Emory Baptist Church

Can We Learn Anything from Jesus' Genealogy?

Genealogy is the study of family history.  Different people embrace this activity or hobby for different reasons. 

 

Some are simply looking to have fun, and for entertainment purposes, they research their family history and family tree.  For others, they are in search of significance or importance for what they otherwise see as an uneventful or meaningless life. 

 

Many spend countless hours and countless dollars and a lot energy on their genealogy, and our Mormon friends are also interested in such so that their dead family members can be baptized by proxy in what is known in the Mormon Church as baptism for the dead. 

 

In Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s gospel, you will find the genealogy of Jesus.  Before I direct your attention to the differences between the two records, consider these five reasons why genealogies were important in Bible times according to Pastor John MacArthur:

 

1. your family tree determined land divisions.
2. your family tree determined your inheritance rights.
3. your family tree was vital to the idea of kinsmen redeemer as in Ruth.
4. your family tree determined the amount of taxes you paid.
5. your family tree determined one’s eligibility to serve as a priest.

 

As for Jesus’ genealogy, you can find it in Matthew 1:1-17 and in our text for this morning, Luke 3:23-38. However, it may surprise you that the two accounts are very different from one another. 

 

First, Matthew’s account works from the past to the present.  Luke’s account works backward from the present to the past.

 

Second, Matthew’s account includes 42 names.  Luke’s account includes 77 names. 

 

Third, Matthew’s account traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham.  Luke’s account traces Jesus’ lineage back to Adam.

 

Why the discrepancies?  The honest answer is that we simply don’t have enough information as to why the two accounts are vastly different. 

 

Are they discrepancies irreconcilable?  No, we just don’t have all the necessary information to answer dogmatically. 

 

My answer to you this morning is that Matthew is tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph.  Luke is tracing Jesus’ lineage through Mary, and consequently, you will see in Luke’s gospel a greater emphasis on Mary as Matthew puts more emphasis on Joseph.  These two genealogies even come together as both Joseph and Mary were descendents of Adam, Abraham, and David.

 

In our remaining time, let me answer for you the question that serves as my sermon title, “Can we learn anything from the genealogy of Jesus?”  Absolutely, we can.

 

 

1. Jesus’ Genealogy Acknowledges His Ministry, 3:23.

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age,

 

Luke tells us that Jesus was 30 years old when He was baptized and began His public ministry.  I think you will find it interesting to know that other biblical characters also began certain ministries at 30 years of age. 

 

In Genesis 41:46, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt. 

 

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

In 2 Samuel 5:4, David was 30 years old when he became king of Israel. 

 

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

 

In Ezekiel 1:1, Ezekiel began his prophetic ministry when he was 30 years old.

 

1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

 

For me personally, 30 will always be significant as I was 30 years old when I pastored a church for the very first time.  Jesus’ genealogy acknowledges His ministry.

 

 

2. Jesus’ Genealogy Affirms His Deity, Luke 3:23.

23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli…

 

Notice in verse 23 what Luke writes regarding Jesus’ relationship with Joseph.  He wrote, “…being, as supposed, the son of Joseph.” 

 

Did Luke not know that Jesus was born of a virgin?  Of course he did.  He described the miraculous conception in chapter 1.  See Luke 1:35.

 

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Why did he write this?  Even though Luke knew that Jesus was born of a virgin and was the Son of God, to the general population, Jesus was the son of Joseph. 

 

That is what the public supposed because Joseph was married to Mary and had adopted Jesus.  In a very unique fashion, in Jesus’ genealogy, Luke affirmed His deity or being God.

 

 

3. Jesus’ Genealogy Announced His Humanity, Luke 3:24-38.

 

I want to point out four names in this genealogy that are certainly more recognizable than others. 

 

First, notice that Jesus was the son of David in verse 31 meaning Jesus was of the royal line and a fulfillment of prophecy.  Second, notice that Jesus was the son of Abraham in verse 34 meaning that Jesus was the Savior for the Jews.  He was the promised Messiah. 

 

Third, notice that Jesus was the son of Adam in verse 38 meaning that Jesus was the Savior not only for the Jews but for all of humanity.  God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son that anyone who believes in Him would not die by have eternal life. 

 

Fourth, Jesus had to be like man to be the Savior of man, but to be the Savior of anyone and everyone, He had to be like God, and that is where this text ends in verse 38.  Jesus was the only begotten Son of God.

 

 

Conclusion

Let me show you two more Scriptures, and we’ll be done.  See Romans 5:17-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. 

 

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

 

45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

 

If you don’t hear anything else this morning, hear this.  Jesus is not just the Savior for the Jews.  He is the Savior of the world: red, yellow, black and white, male and female, young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, good and bad, and everyone else that somehow got left out. 

 

Will you confess Him as your Savior today for the very first time?

 

 

Jesus is Superior!

with you this morning entitled, “Jesus is Superior!”  Most dictionaries list these words as synonyms: better, greater, higher, excellent. 

 

Our text this morning will demonstrate that Jesus is superior in all things and over all things.  However, before we get there, I want to answer five (5) questions that this text raises.

 

 

1. Was John the Baptist the Messiah?

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not…

 

After hearing the powerful preaching of John the Baptist and seeing all those who were coming to be baptized, the people began to wonder if John the Baptist was the Messiah.  John himself answered that question in 3:16 by saying that he was definitely different and inferior to the One who was coming.  John was not even worthy to untie the thong of His sandal. 

 

However, we knew the answer to this question from chapter one.  See 1:16 and 1:76. 

 

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

 

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

 

 

2. What is baptism with the Holy Spirit or by the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit?

16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

In all four gospels, the Biblical writers say that Jesus will baptize with or in the Holy Spirit.  This is true for Matthew, Mark, John, and we’re seeing Luke’s words here.

 

In the book of Acts 1:5, Jesus said that these first century followers of Christ would be baptized with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 

 

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 

The only other reference in the NT to a baptism with or in or by the Spirit is 1 Corinthians 12:13. Paul said we are all baptized by the Spirit into one body.

 

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

 

Therefore, my contention from these texts and their context is that baptism with the Holy Spirit or by the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit takes place at conversion and not after salvation.  In other words, to be saved means you are baptized with, by, and in the Holy Spirit.

 

Also, when you are baptized by the Holy Spirit, that means you are regenerated or born-again.  That also means you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit for eternity.  Finally, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, your salvation is no longer up for debate.

