Being Changed By the Savior - Luke 1:26-56 - December 16, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Being Changed By the Savior – December 16, 2007

This is lesson three (3) in our series, “The Savior of Christmas.”

We began with the prophesy GOD gave the Prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah. This was about 681 B.C. Then last Sunday we studied the herald GOD had chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah, John the Baptist. This Sunday we will study the events surrounding the birth of the Messiah, JESUS.

In last Sunday’s lesson we saw that the angel Gabriel told Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would be parents of a boy. They were to name the child John. Zechariah questioned Gabriel about how was that possible since he and Elizabeth were so old. Lack of faith coming from a priest is not good. So Gabriel told him he would be unable to speak until the event had occurred.

Let’s read Luke 1:26-33:

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin • engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And [the angel]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”[12] Other mss add blessed are you among women 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.[13] 2 Sm 7:12–13 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.[14] Isaiah 9:6 LXX; Dn 7:14

The sixth month refers to the sixth (6th) month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Elizabeth, the mother to be of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of JESUS, are cousins. The angel Gabriel visited Mary where she lived and he either confirmed or informed her of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. As you recall Gabriel visited Zechariah while he was serving in the Holy of Holies in the temple.

The scripture tells us that Mary was a virgin and she lived in the small town of Nazareth. Being a virgin meant she had not had sex with anyone and not simply a young girl, although Mary was likely in her early teens. Mary was engaged to Joseph who is from the linage of King David but so was Mary.

Being engaged to each other meant they had agreed to marry but they had not married. Their engagement was similar to the engagements of today except with restrictions and expectations. Their engagement period could last for years depending upon the age of the couple. Two (2) fathers could agree for their very young children to be married when they became of age.

During the period of engagement the couple was considered to be married. The couple was expected to remain faithful to each other during this period. If the woman was sexually unfaithful, it was considered adultery. The woman and her partner in adultery could be stoned to death. The events about to unfold in Mary’s life carried serious consequences.

The angel Gabriel tells her not to be afraid because he has some good news for her. The Israelites were desperately waiting and hoping for the Messiah. They wanted deliverance from the rule of Rome. The young girls during that period longed to be the mother of the Messiah. Little did they know how that was to come about. They thought they would get married and their first born would have special abilities and would become the deliverer of the nation of Israel from their oppression.

When Gabriel greeted her she was puzzled and quizzical. She must have thought, “Why am I favored?” Gabriel tells her that her favor comes from GOD and she will conceive a child and she is to name the child JESUS. HE will be the Son of the Most High. Wow!!! Gabriel is telling her she will conceive the Messiah. She will be the one for this great honor. HIS rule will never end. This must have overwhelmed her. But she was young and hoped for such a happening but there was a major problem that had to be resolved. She wasn’t married.

Mary asks a very important question.

Let’s read Luke 1:34-38:

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”[15] Lit since I do not know a man 35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”[16] Gn 18:14 38 “I am the Lord’s • slave,”[17] Lit Look, the Lord’s slave said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Mary wanted and needed to know how this was going to happen since she had never had sex. She knew what caused children. She knew she was engaged to Joseph. Did this mean they needed to go from being engaged to being married? Her thoughts were, as with anyone, sex has to be involved so I need your guidance.

Gabriel tells her what she needs to know. The HOLY SPIRIT will come upon her and through HIS power she will conceive.

This is so beautiful for us to study now but it must have been shocking to Mary. We have the privilege of knowing all of the scripture.

The word “overshadowing” is the same word used in Genesis when GOD created earth.

Genesis 1:1-2:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was[1] Or When God began to create the sky and the earth, 2 the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The word “create” carries the idea of power and the creation of something from nothing. Only GOD can create something from nothing.

Let’s consider the word “hovering” which is used in Genesis 1:2. The word “overshadow” is also captured in the meaning of the word “hovering”. When GOD created the heavens and earth HE hovered or checked out every minute detail to ensure that all things needed to sustain earth and the inhabitants of earth were in place. When HE was satisfied that all was in place HE set the worlds into motion.

GOD gave life to Adam with HIS breath. GOD gave life to a sculptured body of dirt. By the same power GOD gave life to Mary’s egg/seed. JESUS had to be born of woman and not the result of the union between woman and man. This is captured in Genesis 3:14-15:

14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your • seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.[11] Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 3:8

The serpent is Satan in verse 14. In verse 15, GOD tells Satan there will be hostility between his seed and her seed. Her seed is JESUS. Satan would try to kill JESUS but HE will crush your head. JESUS is the victor. The fact that the seed of woman would defeat Satan is foretold in Genesis and comes about thousands of years later through GOD empowering the seed of woman which resulted in the birth of JESUS.

