24-0609p Transcript

Preacher: Jim Lokenbauer

(0:41) Thank you, John. Well, good evening. I hope everybody took advantage of this beautiful day. (0:50) Got out in the sunshine.

(0:53) Well, this evening I’m bringing you the lesson.

(0:57) And occasionally I’ll highlight a character from the Bible to present the lesson. (1:04) And a lot can be learned from studying the lives of believers who’ve gone on before us. (1:11) The writer of the Hebrew letter in chapter 11 shines a spotlight on many believers (1:17) who have gone on before us to illustrate their faith.

(1:23) And so today I want to examine what the Bible has to tell us about Mary, the mother of Jesus. (1:30) If you think about it, Mary would fit perfectly in the Hall of Fame of Faith in the Hebrew letter in chapter 11. (1:40) Here’s the amazing thing to me and something that I notice when doing such a character study.

(1:47) God uses normal, everyday people to accomplish his will. (1:54) On the surface, Mary, to the casual observer, would see her and might say, (2:01) now there’s a typical Israeli girl. (2:04) She’s happy.

She’s a good girl who is obedient to her mom and dad. (2:08) She’s helpful to her family and is a good believer in God from a very young age. (2:14) So she could be one of those thousands of young ladies who could have this said about them in the Holy Land.

(2:22) And that is one of the things I feel is awesome about God. (2:26) He sees us. He knows each one of us.

(2:32) We are all significant in some way to him. (2:36) We all have a place and a role in the family of God. (2:40) And God plans each one of us individually our future.

(2:47) He knows everything about us. (2:49) He knows what we’ll do, what we’ll say, where we’ll go, how we’ll glorify him, (2:54) if we will fail a test, if we’ll pass a test. (2:59) God sees us.

(3:02) And isn’t that what Hagar said about the angel of the Lord? (3:07) Early on in Genesis when she ran away from Sarah, (3:14) he found Hagar and Ishmael wandering in the desert. (3:21) And Hagar sent her son away about an arrow’s shot away (3:25) because she thought he was going to die of thirst. (3:30) And as she was waiting for what she thought was the inevitable to happen, (3:34) the angel of the Lord said to her, (3:38) Hagar, what are you doing here? (3:42) And she explained that she was mistreated by Sarah and she ran away.

(3:48) And the angel of the Lord, who is the second figure of the Godhead, (3:54) told her that she should go back to Sarah. (4:00) And then he blessed Ishmael and told the future about him. (4:07) Some of it flattering, some of it not.

(4:10) He would be a wild ass among his brothers. (4:15) But 12 tribes would come from him, 12 kings. (4:21) So that was good news to her.

(4:24) And after this event, she said, (4:30) You are the El Roy, R-O-I. (4:35) And that means the God who sees. (4:41) In her eyes, she was insignificant.

(4:45) She was just a slave girl to Abraham and Sarah. (4:50) And yet God saw them and gave her good news and encouragement. (5:04) Jeremiah the prophet said of God, (5:06) The word of the Lord came to me saying, (5:10) Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

(5:12) Before you were born, I set you apart. (5:15) I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (5:19) God had a plan for this typical young Israeli boy (5:24) in his service of prophets.

(5:28) The boy said, Ah, sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak. (5:32) I am only a child. (5:34) But the Lord said to me, Do not say I am only a child.

(5:40) You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. (5:46) Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, (5:52) declares the Lord. (5:56) Doesn’t King David also speak of God’s foreknowledge? (6:01) In Psalm 139 he says, (6:05) For you created my innermost being.

(6:08) You knit me together in my mother’s womb. (6:10) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (6:15) Your works are wonderful.

(6:16) I know that full well. (6:17) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. (6:23) When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (6:27) your eyes saw my unformed body.

(6:30) All the days ordained for me were written in your book. (6:35) Before one of them came to be, God saw David. (6:42) Even in the womb, God saw Elohim.

(6:48) God saw these two young Israeli boys and knew their future (6:52) and knew how they would be faithful to him. (6:56) David was a shepherd boy, the youngest of his brothers. (7:00) And when Samuel, the prophet, went to anoint a new king over Israel, (7:05) because Saul was self-destructed, (7:09) he was told to go to the house of Jesse.

(7:11) He goes in, he sees all those strapping young men that looked handsome, (7:17) and the oldest son who was tall and handsome, kingly looking. (7:23) Samuel assumed, ah, this is the one. (7:26) And he goes to anoint him, and God told Samuel, (7:29) no, do not anoint that one.

(7:32) There’s another that I have selected. (7:34) And so Samuel asked Jesse, don’t you have another son? (7:41) Well, yeah, he’s the littlest guy, and he’s out shepherding right now. (7:45) Bring him in.

(7:46) And he sees David, and God says, that’s the one. (7:50) Anoint him. (7:50) And so Samuel anointed David king of Israel.

(7:56) And God said that he doesn’t look at people the way man looks at people. (8:02) Man looks at the outward appearance. (8:05) God said, I look at the heart.

(8:09) So our great God and Savior saw Mary before she was even born. (8:16) He saw her, and he had a plan for her. (8:21) Out of all the little girls of Israel, (8:23) he picked Mary for probably the most important role a woman could possibly have, (8:34) to bring Messiah into the world.

(8:39) How awesome is that? (8:44) And in Isaiah 7.14, thanks, John, for reading that, (8:48) therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. (8:51) The virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a son, (8:56) and will call him Immanuel. (8:59) God could very easily have been precise and gave Mary’s name, her parents' name, (9:06) her address, everything.

(9:07) But God is wise. (9:09) If he gives too much information out, his enemies would seek to destroy that little girl, (9:18) would kill her before she had a chance to bring Messiah into the world. (9:23) So God was very clever in how he dealt with humans.