 

 

3. Does baptism save?

 

This question can only be answered if the type of baptism in question is identified.  If you are talking about physical, water baptism, the answer is obviously no. 

 

For those that believe water baptism saves, the thief on the cross is the proverbial fly in the ointment.  Jesus said he would be with Him in Paradise, and yet, he wasn’t baptized.  See Luke 23:40-43.

 

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

 

Another text to consider is 1 Peter 3:21-22.  The baptism that saves here is not a physical, water baptism, but a spiritual and internal baptism. 

 

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

 

Therefore, water baptism never saves, but spiritual baptism with or by or in the Holy Spirit always saves.

 

 

4. Why was Jesus baptized?

21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

 

He wasn’t baptized to be saved.  He wasn’t baptized to wash away original sin.  I would suggest at least three reasons for Jesus being baptized and by John the Baptist. 

 

First, Jesus’ baptism validated the ministry of John the Baptist.  In many ways, John was seen as an outcast type of character clothed in animal skins and eating grasshoppers and honey.  Baptizing Jesus legitimized John’s ministry. 

 

Second, Jesus was baptized to signify the beginning of His public ministry.  In His baptism, we see the Holy Spirit descending upon Him as the power and temperament for His ministry.  Next, the Father approved of His only Son and all that He would do.

 

Third, Jesus was baptized because it was simply the right thing to do.  See Matthew 3:13-15. 

 

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”  15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

 

Consequently, if it was the right thing for Jesus to do, it is the right thing for you to do if you are a follower of Jesus.  Furthermore, if it is right to be baptized, it is then wrong not be baptized. 

 

Also, John’s baptism looked forward.  Jesus’ baptism set the example for us.  Christian baptism looks back to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the death of Christ and identifies with Him in death, burial, and resurrection.

 

 

5. Is the Trinity a biblical doctrine?

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

 

Even though the actual word never appears on the pages of Scripture, the idea is certainly here as seen in the baptism of Jesus.  The Son was baptized, the Spirit descended, and the Father approved.

 

 

One Main Point

At the end of the day, we always want to identify the one main point of any preaching text.  For today, it is that Jesus is superior in all things and over all things.

 

First, He is superior to John.  John himself made that clear in verses 15 and 16 in his humility and their two different baptisms.  John would baptize with water.  Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit.

 

Second, He is also superior to judge.  Look at the end of verse 16 and 17.  To be baptized with fire is a reference to judgment.  For those that receive Jesus, He will baptize you with the Spirit and with fire and it will cleanse you of all sin.

 

If you reject Jesus, like chaff that is separated from the wheat, you will be gathered and thrown into the unquenchable fire at the end of the age.  Certainly, that is a reference to hell.

 

Third, He is a superior Savior.  If Jesus hasn’t baptized you with Spirit, you haven’t been saved. 

 

In fact, there is no other way to be saved.  Baptism won’t do it.  Morality won’t do it.  Genealogy won’t do it.  Ingenuity won’t do it. 

 

The only way to be saved is to be baptized by Jesus with the Spirit.  He is superior to save.

 

This morning, He wants to superior in your life.  What about it?  Will you let Him save you?  Will you let Him lead you?  Will you let Him mold you and shape you?  You can’t make a better decision.

 

He is superior!

What Shall We Do?

The title of my message this morning is a question that is asked on three different occasions and by three different groups of people in our text for this morning.  It is a question that all of us should ask after we hear a sermon or a Bible study.  The question is, “What shall we do” or “What shall we do in response to what we have heard?”

 

Today, we continue in Luke’s gospel, and we are fast forwarding 18 years.  Last week, Jesus was 12. This week, we briefly turn out attention to John the Baptist, and the next time we see Jesus in Luke 3, He will be 30 years old.

 

As we begin, I want to share a truth with you and then spend the rest of our time defending or supporting this truth.  Here it is, “If you are not willing for your life to change, you are not ready to follow Jesus.” 

 

 

1. The Preparation by the Messenger, Luke 3: 1-6

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.  5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 

 

In Luke 3, John the Baptist is now 30 years old.  That is six months older than his cousin, Jesus. 

 

It has often been said that John the Baptist was the forerunner or the announcer or the messenger of Christ.  First of all, notice the moment.

 

In verses 1-2, Dr. Luke gave the historical setting.  It was AD 29.  While not meaning much to us, we are reminded once again of the Bible’s trustworthiness demonstrated by Luke’s attention to detail. 

 

At the end of verse 2, we see the man.  This messenger was a man sent from God with the word of God, and is none other than John the Baptist, son of Zacharias and Elizabeth that we met in Luke 1. 

 

Next, in verses 3 and following, notice his method.  John the Baptist was to make ready the way for Jesus.  He was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah, and he did that through preaching a very bold and convicting message like OT prophets.

 

In describing how John would prepare the way as the messenger, Luke quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5.  He was to make the paths straight and as free from obstacles as possible.  The ravines were to be filled, and the mountains were to be flattened.  The curves were to be made straight, and the rough roads were to be made smooth.  The image here is of a monarch who would send a crew of workman ahead of him in order for them to literally prepare the roadway for the king to travel safely and efficiently. 

 

John the Baptist was to make ready the way for Jesus.  He was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah, and John’s announcement was not just to Jews, but to Gentiles as well.  Notice verse 6.  All flesh, both Jew and Gentile, will see the salvation of God. 

 

Before we leave this first six verses, let’s talk about John’s baptism.  The word baptism means to submerge all the way in water and coming all of the way out of the water. 

 

We’ll talk more about baptism next week as we look at Jesus’ baptism, but the word is very specific in spite of what our Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian friends believe.  It literally means to immerse or dip.  It does not mean to sprinkle. 

 

Also, John’s baptism was one that symbolized repentance.  Repentance means to change your mind and turn around.  It has an internal component and an external component. 

 

For example, to repent of taking illegal drugs would include the belief that illegal drugs are wrong to take.  That is the changing of the mind. 

 

However, it would also include the action of abstaining from using any illegal drugs.  It is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. 

 

Finally, notice one more component.  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance that led to a forgiveness of sins. 

 

This phrase implies that someone has been offended, and that someone is God.  Our sins have offended Him because He is holy, and that which is unholy or sinful is offensive to God. 

 

When we sin, we sin against Him and are in need of His forgiveness.  Therefore, John is preaching repentance.  Again, that means changing your mind and changing your actions or changing your belief that leads to changing your behavior.

