December 18, 2017 (Monday)
This blog is based upon Luke 1:26-38, which tells us of the announcement by Gabriel to Mary of her selection as the special person who will give birth to the Savior. This is a summary of yesterday’s sermon at Bethel Baptist Church in Ingleside.
Imagine, as I am now doing, that someone asks me, “Why do you believe in Jesus? And asks you, too. I would be interested in knowing your answer. My answer is in the paragraphs that follow.
How does our belief in Jesus affect the way we live from day to day? Learning from the conversation between the angel, Gabriel, and Mary, we discover what that conversation reveals to us much about our own personal relationship to Jesus.
1. Jesus is the one who calms my fears. The angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid.” There has been an abundance of fear making the rounds here in Rockport where more than 700 businesses are now closed or destroyed by a powerful storm, where numerous families lost their homes and all their possessions, while dealing with family problems, emotional difficulties, sickness and death, and you name it. Talking about “life.” Listen to Jesus: “”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. .. learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28ff NIV).
2. Jesus is the one who gives grace to the humble. Just as divine grace was showered upon the very poor virgin Mary, so our Savior gives grace to everyone, no matter what their supposed rank in life may be. (Luke 1:26ff NIV).
3. Jesus is the one who saves me from my sin. An angel announced to Mary, you shall name your son “Jesus,” which means “Jehovah is my salvation,” for he shall save his people from their sins. (Luke 1:31 NIV).
4. Jesus is the one I admire and love. The angel said to Mary, “He (Jesus) shall be great.” The word, “great” means he deserves our admiration and praise. He has taught us how we can show our love: by loving others. When I say, “I love Jesus,” I am saying, “I love you,” whoever you are (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV).
5. Jesus is the one God sent to me. In John 3:16 the Bible tells us that “whoever believes” shall be saved. I am included in that “whoever.” So are you. Jesus came to you when he came as a baby to Bethlehem.
6. Jesus is the one who rules my life. He is my “king.” (Luke 1:32 NIV). The word, “king,” was understood by people to mean one with absolute authority over his subjects. We are the subjects. Jesus is our king.
7. Jesus is the one who will never leave me nor forsake me. He is my king and the Word of God declares, “He shall reign forever.” No Christian is on probation, awaiting affirmation at some future date. I gave my heart to Jesus (so did you, I hope) at a specific moment; at that precise moment I was saved eternally, never to be lost again. John 5:24 says we passed from death to life when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
I hope what I have said makes sense to you, and you are willing to accept Jesus yourself if you have not already done so. The season that celebrates the joy of salvation in the Savior who is “God with us” is a wonderful time to receive him into your heart.
Luke 1:26-38 NIV – The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.