Christmas - Why Mary?

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Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV), And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."

INTRODUCTION

It was only her wondrous faith—in some respects, her matchless faith, for no other woman had ever had such a blessed trial of faith as she had—it was only her matchless faith that she should be the mother of the holy child Jesus that sustained her. – Charles Spurgeon

I remember being 13 years old.  It was an interesting time in life.  Now that I was a teenager, I knew everything.  Life was good.  We didn’t have to sit in the same classroom with the same teacher.  There was football, basketball, baseball, and then there were girls.  I didn’t realize that there was the opposite sex until I was 13.  Then, WOW! 

What were you doing at 13?  Yes 13 is an awkward age – isn’t it?  You are no longer a child yet you’re not quite an adult. Hormones are doing all sorts of weird things in your body.  Christian scholars surmise that Mary was about that age when the angel came and told her she was pregnant.  In all likelihood, she was between the age of 13 and 15.  If you were that age and received news as she did, how would you respond?

WHY MARY

  1. She was HUMAN: Luke 1:26-27 (NKJV): “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.”

Mary was born of human parents.  According to Luke 3:23-38 (which is believed to be the lineage of Mary), her ancestry runs through David to Adam.  It was common in that day for both the husband and wife’s lineage to be listed as the husband’s ancestry.  However, there is a difference between Joseph’s line (Matthew 1:1-16) and Mary’s genealogy (Luke 3:23-38).  This difference would lead many commentators to believe that the Matthew account is the royal lineage of Jesus or Joseph’s line, while Luke’s account belongs to Mary’s ancestry and presents the physical line of Christ.

Mary was poor: She lived in the one poorest of areas of Israel.  Most of the inhabitants of Nazareth were carpenters or stone cutters working in nearby, larger Roman cities.  She was a virgin.  Therefore, Mary fulfilled the O.T. prophecy taken from Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV), “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.  This historic prediction of the birth of Christ is repeated in Matthew 1:23 (NKJV), "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

  1. She was HUMBLE: Luke 1:28-30 (NIV), “The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

First, Mary realized that she was not in charge.  In Luke 1:46 (CSB)  And Mary said: “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord.”  Mary understood that the God of the universe was calling all the shots.  He was in control and she was not.  Secondly, she realized her position.  In Luke 1:48 (CSB) we read her words of meekness, “because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant.”  Next, Mary realized God’s position of holiness.  In Luke 1:49 (CSB) Mary made this observation, “because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is Holy.”  Fourth, she realized that God’s power controls all things.  In Luke 1:51 she recognized God’s influence on the lives of mankind when Mary says, “He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts.” 

Fifth, she realized God’s goodness.  Mary made this acknowledgment about God (Luke 1:53a, NKJV): “He has satisfied the hungry with good things.”  In her humility, Mary gave God the credit for supplying His children’s needs.  Finally, she realized that God is a just and righteous ruler.  Mary makes this profound statement of the justice of a loving and Holy God (Luke 1:53b, NKJV): “and sent the rich away empty.”  Amazingly, she understood that this is not a pang of physical hunger but a spiritual one.

  1. She HEEDED GOD’S CALL: Luke 1:38 teaches: “I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Mary accepted God’s will for her life no matter what the sacrifice. She didn’t know what she was going to face through this birth and a life with Jesus to follow.  However, by faith, she was willing to make whatever loss was necessary to carry out God’s will.
  2. She HONORED GOD’S REQUEST: Luke 2:4-7 (NKJV): 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mary had fulfilled her first responsibly to the fullest.  She risked her name and reputation.  Ultimately, Mary made the supreme sacrifice so that the world could be saved through her Son, Jesus. 

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

Why Mary? Because she was human, humble, heeded God’s call, and honored God’s request.  God knew before the foundation of the world that she would.  She was a critic element in the salvation of mankind.  Jesus needed to God but He also needed to be man.  Mary proved the latter.  It all began with the virgin birth.  Mary’s obedience and willingness were the keys to the conception, the birth, and the early life of Christ. 

How do we become more obedient like Mary?

  1. REALIZE we’re not in Charge: We must learn to put God first. He needs to be in control of our lives for us to experience the abundant life Jesus promised us. In John 10:10 (CSB), the apostle explains: “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”   Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) instructs us in our response: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
  2. ACCEPT our position as Servant: Humility is of great concern to God. We must recognize Him as our Great Authority.  He is over all things, in all things, and works through all things to bring Himself glory (Romans 8:28).  Matthew 23:11-12 says, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  3. SUBMIT yourselves to God: James 4:6-7 "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, submit to God. Remember, humility is not thinking less of ourselves, it is thinking of ourselves less.