 

However, please know this.  It is not baptism that leads to forgiveness of sins.  It is the repentance or the willingness for your life to change or repent that results in forgiveness of sins. 

 

 

2. The Explanation of His Message, Luke 3:7-9

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

 

Gathering around to hear John’s preaching was a multitude of folks including many orthodox Jews. He called them a “brood of vipers.”  Today, that would be like calling someone a “snake in the grass.”  They probably also took it personally remembering Genesis 3 very well.  John was calling them children of the devil. 

 

Notice what John said next.  He told them that their repentance not only needed to be demonstrated in baptism but also in fruits or proof or actions. 

 

By their words, they obviously thought being Jewish was enough to earn God’s favor and ultimately His forgiveness of sins.  John reminded them that wasn’t true.  They couldn’t ride anyone else’s coattails then, and we can’t today. 

 

Let me know say a strong word to my brothers and sisters of Emory Baptist Church.  If you are hanging your salvation on the phrase “once saved, always saved,” you might very well will spend an eternity in hell separated from Christ. 

 

When God Almighty asks why He should let you into the Kingdom of Heaven, if your answer is you were a member of Emory Baptist Church or baptized as a kid, you are going to be eternally disappointed. 

 

John said in verse 9 that the axe was already laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Repentance must bear fruit or it isn’t repentance and without repentance you will not see heaven.

 

 

3. The Application for the Multitudes, Luke 3:10-14

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”  11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”  12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”  13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”  14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”  So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

 

Within the multitudes that came to hear John preach, three groups asked, “What shall we do?”  In other words, how should John’s message be applied to their lives. 

 

The first group is in verses 10-11.  John said demonstrate generosity and kindness.  The man who has two tunics or coats is to share with the man who has none.  You can’t wear more than one tunic at a time.  The same is true for food.  Be generous.  Be generous and kind and share with those in need. 

 

The second group was tax collectors and found in verses 12-13.  These were Jews working for the Roman government and collecting taxes for them and a little for themselves from their own countrymen. 

 

They were hated for working for the Romans.  They then taxed more for people hating them.  They were then hated more for taxing more.  It was a vicious cycle. 

 

When they asked what to do, John said collect only what you are ordered to collect.  Be honest and just and don’t collect more than is owed.  Brothers and sisters, live your life with honesty and integrity, and treat others how you want to be treated.

 

The third group were soldiers, and they asked what they were to do.  John said don’t take money from anyone by force and learn to be content with your pay.  We Christians so need to hear this and live out contentment in a consumer-driven, materialistic world. 

 

 

 

Conclusion

So let’s go back to our original summary statement or main truth that I shared in the beginning.  If you aren’t willing for your life to change, you are not ready to follow Jesus.  That was John’s message. 

 

Therefore, what about you?  Are you willing for your language to change?  Are you willing for your marriage to change?  Are you willing for your attitude to change?  Are you willing for your spending to change?  Are you willing for your schedule to change? 

 

Here is what I mean.  Instead of trusting your morality or your heritage or your intelligence to save you, are you willing to change and trust Jesus to save you?

 

 

Was Jesus Ever Lost?

I hope my title for this morning’s sermon has peaked your interest.  When we hear the word “lost,” especially in a spiritual context like church, we are thinking spiritually lost or not saved.  If that was what I was meaning, then our answer would be “no.” 

 

However, I’m actually referring to physically lost, and from His parents’ perspective, there was an occasion when Jesus was lost. That is actually our text this morning from Luke 2 so let’s find Luke 2:41. 

 

This morning’s sermon is entitled, “Was Jesus Lost?”  I want to share three challenges with you: a challenge to Joseph and Mary, a challenge about Jesus Christ, and a challenge for you and me.

 

 

1. A Challenge to Joseph and Mary, Luke 2:41-45

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

 

We begin this morning in verse 41 with Joseph and Mary.  As we have already know, they were devout Jews, and verse 41 says they were in Jerusalem for the Passover.  That was according to Old Testament Law.  However, the Law only required the husband or male to attend.  To see Mary with her husband demonstrates her devotion and faithfulness to the Lord.

 

Let me remind you what the Passover was.  In Exodus, Israel was being held captive by Pharaoh.  In an effort to get Pharaoh to let them go, God struck Pharaoh and Egypt with multiple plagues.  On several occasions, Pharaoh said he was going to let Israel go free, but he always ended up changing his mind.

 

The Lord had finally had enough.  This last plague would be the death angel in Exodus 12. 

 

The Passover was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.  You were passed over by the death angel if you splattered the blood of a sacrificed lamb on your doorway. 

 

In the same way, God gives eternal life to those who have had the blood of Jesus splattered or applied to his or her heart.  If you haven’t, you will experience a second death, a spiritual death in hell separated from Christ. 

 

In verse 42, we see Jesus.  He was twelve years old.  Another valuable truth we learn this morning is that the Bible is silent on some issues.  The Bible is virtually silent on the first twelve years of Jesus’ life after He was born. 

 

Also, the Bible is virtually silent on Jesus’ life from age twelve to age thirty.  After this morning, we won’t see Jesus again until John the Baptist sees Him at thirty years of age. 

 

Like it or not, the Bible is silent on some issues.  Where the Bible is silent, we can speculate, but we should not be dogmatic.

 

Because Jesus was with Joseph and Mary, many believe Joseph was preparing Him for His Bar Mitzvah.  That would have been His official transition from adolescence to manhood that took place at 13.  Fathers would often take their sons to festivals like this several years in advance in preparation for the future.

 

Keep in mind that there were hundreds of thousands of Jews in Jerusalem at this time.  Therefore, the city was teeming with people and with activity. 

 

Joseph and Mary had come from Nazareth which was approximately 80 miles away and probably a three to four day journey on foot.  In these days, extended families and friends traveled in groups or a caravan for protection and fellowship.  That seems to be true in this instance as well.

 

Verse 43 says Joseph and Mary decided to head back, and they traveled a full day assuming that Jesus was with the other or at least in the caravan.  Evidently, when they stopped to spend the night, they discovered He was nowhere to be found.

 

Can you even imagine this anxious night?  The next morning, they got up and returned to the city, but then endured another anxious night as it was too late to be out hunting for Him.  Finally, on the third day verse 46 says, they found Jesus in the temple.

