December 24, 2023
Luke 1:26-38
“Kingdom Come”
Service Overview: Christmas is not just about a baby born in a manger, but about a kingdom that would be established because of what this baby came to accomplish. Priceless gift indeed!
Memory Verse for the Week:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Nazareth was a “nonplace.” It was not even mentioned in the Old Testament or in Josephus’s writings or in the rabbinical writings (either talmudic or midrashic). It wasn’t until 1962 that a pre-Christian mention of Nazareth was found at Caesarea Maritima.1 The later prominence of the town is a result of the Christian gospel. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 32)
- The people in Judah disdained the Jews in Galilee and claimed they were not “kosher” because of their contacts with the Gentiles there (Matt. 4:15). They especially despised the people from Nazareth (John 1:45–46). But God in His grace chose a girl from Nazareth in Galilee to be the mother of the promised Messiah! (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate, 17)
- In Judaism, “virgins” were young maidens, usually fourteen or younger. The term Luke uses here for “virgin” also indicates that she had not yet had sexual relations with a man (1:34-35). (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: NT, 55)
- Mary’s status as a virgin is accented by its dual affirmation in v 27, and this has reminded many interpreters of the prophetic word of Isa 7:14. (Joel B. Green, New International Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, 172)
- What do we know about Mary? She was a Jewess of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of David, and a virgin (Isa. 7:14). She was engaged to a carpenter in Nazareth named Joseph (Matt. 13:55), and apparently both of them were poor (Lev. 12:8; Luke 2:24). Among the Jews at that time, engagement was almost as binding as marriage and could be broken only by divorce, to fact, the man and the woman were called “husband” and “wife” even before the marriage took place (compare Matt. 1:19 and Luke 2:5). Since Jewish girls married young, it is likely that Mary was a teenager when the angel appeared to her. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: NT, 139)
- Luke had two purposes in writing this book. One was to confirm the faith of Theophilus, that is, to show that his faith in Christ rested on firm historical fact (1:3-4). His other purpose was to present Jesus as the Son of Man, who had been rejected by Israel. Because of this rejection, Jesus was also preached to Gentiles so that they could know the kingdom program of God and attain salvation. (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary NEW TESTAMENT, 199)
What’s so important about Mary’s encounter?
- It highlights God’s commitment to fulfill his promise.
(vv. 27, 31, 33 | 2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:3; Isaiah 7:14; 9:7; Jeremiah 33:17; Daniel 2:44; 7:14, 27; Micah 4:7; Hebrews 1:8)
The story of Jesus’ birth and childhood is a celebration of God’s love for Israel and, indeed, for all humanity. This love is manifest most brilliantly in the repeated declaration of the eschatological fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption. (Joel B. Green, New International Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, 138)
The story of Christmas celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promises and the incarnation of God in human flesh. That meaning is memorably captured by John 3:16. God loves, and God gives in order to save… It meant giving rather than getting, and Christ gave until He was empty; but His obedience led to an empty tomb and ultimate vindication that will culminate when throngs in heaven and on earth and under the earth, not just a host of angels, will bow down and sing glory in the highest to the One whose name is above every name. (David Garland, Luke, 129)
- It reveals God’s love by becoming incarnate.
(Isaiah 7:14; John 1:1-51; 3:16; 10:30; Galatians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; 1:19; 1 Timothy 3:16)
Note that Gabriel affirmed both the deity and the humanity of Jesus. As Mary’s son, He would be human; as Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), He would be the Son of God (Luke 1:35). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate, 18)
The fact that her Baby was to be called the “Son of the Most High” pointed to His equality with Yahweh. In Semitic thought a son was a “carbon copy” of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities (e.g., the Heb. trans. “son of wickedness” in Ps. 89:22 [KJV] means a wicked person). (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, 205)
- It proclaims God’s intent to establish a forever kingdom.
