The Miracle of Christmas
God’s Instruments for His Glory
Luke 1:26-38
Over the past 22 years during Christmas I’ve felt a lot of pressure to preach something fresh, new, revolutionary, and earth shattering, or to present the Christmas story in a way that no one has ever thought about before. This year I want to simply tell you that Jesus Christ remained what He is (God), and became what He was not (man), so He could make us what we could never be (God’s children). I want to tell you that Jesus came from a long line of sinners with shame, and that there is hope for people who are dealing with shame. I want to tell you that Jesus entered into our brokenness, walked through our hurts, and is able to give hope to the weary and the hurting just like us. I want to tell you that God keeps His promises, and Jesus is proof. Merry Christmas Oak Hill Baptist Church. God loves you and so do I.
God’s Chosen Instruments (Luke 1:26-27) My grandfather could play the violin very well. In my hands a violin doesn’t sound good, but with his touch it sounded amazing! God has created us uniquely to be an instrument for His glory! In the Christmas story we see instruments chosen for God’s glory. The first person is Joseph, of the line of King David. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. God’s covenant with David is found in 2 Samuel 7:12-13 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” We don’t know a lot about Mary other than she’s Elizabeth’s cousin and that she’s engaged to Joseph. Elizabeth and Zechariah had been visited by Gabriel earlier that year and they too would experience a miracle of life to be born, John the Baptist. We read that they were engaged or betrothed. This was a very big deal. In the Hebrew culture, you couldn’t call off the engagement like you can in our culture. You have to have a divorce in order for the wedding not to happen.
God often chooses the most unlikely candidates and to be instruments for His glory! God also chooses the most unlikely places for His glory. I believe this is so that only God alone gets the glory! We don’t hear of Joseph much after he and Mary accidently leave Jesus at the temple do we? Nazareth was the Baxterville of insignificant towns, similar to Bethlehem. John 1:46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” That’s the beauty of our past, people should see a transformation from death to life, from self to Christ!
Gabriel’s Instructions (Luke 1:28-33) Gabriel instructs Mary in what is going to happen, just as prophecy states. Keep in mind that many of these prophecies were written 700 years before this event. Gabriel had broken 4 centuries of silence when he first came to Elizabeth and Zechariah, than months later he came to Joseph and Mary. 400 years of darkness was coming to a close with the miracle of the first Christmas, the gift of Christ!
Mary’s Insight of Her Inability (Luke 1:34) Mary was very aware of her inability. She wasn’t doubting God’s power, but knew it would have to be a miracle from Him. Notice that Gabriel doesn’t rebuke her, so you can tell that she believes but realizes that her as an instrument for God won’t rely on her, but on God.
Gabriel’s Indication of God’s Power (Luke 1:35-37) I love what Gabriel says, stated in verse 37, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” It’s the man who puts limits on God! Even the religious leaders! “Oh well, God couldn’t do this or that!” We know that is a completely foolish statement. God can do whatever He pleases! He is the Creator of everything! It is His great love for us that caused Him to be among us. If you have the most important message and the most important mission, you do it yourself don’t you? God came to be with us in Jesus Christ! You were created to be used by God as His instrument, for His glory!
Mary’s Faith in the Coming Immanuel (Luke 1:38) Mary’s response was very different than that of Zechariah. Zec questioned Gabriel and was made mute. We may question, run, even doubt God’s will for our lives, but in the end, we must place faith in what Christ has come to do! Jesus Christ remained what He is (God), and became what He was not (man), so He could make us what we could never be (God’s children). Have faith in the Christmas miracle of Jesus Christ, you were created to be His instrument for God’s glory!