 

When Joseph and Mary found Jesus, He was sitting among Jewish religious teachers listening and asking questions.  That is an excellent educational model.  It is not purely lecture.  It is dialogue. 

 

We need to do a lot of listening!  We also need to ask a lot of clarifying questions.  Sometimes, questions are seen as divisive or insubordinate.  In reality, questions can simply clarify.  Jesus asked questions, and it was fine. 

 

If you are a parent and ever lost track of your child or children, you can understand Joseph and Mary’s alarm that was verbalized in verse 48.  It appears that she tried to guilt Him.  She asked why He had treated them “this” way.  She went on to tell Him that she and Joseph had been “anxiously” looking for Him. 

 

Evidently, keeping up with Jesus was a challenge to Joseph and Mary.  To them, He was temporarily lost. 

 

If truth be told, parenting is hard.  There are no experts.  A lot of parenting is trial and error, but we have this book, and we have one another.  Use both!

 

2. A Challenge About Jesus, Luke 2:46-52

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”  49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.  51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

In verses 46-50, we see a challenge about Jesus.  That challenge is believing and understanding that Jesus was and is fully God and fully man at the same time.

 

In verse 47, why were all the people astonished when they listened to Jesus and heard Him answer questions of the teachers?  And why were His parents amazed when they saw Him in the temple?  They were astonished and amazed because this wasn’t just any twelve-year-old. 

 

This twelve-year-old claimed to be the Son of God in verse 49.  These are the first words that we have recorded by Jesus, and this is the first instance in all of the Bible when someone claimed God as their personal Father. 

 

Ultimately, this is what got Jesus murdered.  When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, He was claiming equality with God.  Even at age 12, I would suggest that Jesus was aware of His divine relationship with God.

 

However, Jesus was not only fully God, He was fully man too.  Notice verse 51.  Jesus minded his momma and his daddy.  Do you know why?  The fifth commandment says honor your father and mother. 

 

Verse 52 ends chapter 2 and today’s text by letting us know that from this point Jesus grew up.  He grew in wisdom.  That means He grew mentally.  He grew in stature.  That means He grew physically.  He grew in favor with God.  That means He grew spiritually. 

 

Even at twelve years old, Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man.  Although it is a challenge to understand, we must believe because the Bible tells me so.

 

 

3. A Challenge for You and Me

In verse 49, Jesus said He was in the temple because that was His Father’s business, and He had to be about His Father’s business. What does that mean?

 

I think the answer is found in a word that is repeated multiple times in this text, and it is the word, “seek.”  We need to pay attention when biblical writers repeat words.

 

Notice how Mary and Joseph sought Jesus.  That word is in verse 44 and 45 and 48 and 49, and I believe that is what it means for you and me to be about our Father’s business.  It means to seek His Son, Jesus Christ. 

 

For Jesus, this translated into visible obedience.  He didn’t say He was about God’s business and then did whatever He wanted.  If you’re about God’s business, you’re going to be obedient to God’s Word.  That is why He was obedient to mom and dad. 

 

 

Conclusion

What about you?  Don’t just mouth it.  You’ve got to live it.  That’s my challenge for you in 2024. 

 

Your Father’s business means reading your Bible.  Consider reading it through in a year. 

 

It means giving financially.  That means your tithe and offerings.  Will you be a World Mission Fund Family in 2024?  Will you give to our FLC in 2024?

 

It means praying.  Will you sign up for an hour in our Prayer Room?

 

It means connecting with a small group.  What is keeping you from connecting to a Sunday School Small Group every week and throughout the week? 

 

It means serving this Body of Believers.  We need more servers in our nursery and welcome teams and security and choir and Backpack Buddies. 

 

Finally, Jesus was lost physically for a time, but are you lost spiritually now?  If you die that way, it will be for eternity.  Will you be found today? 

New Year’s Revolution

The Christmas Story

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people.  That is a seven with nine zeros. 

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived.  That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

 

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female.  Some have been red and yellow and black and white.  Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  This morning, we consider the Christmas story.

 

 

1. The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem.  A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem.  Therefore, he had to go there to register his family.  Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

 

The first detail about the incarnation of God that I want you to see is that it was prophesied in Scripture.  By leaving Nazareth but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God that we saw from last week’s presentation.  See Micah 5:2.

 

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

 

The second detail that I want to remind you of is that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit.  Verse five tells us that Mary was with child on this trip. 

It is very difficult for us to even imagine this thirteen or fourteen year-old mother to be walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant.  However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened. 

 

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph?  No.  Had she and Joseph consummated their marriage?  No, they were still in the betrothal period and sexual pure.  See Luke 1:35.

 

Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Jesus can be conceived by the Spirit of God. 

 

Finally, in the simplicity of two verses, Jesus is born.  God becomes flesh incarnate. Verse seven says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  In other words, she would have more. 

 

However, this one verse is all there is specifically addressing the birth of Jesus.  Matthew’s gospel only has three verses.  Keep in mind, the birth of Jesus was not supernatural.  It was His conception that was supernatural. 

 

A third detail that I want you to be aware of regarding the incarnation of God is that Jesus was adopted by Joseph.  I want you to know going into 2016 that adoption is near to the heart of God.

 

Jesus was adopted, and Paul uses the imagery of adoption when he refers to what God our Father has done in our life through salvation.

 

 

2. The Proclamation of the Angels, Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

 

Beginning in verse eight, we are introduced to a group of shepherds.  They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds do, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them. 

 

By the way, you will never find an instance in the Bible when people encounter angels and are not scared out of their mind.  If someone today tells you that they saw an angel, ask them if they were scared out of their mind.  If they say no, it probably wasn’t real. 

 

In verse ten, the angel began to speak.  He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news.  He literally uses that phrase, “good news” or “good tidings” in verse ten.

 

Here is the first part of the good news.  God incarnate or Jesus has been born, and He is the Savior for all people.  He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class.  Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

 

However, the salvation that Jesus offers is applied to those who believe.  He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins.  I can’t do it for you.  It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was. 

 

Third, the salvation that comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus is the only way to be at peace with God. 

 

Suddenly, in verse thirteen, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel.  Was this fifty more?  Was this one hundred more?  Was this one thousand more?  Probably, it was the latter.  Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 

 

Every man since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin.  No man has been at peace with God on his own.  God has now provided a way.  The way is Jesus.  He is the one and only way to be at peace with God the Father. 