(vv. 31-33 | Psalm 145:13; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44; Luke 1:33; Romans 14:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:20; Hebrews 12:28)
The concept of present and future stages in the fulfillment of prophecy naturally includes the idea of the kingdom of God with its present or “inaugurated” aspects and its later consummation. (Walter L. Liefeld, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Vol. 8: Luke, 814)
We pray that the Kingdom of God will rule in our hearts and once again transform the places in which we live. That will happen only by knowing and living the faith. (Charles Colson, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters, 30)
Conclusion… How does a passage like this give us hope this Christmas? By reminding us to…
A. …trust God’s promise.
(Psalm 9:10; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 41:10; 43:2; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 1 John 1:9)
Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us. (Elisabeth Elliot, The Music of His Promises, 63)
God’s promises do not depend upon my feelings; they rest upon His integrity. I may fail in my promises, but He does not break His. (R. C. Sproul, One Holy Passion, 38)
B. …rest in God’s love.
(Zephaniah 3:17; John 3:16; 15:13; Romans 5:8; 8:37-39; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 4:8)
This King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures. (Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, 36)
Those of us who have experienced the birth of Christ within us have also experienced the presence of God and the miraculous life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as he has come upon us, bestowing life within. Jesus said, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Paul likewise said, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). And if the Spirit has come upon us and has given us new life, we know it! “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 38)
C. …rejoice in the king and kingdom to which we now belong.
(Daniel 2:44; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:32; John 18:36-37; Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 12:28)
The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it. (D.A. Carson, Matthew, 328)
The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 154)
Seek first the kingdom of wealth and you’ll worry over every dollar. Seek first the kingdom of health and you’ll sweat every blemish and bump. Seek first the kingdom of popularity, and you’ll relive every conflict. Seek first the kingdom of safety, and you’ll jump at every crack of the twig. But seek first His kingdom and you will find it. On that, we can depend and never worry. (Max Lucado, Fearless, 51)
He became what we are that He might make us what He is. (Athanasius)
Gospel Connection…
The greatest gift ever was the gift of the incarnation; God in human form. In him, we’ve been given a perfectly-lived life, a willing substitute for sin, and a righteous king for all who will but come.
(Daniel 2:44; Matthew 2:2; 6:33; Luke 12:32; Hebrews 5:9; 12:28; Revelation 11:15)
Jesus is the suffering Servant-Messiah who goes to His triumph by way of the Cross. But the triumph is real and the glory is certain because the suffering death is effectual to break the power of Satan’s grip and liberate men from his servitude. The glory of Jesus is the glory of a reigning King who is also a Servant. (Ruben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions: Luke, 18)
We must always remember that union with Christ is possible because of the Son’s descent to earth, not because of our ascent into heaven. The basis of our union with Christ is Christ’s union with us in the incarnation. He became one with us so that we might become one with Him. (Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, 98)
Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies a living sacrifice. (Vance Havner, Christianity Today, v. 31, n. 18)
Quotes to note…
Put all this together — the conception of a baby, the power of God, and the challenge to all human empires — and we can see why the story is so explosive. Perhaps that’s one reason why it’s so controversial. Perhaps some of the fuss and bother about whether Mary could have conceived Jesus without a human father is because, deep down, we don’t want to think that there might be a king who could claim this sort of absolute allegiance? (N.T. Wright, Luke for Everyone, 12)
[Mary] unreservedly embraces the purpose of God, without regard to its cost to her personally. Her response is exemplary, demonstrating how all Israel ought to respond to God’s favor. (Joel B. Green, New International Commentary on the New Testament: Luke, 177)
For Luke the theologian, Mary is a fine example of belief and discipleship. She is a model Christian. Her obedience made her at the same time the mother and a disciple of Christ (cf. 8:19–21; 11:27, 28). She would wait in prayer with the faithful disciples after Jesus’ ascension for the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). As a model for those who experience the birth of Christ in their lives, she has one word for them: submission. We cannot experience Christ and his ongoing power without totally surrendering ourselves to him. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 39)
God chose this peasant girl to fulfill the hope of every devout Jewish woman to be the mother of the Deliverer. Her blessedness consisted in this, that, having been chosen as a special instrument of God, she believed the promise and humbly submitted to the divine purpose. (Ruben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions: Luke, 26)
Jesus brings the new order. John the Baptist may be the greatest of the Old, but the least in the Kingdom is greater (7:24-28) because in Jesus the promised salvation has in fact come and in Him the kingdom of God has become present reality. (Ruben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions: Luke, 14)
The kingdom of God is for the spiritually sick who want to be healed, the spiritually corrupt who want to be cleansed, the spiritually poor who want to be rich, the spiritually hungry who want to be fed, the spiritually dead who want to be made alive. It is for ungodly outcasts who long to become God’s own beloved children. (John MacArthur, Matthew 8-15, 67)
The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation. (J.I. Packer, Christian Reader, v. 33, n. 6)
The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world. (Stuart Briscoe, Meet Him at the Manger, Christianity Today, v. 41, n. 14)