The contrasts between Satan and JESUS are staggering. These are just a few to get us thinking:
Darkness vs. Light
Despair vs. Hope
Condemnation vs. Forgiveness
Death vs. Life
Deceit vs. Truth
Defeat vs. Victory

In verse 36 Gabriel either informed Mary of Elizabeth’s pregnancy or reminded her of the power of GOD to create life which transcends human understanding or ability. Gabriel reminds Mary that nothing is impossible with GOD.

Mary responded with a resounding expression of complete faith and trust as the LORD’S bond slave. Mary considering herself as a bond salve of the LORD meant she was willing to be completely obedient to GOD’S request.

Mary’s response was an expression of faith, not only for GOD to bring it about but also to handle the details associated with HIS request.

Let’s read Luke 1:39-56:

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her,[18] Lit leaped in her abdomen or womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed![19] Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me![20] Lit in my abdomen or womb 45 She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Mary went to visit Elizabeth. This was a trip of 50-70 miles. Was Mary curious to check out what Gabriel had told her or did she need to talk with Elizabeth about her encounter with Gabriel? What ever the reason, Elizabeth was the first person to acknowledge the SAVIOR of the world. Elizabeth’s baby, John, leaped for joy in her body. The acknowledgement was a confirmation to Mary that what was spoken to her would be fulfilled. When her faith was confirmed Mary broke out in a song of praise.

Mary’s Praise or Magnificat
46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of[21] Or soul magnifies the Lord,[22] 1 Sm 2:1–10 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His • slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One[23] Ps 89:8; Zph 3:17 has done great things for me, and His name is holy. 50 His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. 51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,[24] Because He remembered His mercy; see Ps 98:3 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants[25] Or offspring; lit seed forever. 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Mary had already committed her body to serve GOD, now she verbally committed her soul and her spirit to GOD. This song reflects the wonderful relationship Mary had with GOD. This shows her heart and it shows why GOD found favor with her. Even though Mary was poor, GOD had found favor with her because she was rich spiritually. This is a message to us all. GOD looks upon our hearts and not the conditions or circumstances where we live.

When Mary refers to the Mighty One, she is referring to GOD’S awesome power to create. This is an expression of Mary’s belief and confidence in GOD. HE created the worlds; therefore, creating life in her body through a miracle is no mystery.

Mary’s song continues where she lists additional attributes of GOD.

Let’s read Luke 1:51-56:

51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; 52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy,[24] Because He remembered His mercy; see Ps 98:3 55 just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants[25] Or offspring; lit seed forever. 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Mary’s song is a clear expression of her knowledge of the scriptures and of GOD. This young lady not only knew the scriptures, she had absolute faith in GOD, HIS ability and power. Again, GOD found favor with her. HE knew her heart and the motive for her obedience. She was not only sexually pure but she also had a pure heart. GOD empowered her seed to produce GOD’S ONLY SON, JESUS. JESUS through HIS obedience to the FATHER would give HIS life for mankind to crush, once for all, the penalty of sin which is death as promised in Genesis 2:15-17:

15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,[16] Gn 3:1–2 17 but you must not eat[17] Lit eat from it from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”[18] Gn 3:5

The man and woman ate the forbidden fruit which brought the consequences GOD had promised – Death for mankind. When we accept JESUS as the Messiah and ask HIM to forgive us of our sins, HE does and we receive the miracle of rebirth in our spirit.

When we die and step out of our earth suit/body, we will be face to face with JESUS forever. All believers who have died will remain in heaven with GOD and JESUS until the FATHER gives JESUS permission to return to earth for the second time. At that moment all believers in heaven will return with HIM. They will follow immediately behind HIM. All believers who are alive will instantly receive their new glorified bodies and be raptured from earth. Our new glorified bodies will be just like JESUS’ glorified body.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth until she either birthed John or shortly before Elizabeth gave birth. Either way she left full of joy and the knowledge that she was pregnant with the Messiah. Her visit with Elizabeth confirmed many things in her mind. She knew GOD was in the business of miracles and was confident HE would work out all the details that a young engaged pregnant woman would face.

Mary was comforted by the miracle that GOD had performed in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth. All we need to do is look around us each day and we can see the handiwork and miracles of our LORD. May each of our hearts be filled with the joy of CHRIST in us. It all began with a tiny babe in a manger and HIS name is JESUS. May our LORD bless each of you richly from HIS storehouse. My prayer is that no one will tell HIM, sorry there is no room in my heart for YOU. HE died just for you. Invite HIM into your heart now. HIS present for you is forgiveness and eternal life.