 

Morality won’t do it.  Ingenuity won’t do it.  Ancestry won’t do it.  The angels exalted God in heaven because only Jesus would do it.  He is the only way.  See John 14:6.

 

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, on the Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved.  Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him.  You have to accept His invitation.  The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him.  Will you do that today?

 

 

3. The Exaltation of the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

 

In verse fifteen, the shepherds go on their way after the angels left.  Verse sixteen says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said.  Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.  

 

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior.  In other words, they shared their experience.  Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus? 

 

In verse twenty, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.  Ultimately, they exalted God for He had done in providing for them a Savior. 

 

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple.  How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

 

For some of you that means accepting the invitation that God offers to you of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus.  He came to be the Savior of the world.  However, He can only be your Savior if you agree to it. 

 

For others, during this Christmas season, will you share your Jesus experience with others?  That is what the shepherds did.  That is what God calls us to do. 

 

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion.  What will it mean for you?

We All Need a Sonrise!

Luke 1 contains two very famous songs about two very famous children, John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ.  Remember, John’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Jesus’ parents were Joseph and Mary. 

 

The first song in chapter 1 is called the Magnificat and was sung by Mary after the announcement of Jesus’ birth.  It is found in 1:46-55.

 

The second song is called the Benedictus and was song by Zacharias after the birth of John the Baptist.  It is this second song that will be our focus this morning in a message I have entitled, “We All Need a Sunrise!”

 

Zacharias’ song focused on two main individuals.  They are his son, John the Messenger and his Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

 

According to verse 67, we can see that this song is inspired by the Holy Spirit and should be treated as prophesy.  Interestingly enough, when we normally think of prophesy, we think of telling the future, and that is true. 

 

However, in verses 68-69, Zacharias used three past tense verbs.  They are visited, redeemed, and raised.  Why did he use past tense verbs in telling the future?

 

These are called prophetic pasts.  Zacharias was prophesying about the future by remembering the past.  Zacharias was so confident that God’s plan would come to pass that he spoke of it as already having happened. 

 

Also, notice again that Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit.  That was true of his entire family. 

 

His wife, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit. See 1:41.

 

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

His son, John, would also be filled with the Holy Spirit.  See 1:15.

 

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

 

Before Pentecost or the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit did not permanently dwell within God’s people.  In the OT and even here in Luke 1, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals and would then leave them.

 

However, in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people permanently from that point forward.  When any and every person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit causes that person to be born again and begins to live in that person for eternity.  The Holy Spirit becomes the seal on that person’s heart.

 

Another action of the Holy Spirit is to fill us in daily living.  Even though every saved person is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the older we get, the more we become like an old bicycle tire or old basketball. 

 

We leak air, and need to be aired up again.  In a similar way, we leak the filling of the Holy Spirit and need to be filled each and every day and maybe multiple times throughout the day.

 

How does that happen?  It happens by reading or remembering and mediating and applying God’s word to our lives every day and throughout the day. 

 

As for Zacharias’ song, notice in verse 76:

 

1. The Occupation of John the Baptist, Luke 1:76

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

 

In pointing to his own son, Zacharias prophesied of the occupation of John the Baptist.  He will be called the prophet of the Highest or Most High, and he will go before the Lord to prepare His ways. 

 

Don’t let his occupation or job of John the Baptist casually escape you.  Israel had not had a speaking prophet in 400 years since Malachi, and John the Baptist would be the next. 

 

That is huge, and he would prepare the way of the Lord.  In other words, he would point people to Jesus.

 

Did you know that if you have been born-again, that is your job as well?  It was John’s occupation or job to point people to Jesus, and it is your job too. 

 

It is your job at work and at a school and at Wal-Mart and at El Manna.  Just like John the Baptist, our occupation is to point people to Jesus.

 

 

2. The Gratification from Jesus the Christ, Luke 1:68-75, 77

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited and redeemed His people,

69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

Who have been since the world began,

71 That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74 To grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

 

In verse 68, as John the Baptist will have his attention on one person, Zacharias turned his attention to that same person, Jesus the Christ or Jesus the Messiah.  Zacharias is now going to demonstrate how Jesus the Messiah is the gratification or satisfaction of a promise to David, a promise to Abraham, and a promise to God’s People.

 

First, look at verses 68-69.  Verse 68 begins with “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel.”  In Latin, “blessed” is translated Benedictus. 

 

Even though it hadn’t happened at the time of this prophecy, Jesus would be the fulfillment of this promise to David about the Messiah visiting and redeeming His people and raising up a horn of salvation.  The end of verse 69 tells us that this Messiah would come from the house of David. 

 

This original prophecy is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:8-17.  The Lord spoke through Nathan to David.  To summarize, the promised Messiah would persevere as this prophecy was initially fulfilled in Solomon and will be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

 

Second, not only will the Messiah be the gratification of a promise to David, but He will also be the gratification of a promise to Abraham.  Verse 70 says that God spoke by the mouth of holy prophets of old and remembered His holy covenant that He swore to Abraham. 

 

That oath was to protect Israel from her enemies, but it was not only to protect.  It was to protect with a purpose.  God saved Israel so that they would serve God.  They would serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness. 

 

This promise to Abraham can be found in Genesis 22:15-18.  After the Lord saw that Abraham was willing to offer his only son, God would in turn eventually offer His only Son as the promised Messiah as the gratification of this promise to Abraham.

 

Third, the promised Messiah is the gratification of a promise to God’s People.  John the Baptist will point people to Jesus in order for them to be saved.  Look at verse 77.  John the Baptist will tell people to be saved by the remission or forgiveness of their sins. 

 

Let that sink in just a moment.  Here is the GOSPEL.  First, God is holy.  Second, you and I are sinners.  Third, our sin separates us from God.  Fourth, reconciliation or remission or forgiveness of sins only comes through repentance and faith in Jesus the Christ. 

 

In the mercy of God, Jesus offers forgiveness of sins.  He spoke about it Himself.  See Matthew 26:28. 

 

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

Peter spoke about it.  See Acts 10:43. 

 

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

 

John the Revelator spoke about it.  See 1 John 1:9. 

 

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

You and I need our sins forgiven by Jesus.  That is what it means to be saved.  Jesus is the gratification or fulfillment of a promise made to God’s People.

 

 

 

3. The Invitation for You the Sinner, Luke 1:78b-80

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

 

Verses 78-80 give a beautiful picture of forgiveness.  It is like sitting in darkness. 

