] For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Mary's Response Is Our Teachable Moment 

         A. Distress

B. Doubt vs. 34 (NIV)

Illustration:Jesus In The Dark

When I was a student at New Orleans Theological Seminary, I had some amazing teachers. One of those teachers was Dr. Reggie O’gea. I'll never forget his lectures. I remember him telling us a story about his pastor from when he was preaching in Louisiana during the days of the Depression. Electricity was just coming into that part of the country, and he was out in a rural, black church that had just one little light bulb hanging down from the ceiling to light up the whole sanctuary. He was preaching away, and in the middle of his sermon, all of a sudden, the electricity went out. The building went pitch black, and Dr. O’gea’s pastor didn't know what to say, being a young preacher. He stumbled around until one of the elderly deacons sitting in the back of the church cried out, "Preach on, preacher! We can still see Jesus in the dark!"

Sometimes that's the only time we can see him—in the dark. And the good news of the gospel is that whether we can see him in the dark or not, he can see us in the dark.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Mary's Response Is Our Teachable Moment 

         A. Distress

B. Doubt vs. 34 (NIV)

C. Deference vs. 38 (NIV)

Illustration: Folding Blind Cane

Can you imagine what it would be like to be blind?  Living in a world shrouded in darkness would be  frightening to many of us.  Yet, there are thousands of Americans who thrive with this handicap.  People have learned to overcome blindness and lead amazingly productive lives.  Even though their world may be visually blind, they have learned to trust tools and learned skills to be successful in life.  Of course the seeing eye dog is one of the most popular helps to the blind. There is another tool that I want to discuss this morning.  It is the folding cane for the blind.  This cane when used properly can help the blind navigate obstacles.  This cane makes them mobile.  

The blind have complete dependence on this cane.  They cannot see what is in front of them but they have learned to trust this tool.  They defer to the reality that the cane offers rather than their blind judgement.  Mary did the same.  Mary did not know the future or even understand how this was going to happen, but she trusted the Lord.  She was not paralyzed by fear.  She said Ok Lord, I may be blind, but I am going to believe that you will help get me through.  That is what it means to defer.  Are you deferring to God or are you still seeking answers to every little question you have?  Dont you think Mary had deeper questions?  Sure she did.  However, this 14 year old said "Ok, Im yours." Whats holding you back today?  Doubt? Trust Him.  No doubt about it, he wont lead you astray.  

Point:

I want to close this morning with a short poem about God. It powerfully illustrates why we can trust Him, why we can put our faith in Him.

Illustration: God Is Great

The Peace Speaker & the Problem Solver!

The Miracle Worker & the Heart Mender!

He's my Provider & my Supplier!

He's my Shepherd & my Song!

He's my Sword & my Shield!

He's the Healer of all my diseases!

The Forgiver of all my iniquities!

He is Holy & Highly Exalted!

He is Merciful & He is Majestic!

There is nothing too hard for Him!

He's the Overseer of the Overcomers,

The Captain of Our Salvation,

He is Altogether Lovely,

And Jesus is His Name!

Herod couldn't kill him,

Learned men could not baffle Him,

Politicians could not bribe Him,

And Pharisees couldn't trick him!

Pilot couldn't touch Him,

The devil couldn't budge Him,

The cross couldn't keep Him,

And the grave couldn't hold Him!

There is no Sickness that He Cannot Cure!

He's bigger than:

Aids or Alzheimer's

Arthritis or anorexia

Bulimia or bursitis

Cataracts or cancer

Depression or diabetes

Emphysema or Epilepsy

Hepatitis or Heart disease

Melanoma or Migraines

Turberculosis or anything else!

Point:

Perhaps you feel like the seed of fear is germinating into doubt.  Don’t let it happen.  God is bigger than any problem.  He will answer you and will show favor to you if you are obedient to His direction.  

Psalm 46:1-3 NIV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Be like Mary! Be humble! Be obedient!

James 4:10 (NIV)

Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.  

How Will You Answer God's Interruption?