Title: The Christmas Messenger (Luke 01:26-45)
Description Mary was a woman of the tribe of Judah, descended from David, and was a virgin. She had promised to marry a young man named Joseph of Nazareth. They were both very poor. The relationship between a betrothed man and a woman was almost irrelevant to say that they were wife and husband, even if they were not married.
When Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah the priest, mother of John the Baptist, and relative of the virgin Mary, was six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary of Nazareth and told her of her truth.
See texts 31-33. “Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will become 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) The house of Jacob forever. and his kingdom will never end.'" Mary must have been surprised to hear this news, "How can this be, since I have not yet known a man?" It is an absurd and absurd statement that cannot be understood by an innocent woman like Mary. People are always surprised when they hear something they didn't expect. You will also be surprised when things happen that go beyond the limits of your understanding or experience.
“Nothing is impossible with God” (37). Then Mary answered, "This body is your servant. May it be done to me as you have said." This is the attitude of submission, saying, "Lord, the servant girl is here; do your will."
After deciding to obey, Maria
We started our 4.5-day journey to visit the home of Zacharias, who lives in the mountainous area south of Jerusalem. When this story is told, Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias, accepts Mary as the mother of the Messiah.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb.” Mary truly became a favored person. His heart was infinitely peaceful. After accepting the will of the Lord, I could not be so at peace. Mary immediately began singing hymns of glory to God (Luke 1:46-56).
The Jews at that time had great contempt for the Nazarenes (John 1:45-46). But the gracious God chose a virgin from Nazareth in Galilee and made her the mother of the promised Messiah.
In response to Mary's question, "How can this be?" (34), the angel Gabriel explained the message of the mystery of Christmas. This is the mystery of Christmas.
1. He taught that Christmas is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:35" (35) The angel answered and said, 'The Holy Spirit will come on 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." Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, such a mysterious thing cannot happen.
There is a saying, "The Holy Spirit does not leave footprints on the sand." The Holy Spirit is called “Punyumahagios” in Greek. The word 'pneuma' means 'wind'. The wind and the Holy Spirit have one thing in common, so they are compared to wind.
Because Jesus was incarnated, He left footprints on the sand. But the Holy Spirit is like the wind, so it is intangible. The wind is insufferable, incapable of grasping, mysterious, yet real. But the effect of wind is great. Tornadoes in the United States have a truly terrifying power. Uproot trees, blow up houses and blow up cars. As such, the Holy Spirit has an intangible form, but those who receive the Holy Spirit change, receive power, and perform amazing works. The Holy Spirit does things that humans cannot imagine. One of those histories is the conception of a baby in Mary's body. It was so amazing that even Mary could not believe it, but this is the mystery of Christmas.
Such events are possible not only in the past, but also in the present. To those who believe in Jesus Christ, He has come to us as one who is with us forever. But for those who do not know Jesus, as soon as they open their hearts and receive Jesus, we help to have Jesus conceived in them. So, he regenerates life and shows the living reality of Jesus in the hearts of those who have been born again so that they can believe in the Lord. Even now, the Holy Spirit comes to the souls of the prodigal son and does the wonderful work of making them the sons of God. The Holy Spirit who worked at this time is called the Spirit of adoption.
When the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, comes into us, we immediately call God 'Abba, Father.' No one can say that Jesus is Lord except the Spirit of Christ. The fact that we call God Father means that Jesus is conceived in us. It is the Holy Spirit who does this wonderful work. The Spirit worked in Mary to give birth to a son. He told Mary to believe this. Let us also believe Hallelujah.
2. Jesus, the protagonist of Christmas, is the Holy One.
Verse 35, “The power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” you said He only took on a human body to come as a servant to serve humans. That is why even the place of his birth chose the manger. Only those who find Him as the humble but great Jesus will receive the power of God and have eternal life.
At 3,000 meters above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, there is a zone that is the limit of trees. The trees in this area are not able to grow upright due to the severe rain and wind, and are standing with a 'kneeling figure'.
Even when we climbed Daecheongbong, the highest peak in South Korea, the trees were not growing upright and were lying down. Because of heavy rain and wind.
Nevertheless, these trees fight harsh conditions and survive with a formidable endurance. But the surprising fact is that the world's most famous violin with the best resonant/clear and clear sound is made of this 'kneeling tree'.
Jesus lived just like this. He was the most holy, but he was treated as the most sinner. However, a tremendous amount of salvation and healing flowed out of him and saved the people of the world.
Jesus, who had a beautiful soul and had to give the exquisite melody of life, experienced countless hardships in this world. It is also the same with life. A person who has gone through all kinds of adversity and pain can make a nobler and more beautiful sound, and have strong faith. Whoever discovered the humble 'kneeling tree' of the Rocky Mountains could make the best violin ever.
Alexander Fleming was a British bacteriologist who made a significant contribution to mankind by discovering penicillin. One day people asked him, "Doctor, what is the greatest discovery you have ever made?" Dr. Fleming replied, "The greatest discovery of my life is that I am a sinner and that Jesus is my Savior."
Even now, the Lord asks us, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" and "Who do you say I am?" This is the most serious question of life, and only those who have found an answer to this question will not wander through life. “Who do you believe Jesus is?” “How much do I have and how much do I really know?” is not an important question. If you don't know Jesus Christ, you haven't found anything important yet.
Jesus was without sin. He is King of Kings. He has a name that is above all names. His name is represented by 'Immanuel'. This means that God is with us. He is the One who will save us from our sins. Jesus is a picture of the body of God. When we see Jesus, we see God. Jesus came in the perfect image of God.
3. It is possible through the power of the Word.
(37) For no word of God is impossible!' (38) Mary said, 'I am the maidservant of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word!' And the angel departed." Christ is the Word made flesh.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:17 "The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Jesus is the truth. He said that I am the way, the truth, and the life. God's Word makes everything possible. John 8:32 He said, "The truth sets us free." If you summarize the power of the Bible, you will believe that the work of Mary's nativity is possible.
The Word of the Bible is 1 Peter 1:23 for regeneration.
Psalm 107:20 “He has sent his word, and heals them, and delivers them from persecution.” Psalm 119:98 It is said that the Word gives wisdom to men (Psalm 119:98).
Romans 10:17 Growing Faith "Therefore faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Psalm 119:105, the compass that guides our way. John 17:17 cleanses and sanctifies the souls and bodies of the saints.
In Hebrews 4:12, he examines the thoughts and intentions of all people and makes them operate on and cut out what is wrong and wrong. It gives us comfort, strength, and comfort, and gives us joy so that we can live life happily. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Christ is born in our image.
The meaning of today's Christmas is the history of the conception and birth of Christ in the heart. That is why injustice and ugliness disappear from all over the world and justice and truth breathe.
Let us all exercise the light of a little Christ.