 

Have you ever done that?  Have you ever sat or stood in complete darkness?  It is very odd not to be able to see your hand in front of your face. 

 

That is what sin does.  It makes you lose any sense of direction.  It keeps us from knowing which way to go.  It handicaps any and all progress. 

 

However, Jesus the Messiah is the Dayspring or Sunrise or Dawn from on high, and when the sun rises, the darkness flees.  When the sun rises, it lightens the path. 

 

When the sun rises, according to verse 79, you can have peace with God.  Paul confirmed that truth in Romans 5:1.

 

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Invitation

Some of you here this morning are sitting in darkness as we speak.  You’re sitting in darkness because you have never had Jesus forgive your sins. 

 

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a sinner.  It doesn’t matter how you’ve sinned. 

 

What matters is that you’re ready to respond to God’s invitation to let the Dayspring or Sunrise on high visit your life.  You’re ready for Jesus to save you and forgive you and guide you and direct you. 

 

Our invitation is for you this morning.  Will you come?

 

3 Lessons on Obedience from the Christmas Story

If you have a Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 1:39.  This morning, we are continuing our study of Luke’s gospel, and we’ll remain in Luke 1. 

 

Last week, we saw the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth and the announcement of Jesus’ birth.  Both came from Gabriel. 

 

As we pick back up in the Christmas Story, consider Mary and Elizabeth and what is traditionally know as Mary’s Song. 

 

Mary

After Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary, we find her in verse 39 making a trip to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth.  They would soon be the parents of John the Baptist who was six months older than Jesus.

 

In verse 41, we see that Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. Even though we aren’t told of what she actually said, we see that her voice caused John the Baptist to leap in Elizabeth’s womb. 

 

BTW…John the Baptist leaped because that which was in Elizabeth’s womb was a person, not a fetus, not a mass of tissue.  He was a baby made in the image of God.

 

After this experience, notice Elizabeth’s words to Mary in verse 42.  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  The actual wording says that Mary was the most blessed among all women, and the reason for this is because she was carrying the Son of God and the Savior of the world in her womb.

 

After a statement of her own gratitude, Elizabeth again commented on how blessed Mary was.  Look at verse 45.  We see here why Mary was blessed. 

 

What was the key to her blessing?  Blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. 

 

Mary is blessed because of her belief and availability and submission.  Even though Mary didn’t understand how a virgin could conceive and give birth, she was submissive to the Lord and available to His plan and believing of His Word.  As a result, she was blessed.

 

BTW…this is an excellent opportunity to see the difference between obedience and disobedience or faith and doubt.  Don’t you know that Zacharias was probably close?  This is the same Zacharias that was told by Gabriel that his wife would give birth to a son in her old age, but Zacharias didn’t believe him.  As a result, the Lord took away his speech. 

 

Mary’s response was much different.  She believed Gabriel and consequently believed God.  She believed, and Zacharias doubted.  She was faithful, and Zacharias was faithless.  She obeyed and was blessed.  Zacharias disobeyed and was disciplined. 

 

How do you respond when God tells you His plans for your life?  Obey and be blessed.  Disobey and get ready for discipline. 

 

Elizabeth

It is amazing to me how we see Elizabeth responding to all of Mary’s circumstances.  Keep in mind that Mary is between the ages of thirteen and fifteen.  Elizabeth is beyond childbearing age.  Mary will give birth to the Son of God.  Elizabeth will not.  Elizabeth could have been jealous and resentful, but she wasn’t.  She was humble and grateful.

 

In verse 41, we see her filled with the Holy Spirit.  This was only for a short time as the Holy Spirit was only temporarily present in individual lives at this point. 

 

In verse 43, we see her humility and gratitude voiced as she was humbled that the Lord’s mother, Mary, would visit her.  She obviously didn’t think she deserved such. 

 

Finally, throughout this dialogue, Elizabeth is full of compliments and encouragement for Mary and what God had chosen for her.

 

Let me ask you, would your closest family and friends describe you as humble and grateful?  Or, would they describe you as prideful and greedy?  Are you angry when your family and friends succeed or are blessed and you aren’t?  Are you always trying your best to keep up with the Jones’s and their house and their car and their toys? 

 

Mary’s Song

It is so important in this text for you to see how Mary respond to the Lord’s blessing in her life.  Verses 46 through 55 are called the Magnificat or Mary’s Song.  Magnificat is Latin for praise or make great. 

 

In response to the Lord blessing her, Mary sang a song praising Him.  Specifically, she praised Him for who He is and for what He had done.  Her Father in heaven was worthy of her praise.

 

Notice in verse 46 that she exalted the Lord or praised the Lord.  She rejoiced in God her Savior. 

 

BTW…how do we know that our Catholic friends are mistaken in their worship of Mary?  In verse 47, Mary had a Savior.  If you need a Savior, you aren’t worthy of worship.  Mary was a sinner just like you and me.

 

In verse 49, Mary praised the Lord for His holiness.  In verse 50, Mary praised the Lord for His mercy.  She praised the Lord for who He was.

 

Beginning in verse 51, she praised the Lord for what He did.  He executed justice by scattering the proud, exalting the humble, and providing for the poor.  Not only did He execute justice, He protected Israel, His chosen people. 

 

Verse 56 ends with Mary staying with Elizabeth for about three months and then returning to be with her parents in her house.  In the remainder of today’s text, I want to show you three lessons on obedience from the Christmas Story.  They involve Zacharias and Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist.

 

 

1. Obedience never gets old, Luke 1:57-58.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 

 

In verse 57, Elizabeth had carried John the Baptist to term, and it was now time for her to give birth.  Her friends and her family had heard that the Lord had been merciful to her in opening her womb, and they came to rejoice and celebrate with her the birth of John the Baptist. 

 

When I say that obedience never gets old, I have two applications in mind.  First, a Christian never reaches an age where obedience is no longer right.  In some contexts, we give senior adults a pass.  We say they have done their time, and they are no longer required or expected to follow the rules.  That never is true in Christianity. 

 

Luke 1:7 and 1:18 tell us that Zacharias and Elizabeth were “advanced in years.”  We don’t know their age specifically, but I think it is safe to conclude that they were both senior adults.  However, they were still obedient and faithful to the Lord in their old age. 

 

Obedience in the lives of our senior adults blesses my heart.  For years, I have seen senior adult ladies who drive to church on Monday morning to turn in their offering envelopes if they were sick or out of town the day before. 

