The Birth of Jesus Foretold

Click to Read Luke 1:26–38

• Sensationalism sells
  • This is very much evident in the media.
  • Even if a controversy does not exist
  • Headlines allude to one… so their product and services can sell.
• We may try to ascribe such a scenario to this passage, with intent to gloss over and hide (alleged) inappropriateness of Jesus’ birth.
  • But we need to look at Jesus’ Birth Narrative’s presentation here from the view of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection.
• Luke (and Matthew) are simply reporting that Jesus did not have a father in the ordinary way, and that this was because Mary had been given special grace to be the mother of God’s incarnate self.
• Scientists will say that virgin birth is in theory possible
  • (it sometimes happens in small animals, e.g. lizards),
  • and that a child thus produced would be a complete human being.
  • The problem is that, always supposing such a thing were possible,
    • the child would naturally be female.
  • The truly remarkable thing from the scientific point of view is
    • that Jesus was male.
• Luke explains through the words of the angel a double explanation for the whole event.
  • The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary
    • enabling her (as the Spirit always does)
    • to do and be more than she could by herself.
  • But at the same time ‘the power of the Most High’
    • will overshadow her.
    • This is something different:
    • God himself, the creator, will surround her completely with his sovereign power.
• God does intervene in and through Mary
  • But not like a pagan god intervening roughly and inappropriately in the affairs of mortals,
  • But appropriately like the creatures he created in his own image
  • And respected them fully by giving them freedom, self-determination and free will
• When he takes the initiative, it is always a matter of love,
  • love which will care for us and take us up into his saving purposes.
  • Mary is, to that extent, the supreme example of what always happens
  • when God is at work by grace through human beings.
  • God’s power from outside, and the indwelling spirit within,
  • together result in things being done which would have been unthinkable any other way.
• For Luke, Matthew and even Paul, this story is not at all out of place
  • Or even appears doubtful
    • Their faith does not start with the birth
    • For them it begins with Jesus’ death and Resurrection
  • So when they look at Jesus’ birth in hindsight,
    • It is only the truth for them…
• Luke’s primary purpose in crafting this section is political or royal meaning Luke gives to the whole event.
  • The child to be born will be the Messiah,
    • the king of the house of David.
    • God had promised David a descendant who would reign for ever—
    • not over Israel only, but also the whole world.
    • And this coming king would be, in some sense, ‘God’s son’ (2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:27).
  • As with a good deal of New Testament language about Jesus,
    • this is both a huge theological claim
    • (Jesus is somehow identified with God in a unique way
    • which people then and now find it hard to grasp and believe)
  • and a huge political claim
    • (Jesus is the true ruler of the world
    • in a way which leaves Caesar, and the powers of the world today,
    • a long way behind).
  • Luke will go on to tie and culminate in Acts of the Apostles…
    • Where he proclaims Jesus is the King among us…
    • A resonance of Jesus’ Incarnation, which he is describing here…
• Put all this together—
  • • the conception of a baby,
    • the power of God, and
    • the challenge to all human empires—
  • and we can see why the story is so explosive.
  • Perhaps that’s one reason why it’s so controversial.
  • Perhaps we are afraid of the demands this puts on us.
  • And we may be afraid to give in to these demands.
• The story seeks to underline this demand….
  • Zechariah before this episode… responds with unbelief
  • Mary seeks more information to a scenario described to her
  • And which She knows nothing about
  • The Angel does not give her a guide book
  • Only assurance
  • “It is God who will work in and through her”
• This is the promise for you and me…
  • Do not respond with unbelief
  • God will form you and transform you
  • And you like Mary will be call blessed.
• Do not harden your hearts today…
  • Respond to him with an open and desirous heart
  • For Jesus to be part and center of your life.