Mary
- Luke 1:26-56
- The angel __________ comes to Mary with a Word from __________.
- She is __________, engaged, to a man named Joseph
- She is said for be __________ by God
- Which says more of God than it does of Mary
- God’s will and desire is unconditional on our status
- Mary __________ this message
- It is not wrong to ask questions of __________
- It is wrong to question God’s __________
- The angel provides an answer
- The __________ __________ will do this. That’s it
- Mary, you do not need to do anything. God is going to complete this work.
- Just trust this Mary
- How is that the opposite of the example we saw from Zechariah?
__________________________________
- Nothing is impossible for God
- What situation in your life needs to hear that?
- __________, I am the __________ of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word
- Behold is an imperative statement – a mark of immediacy and importance.
- Servant literally means __________.
- Let it be to me according to your __________
- Eager to do __________ will
- Ready to fulfill __________ call
- Mary not only calls herself the slave of God
- She stops life in its tracks to follow the plan God had laid out.
- She arose and went with __________
- She got up and got busy with this plan.
- In Mary’s song, known as the __________, she exalts __________ alone for all He has done and will do:
- __________ has done great things
- Holy is __________ name
- His __________ is for those who fear him
- He has shown __________
- __________ has scattered the proud
- He has brought down the __________
- He has __________ those of humble estate
- He has filled the __________ with good things
- He has sent the __________ away empty
- __________ has helped his servant Israel
- He has remembered __________ mercy
- To God Mary attributes __________ glory.
- The same should be true of us that all of our lives and all we endeavor would be all for the glory of __________
- Colossians 3:23-25
Joseph
- Matthew 1:18-25
- Joseph has a __________
- He’s made up his mind on how to correctly handle this situation until __________ sends a new plan
- This situation, Joseph, is not as you perceive it
- There is more going on here
- __________God working something much larger that you, Mary and this little scandal
- Isaiah 7:14; Genesis 3:13-19; Revelation 12:12-17
- Joseph sits in the middle
- With a __________ from an angel that a prophecy will be fulfilled in his life, in his home and in his wife’s womb
- This one will be born who is the __________ of the world
- With a __________ from an angel that a prophecy will be fulfilled in his life, in his home and in his wife’s womb
- Joseph drops everything he has planned in order to follow the Word of __________
- As all do who truly encounter __________
- John 8:31-36
- Do we believe the truth of God enough to live by it?
- Joseph was faithful, selfless, committed to the __________ of God
- As all do who truly encounter __________
- This situation, Joseph, is not as you perceive it
- Luke 2:1-7
- From Galilee to Judea
- Nazareth to Bethlehem = __________ Miles
- Note the obedience of Joseph here
- He could have stayed home excused by his wife’s condition, the __________ too far, the __________ is too hard, she is too close
- But he did not.
- He did what he was __________ to do
- Prophecy is fulfilled
- The __________ is born
- One might wonder what Joseph thought
- She deserves more, this __________ should have better
- Yet marveling at what is taking place
- This fulfillment of __________
- The __________ is here
- Right here in my arms.
- One of those moments likely where time seems to stop.
- From Galilee to Judea
- Luke 2:16-19
- The __________ arrive and marvel
- Mary __________ this up
- Certainly Joseph stands in awe of all these things he sees and hears around the birth of this child.
- But these moments too are shattered by the ever present threat
- Of a sinful world bent on __________ God
- Matthew 2:13-23
- Up to two years later, still in __________
- The angel again visits __________ with instructions: it is time to leave. Now!
- __________ is out to kill Jesus
- Why would God allow the killing of innocent children
- And plot an escape to save Jesus instead of just stopping the murder all along?
- Joseph is __________
- Not questioning the __________ of God
- Even when it might not make sense to us, we remain faithful
- If you got real honest
- What would you say?
- God, I trust your Word. Please transform me
- God, that is neat but here is what I would rather do.
- What would you say?
Later References
- Luke 2:40-52 – That time they lost __________ for a few days
- John 2:1-5 The wedding at __________ & Jesus the homebrewer
- Mark 3:31-35 – Jesus redefines the __________
- John 19:23-28 – Mary at the __________
- Acts 1:12-14 Following the __________ and __________
- Mary and Joseph
- Regular people with plans for a life
- Devout in their religious and dedicated to keeping it
- Dramatically altered by the will of God
- And seemingly unshaken in their ability to follow it
- A mother who by any worldly standard was not ready
- A father of simple means
- In these two __________ found favor
- Not perfect
- Not prepared
- Not any of the things the __________ might count
- But they believed God and His Word
- As the years wore on they __________ raised this son
- What a legacy: Faithful through it all to the will of God
- What is your legacy?
What is our legacy as a church?