 

From my perspective and the church’s perspective, could this have waited?  Sure it could.  However, it could not wait in their minds. Keep in mind that these ladies were on fixed incomes and may have had more medical bills than they could pay, but they never reached an age where obedience wasn’t expected of them.

 

Second, when I say that obedience never gets old, I mean that it is always right to do the right thing.  Sometimes, we believe the lie that it’s alright to be disobedient in certain circumstances.  It is ok to lie in certain circumstances.  It is ok to use profanity in certain circumstances.  Abortion is ok in certain circumstances.  Not tithing is ok in certain circumstances.  Obedience never gets old.

 

Zacharias and Elizabeth had lived lives of faithful obedience for many years.  They were devout Jews, and Luke 1:6 says they were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

 

However, wouldn’t God understand if in these circumstances of old age, they decided not to trust or decided not to believe?  Obedience never gets old.  It is always right to do the right thing.

 

 

 

2. Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular, Luke 1:59-61.

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”  61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

 

Generally speaking, obedience will most of the time bring support and rejoicing for the follower of Christ.  However, there are also some times when obedience will be very unpopular because of the crowds and because of culture.

 

In verse 58, we saw friends and family who were rejoicing and celebrating what God was doing through Elizabeth.  Elizabeth had been obedient.  Consequently, her neighbors and relatives or family and friends rejoiced with her.

 

That should be true of this body of believers and Christians in general.  When we hear of a brother or sister in Christ being obedient, we should rejoice.  We hear that a couple decides to work out their marriage in spite of an affair rather than get a divorce, the body of Christ should rejoice, and not tell them they are stupid and will only get hurt again. 

 

Rejoicing over Elizabeth’s obedience and God’s mercy quickly changed when Elizabeth’s obedience didn’t match what her family and friends thought she should do. 

 

Remember that Zacharias and Elizabeth were devout Jews.  We see that from verse 6, and we see it in having their son circumcised on the eighth day.

 

However, popular opinion changed quickly when it came to naming the boy.  It was Jewish custom to name the son after his grandfather.  Even to name him after his father would have been fine.  In this case, it would have been Zacharias, Jr, but that was not what God wanted.

 

Somehow, Zacharias had communicated to Elizabeth that Gabriel told him to name the boy John.  For Elizabeth, that settled it.  His name would be John because that is what God wanted.  Notice the response of the culture and the crowd in verse 61.  There is no one in your family with that name.

 

Brothers and sisters, obedience will sometimes be unpopular. Don’t let culture or the crowd lead you astray.  Don’t ever let culture be your excuse for disobedience.  For the follower of Christ, if culture and the Bible are opposed to one another, you better kick culture to the curb or risk the hand of God’s discipline in your life. 

 

Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to gender identity.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to the definition of marriage.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes the sanctity of every life.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to faithfulness in your marriage.   Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to supporting Israel and trying to end terrorism.

 

Just like the follower of Christ shouldn’t let culture keep you from obedience, don’t let the crowd keep you from obedience.  The crowds don’t like sexual purity teenagers.  However, it is right, and it is God’s will, and God will bless it.  Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular with culture and crowds.

 

 

3. Obedience can change your situation immediately, Luke 1:62-66.

62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.  63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

 

After the neighbors and relatives balked at Elizabeth naming this boy John, they appealed to Zacharias.  Remember that Zacharias had been deaf and mute for nine months and much time to think about God’s plan in complete silence.  How would he respond? 

 

Verse 63 says he took a tablet, and that wasn’t an iPad, and he wrote, “His name is John.”  In thinking about what God wanted for 9 long months, Zacharias decided to believe God and obey God.

 

Obedience can change your situation immediately for the individual.  Notice verse 64.  And at once, Zacharias could speak and hear.  Immediately, obedience changed the situation of this individual. 

 

Some of you are hear this morning and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a hardened heart because you won’t forgive, and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a peaceless heart because you won’t change your attitude or mindset or belief, and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a passionless heart because you’ve given up on your marriage and won’t fight for what God’s plan is, and you need to be healed. 

 

Decide to obey this morning and be healed immediately.  Decide to obey and change your situation immediately.  Decide to forgive and be healed immediately.  Decide to change your belief and be healed immediately.  Decide to fight for your marriage and be healed immediately. 

Notice also that obedience can change the situation of others immediately as well.  When everybody who was around saw that Zacharias’ wish matched what Elizabeth said, they knew God was up to something.  Everyone was filled with reverence or awe and couldn’t stop talking about what happened, and they knew that God was going to be up to something big with John the Baptist.  Obedience can change your situation immediately and the situation of others.

 

 

Conclusion

So what about you?  In what area of your life do you need to obey?  For some of you, it is the call to salvation.  You will never be too old to trust Christ.  It may not be very popular with your friends and our family, but being obedient and trusting Christ this morning can change your situation immediately.  Your eternity will change from hell to heaven in the blink of an eye.

 

For others of you, you will never be too old to be baptized.  You will never too old to join the church.  You will never be too old to tithe or share your faith or be faithful to your spouse or forgive an offense.  It may not be popular to do it, but obedience will change your situation immediately. 

Can a Virgin Give Birth?

On this first Sunday of December, we turn our eyes and hearts toward Christmas.  There may be any better place to begin that journey than Luke 1.  Today, we begin a verse by verse study that most likely will include all of 2024 and even part of 2025.

 

In this study, we will look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  In the process, we will ask and answer, from the Bible, many questions.  Our first is, “Can a Virgin Give Birth?”

 

 

1. The Administration of Luke, 1:1-4

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

 

In the first four verses, we were introduced to Luke.  He is the author.  He was also a doctor, the personal physician of the Apostle Paul.  He not only wrote the gospel bearing his name, but he also wrote the book of Acts.  They should be viewed together as two volumes documenting the historical reality of Jesus Christ and the birth of the New Testament Church.

 

His aim in this writing was to give a historical account of the life and ministry of Jesus.  In other words, he recorded history, and this third book of the New Testament is in narrative form. 

 

Also, because Luke was a Gentile, this gospel is very unique.  He is the only Gentile author of the 66 books of the Bible.  Another purpose of his was to demonstrate that gospel is for every single individual and every single type of person…even though they might be the outcasts of society including Gentiles, women, the poor, and the sick.

