Behold, The Bondservant of the Lord Luke 1:38

Secondary Lessons

The True Story?

False Teachings Through the Years • The “immaculate conception” of Mary • The “co-mediation” of Mary • The “perpetual virginity” of Mary • The “assumption” of Mary

The TRUE Story of Jesus Luke 1:26 ff

Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80 • The “late in life” birth of John the Baptizer

Luke 1:26-27 • 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, • 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

parthenos (par-then'-os) – one who has never been sexually active.

John 1:46 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him," Come and see."

Mary • A “promised” (betrothed) young woman • Mary was betrothed to Joseph (a descendant of King David) – Mary was of the Priestly lineage (1:5)

• Matt. 1:1–6 & Luke 3:32–34 are in agreement on the following line of descent: Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Perez by Judah Hezron Ram Amminadab Nahshon Salma Boaz, married Ruth Obed Jesse David

The Angel Begins the Conversation • 30 And 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 bear a son, and you shall name Him 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; • 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end."

“Favored” • “Receiving” God’s grace • A “recipient” of God’s unmerited favor • Mary received God’s grace, she cannot dispense it to others.

Accepting God’s Will • Mary didn’t see the movie • Mary hadn’t read Luke

What Mary Knew • She was unmarried. • Unmarried women do not have babies.

Heb 13:4 {Let} marriage {be held} in honor among all, and let the {marriage} bed {be} undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Mary’s Confusion • Luke 1:34 • 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" [LIT.: “since a man I do NOT know?”]

Gen. 4:1 (KJV) • 1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and {Adam} said, I have gotten a man(child) from the LORD.

Mary • God-honoring, God-fearing girl. • She NEVER “slept” with anyone, NOT EVEN HER BETROTHED. • She was a “virgin”.

Zacharias vrs. Mary • Zacharias struck “mute” for questioning angel • Mary not punished for questioning angel

Luke 1:35-37 • And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

"For nothing will be impossible with God."

The Betrothal • Happens in one’s “tween” years 12-15 • 1 year “waiting” period • Test of faithfulness

False Accusations • According to the Talmud, Mary was the “paramour” of a Roman soldier named Pandera. Jesus was the illegitimate child of this union.

False Accusations The Pharisees say to Jesus in John 8:41 – "You are doing the deeds of your father?" They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, {even} God."

Luke 1:38 •

And Mary said, (in the face of all that is to come) "Behold, the bondservant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your Word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary’s Answer and Mine • • • •

I am my Lord’s servant I am here to serve God’s will It’s His Will that matters If this is His Will, I am here to serve that Will.

The Big Picture 1. Mary is about to conceive the “Theos Anthropos”; the God-Man. 2. The same Holy Spirit that “moved over the deep” (Gen. 1:2) will be the father. 3. The child will be “born Holy.” [ Her Savior] 4. *Mary is maybe 14 years old.

Alternatives? • “Beamed down” like an angel, but then he’s not a man Born of human parents , but then He’s not God

Answer?

“Hypostatic Union” • The perfect integration of God and man in one person. Two natures in one. John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Luke 1:38-56 • Mary’s discussion with Elizabeth • John’s “leaping” in his mother’s womb (v.44) • Mary’s prayer (Multiple O.T. References)

If God Were Looking for Someone to Serve Him Today (and He is)… • Would He choose you? • Could He choose you?

The Answer of the Faithful • “Behold, the bondservant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your Word.” (Lk. 1:38)