 

Notice his audience.  It was an audience of one.  What do we know about Theophilus?  It seems that he may have been a new believer.  This record of Jesus’ life would serve as the foundation of Theophilus’ new found faith. 

 

 

2. A Declaration to Zacharias, 1:5-25

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”  19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”  21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.  23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

 

In short, an angel, Gabriel, in verse 13, said that Zacharias and his wife would have a son.  That son would be John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus Christ.  John’s purpose would be to prepare the way for the Lord.

 

 

3. The Salutation from Gabriel, Luke 1:26-29

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

 

Verse twenty-six begins with a time reference of six months.  It refers to the announcement of John’s birth.  Therefore, John the Baptist was six months older than his cousin, Jesus Christ. 

 

In the same way that Gabriel went to Zachariah in announcing John’s birth, we see Gabriel in verse twenty-six being sent by God to Nazareth to a virgin that was married to Joseph.  Verse twenty-seven tells us that this virgin’s name was Mary.

 

I need to remind you about the two significant parts of a first-century Jewish marriage agreement.  Our translation says betrothed.  Yours may say engaged.  This meant the betrothal period.  It was the first part of the marriage arrangement.

 

The husband’s family would offer a payment to the wife’s family initiating this arranged marriage.  Joseph and Mary would then be considered married even though they would not live together and would not consummate the marriage sexually until after the ceremony almost one year later. 

 

For at least a year, Joseph and Mary were considered husband and wife, and if their relationship ended, it would have to be by divorce.  Therefore, you can see their engagement was much more binding than what we know as engagement.

 

After one year, there would be a wedding ceremony and marriage feast that would last about one week.  Joseph would send for Mary.  The ceremony would take place.  The feast or reception or party or celebration would last a week.  Then Joseph and Mary would sexually consummate the marriage and hopefully live happily ever after.

 

However, as you know, these plans would be radically altered.  Verse twenty-eight records Gabriel’s salutation or greeting to Mary as he calls her “highly favored one” and tells her that the Lord is with her. 

 

According to verse twenty-nine, she was troubled or confused.  I can understand because I have never had an angel speak with me.  Nonetheless, the angel called her “favored one.”  What did that mean?  Why was she favored?  We’ll find out more in just a moment. 

 

My last comment regarding these four verses is to point out the repetition of “virgin.”  You see it twice in verse twenty-seven.  Keep in mind that Mary was mostly likely a young teenager.  Let that sink in.  She was probably younger than my youngest daughter.    

 

Undoubtedly, she was sexually pure.  By the way, just as that was good at this time, it is good today young ladies and young men.  Remaining sexually pure until marriage is God’s undeniable desire for your life, and you will never regret it. 

 

Mary was a virgin.  She was sexually pure, and she had been 100% completely faithful to Joseph and their marriage. 

 

 

4. The Proclamation about Jesus, Luke 1:30-35

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  

 

This next section is about the proclamation or announcement of Jesus’ birth.  Obviously from verse thirty, Mary was afraid as would I be. 

 

Again, Gabriel told her that she had found favor with God.  We will soon see that this favor is because she will give birth to the Son of God.  Mary didn’t do anything to deserve this honor.  God graciously chose this first-century, undeserving, anonymous before now, peasant girl, to conceive and give birth to Jesus the Christ. 

 

Verse thirty-one is the formal proclamation.  Mary will conceive and give birth to a son.  His name will be Jesus, which means Yahweh saves. 

 

In verses thirty-two and thirty-three, Gabriel predicted five things about Jesus.  First, He will be great.  Second, He will be called Son of the Most High or Son of God.  Third, He will be given the throne of David as coming through that line or heritage.  Fourth, He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.  Five, His kingdom will have no end.  These last three will be realized in the one-thousand-year earthly reign of Christ after the rapture of the Church and the seven-year earthly tribulation period chronicled in John’s Revelation.

 

As you can imagine, Mary was not only troubled and confused and afraid because of this angelic encounter in and of itself, but the fact that she would conceive and birth this baby was extremely confusing. 

 

Why?  She was a virgin.  In her words, “How can this be?”  Please note this is now the third use of the word “virgin.” 

 

In verses thirty-five and thirty-six, Gabriel informed Mary how this would happen.  The Holy Spirit would come upon her and the Most High or God would overshadow her.  By the way, there is not one hint of any type of gross sexual immorality here between God and a human being even though that is what our Mormon friends believe. 

 

This act is mysterious.  It is not fully-understandable. It is the miraculous conception.  It is supernatural.  It never happened before and has never happened since. 

 

 

5. The Veneration of Mary, Luke 1:38

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

When I say the “veneration of Mary,” I mean something different than what our Catholic friends mean.  They mean the veneration or honoring or worship of Mary.  Mary is the object of their veneration and honoring and worship.

 

I mean Mary is the source of the honoring.  Mary is the one doing the honoring.  Look at verse thirty-eight and how Mary responded to Gabriel’s announcement of her pregnancy and Jesus’ birth.

 

She calls herself the Lord’s “maidservant” or slave.  That communicates submission.  She would be submissive to God. 

 

She then said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”  She was willing to do what Gabriel said. 

 

Third, she believed.  She believed God’s plan would happen as described by the angel.  Mary couldn’t have responded better, and is an example to us in that regard.

 

 

Conclusion

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

 

What is the point of this text and my message to you this morning?  The point is Luke 1:37.

 

Read it with me.  Read it again.  Read it a third time.  Memorize it.  Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator and the dashboard of your car.  For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

Gabriel illustrated this truth with Elizabeth and Zacharias, but this miracle is much more.  This isn’t the elderly giving birth even though it was hard to believe. 

 

This is a virgin conceiving birth, and we’re not talking about artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.  We’re talking about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

 

This statement made to Mary is similar to the question that was a statement made to Sarah in Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?”

 

The virgin birth was prophesied about in Isaiah 7:14 and is affirmed in Matthew’s gospel 1:23.  For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

Now, what about you?  Do you believe it?  Do you believe Luke 1:37 and its application to your life? 

 

Can God save you and forgive all your sin?  Can God fix your marriage in spite of falling out of love or infidelity?  Can God heal your disease even if its cancer or the doctor has said there is no hope?  Can God break your addiction even if its alcohol or pornography? 

 

For nothing is impossible with God.  If God can cause a virgin to give birth, I think He can handle your greatest concern!

 

 

A Hard Lesson for Believers