(9:28) Many of the prophecies were point blank. (9:30) He has called people by name. (9:33) He has called Cyrus the king of the Medes to be king, (9:40) who would set the captive Israelites free from Babylon and rebuild the temple.

(9:47) Called them by name. (9:50) A hundred years before it happened, he speaks in parables and mysteries. (10:00) That’s our God.

(10:05) So he’s deliberately ambiguous at times. (10:08) He did tell Micah to share with Israel where Mary would give birth to the Savior. (10:15) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, (10:21) out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, (10:25) whose origins are from old, from ancient times.

(10:31) He also foretold where Mary, Joseph, and the Messiah child would live. (10:37) The Messiah would teach there as well, enlightening the people about spiritual things. (10:42) In Isaiah 9, 1 and 2, he says, (10:46) Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who are in distress.

(10:51) In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, (10:56) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles. (11:01) By the way of the sea along the Jordan, (11:04) the people walking in darkness have seen a great light (11:08) on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light as dawn. (11:16) And that’s talking about Jesus when he would be teaching in Galilee.

(11:22) When you consider what Isaiah said about the child Mary would bear, (11:28) being called Emmanuel, which means God with us, (11:33) you realize that the child is God, but in the flesh. (11:37) This begs the question then, is Mary the mother of Jesus, (11:43) or is Mary the mother of God? (11:47) A lot of people get the answer wrong, but the answer is obvious to us Christians. (11:54) Mary, being human, is the woman who gave Jesus his human nature.

(11:59) Holy Spirit, being God, is who gave Jesus his God nature. (12:06) He was both man and God in the flesh. (12:13) It would be incorrect to say that Mary was the mother of God, (12:17) because that would make her God as well, or even above God, (12:23) making null and void the nature of God being self-existent and eternal.

(12:29) So just on those points alone it’s easy to show (12:33) that those who believe that Mary is the mother of God is a false teaching. (12:40) Some religions have made that mistake and placed her on equal status with God. (12:46) They accept her this way and even pray to her, (12:50) which makes her a false god, and them pagans, (12:53) and they stand condemned if they don’t repent (12:56) because they are practicing another gospel (13:00) that Paul warns people about.

(13:05) And they think they’re giving her great honor by doing so, (13:09) but they’re doing the opposite. (13:10) They are dishonoring Mary. (13:15) The child Mary carried had the complete nature of the Godhead in him, (13:21) and he comes from the bloodline of King David, (13:24) as the gospel genealogies prove.

(13:28) And Isaiah 9, chapter 9, verses 6 and 7 says, (13:33) For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, (13:37) and the government will be on his shoulders, (13:40) and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, (13:49) Prince of Peace. (13:52) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (13:55) And he will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, (14:00) establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness (14:05) from that time on and forever.

(14:08) The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (14:15) So God foretold his nature. (14:20) And this child was in Mary.

(14:24) Mary’s child would grow and establish a kingdom that would last forever, (14:29) and that’s his church. (14:31) God promised this to King David in 2 Samuel 7.16, (14:36) that your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. (14:41) Your throne will be established forever.

(14:45) And Daniel the prophet in Daniel 2.44 said, (14:49) In the time of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (14:52) that will never be destroyed, nor will be left to another people. (14:58) It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, (15:02) but it itself will endure forever. (15:07) So let’s read about Mary and her life.

(15:09) We’ll start in Luke 1, 26 through 38, and I’m going to be doing a lot of reading. (15:17) So just sit back, try and listen rather than keep up. (15:24) Luke 1, 26 through 38.

(15:27) In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, (15:34) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. (15:40) The virgin’s name was Mary. (15:42) The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored.

(15:46) The Lord is with you. (15:49) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. (15:56) But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary.

(15:59) You have found favor with God. (16:02) You will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Yeshua. (16:10) Our Bible says Jesus.

(16:12) But I gave you his Hebrew name that they actually used. (16:18) I’ll use Jesus now on. (16:20) I just wanted to make that point.

(16:22) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. (16:26) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, (16:30) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. (16:34) His kingdom will never end.

(16:36) How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin? (16:40) The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, (16:44) and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. (16:48) So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. (16:55) Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age.

(17:01) And she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month, (17:06) for nothing is impossible with God. (17:09) I am the Lord’s servant, Mary answered. (17:13) May it be to me as you have said.

(17:16) Then the angel left her. (17:19) As you can tell by her conversation with Gabriel, Mary is not a little child. (17:26) I would venture to say that she’s a young woman who is as sharp as a tack.

(17:33) She believed and accepted her role as the mother of the Messiah (17:37) with honor, dignity, maturity, and obedience. (17:43) Unlike her relative, Zechariah, who questioned Gabriel (17:48) and kind of got Gabriel’s dandruff up if he had dandruff. (17:53) And he said, I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God Almighty.

(17:59) Don’t question me. (18:01) You’re not going to speak another word because of your unbelief. (18:06) And he remained silent until the birth of his son, and he named him John.

(18:14) So unlike her relative, what an attitude this young woman had. (18:20) I mean, God picked a really good young lady. (18:26) She believed and accepted her job.

(18:32) She also was eager to run down to Judea, traveled there to see Elizabeth. (18:42) And that was pretty far away. (18:44) A little girl wouldn’t be allowed to do that on her own, (18:46) but she went from Galilee through Samaria into the Jordan, (18:52) the hill country of Jordan, to visit her family.

(18:56) And she stayed there for six months, Luke 1, 39 through 45. (19:02) At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, (19:08) and she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. (19:13) When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb, (19:17) and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.

(19:20) And remember, Zechariah was told that that baby, John, (19:26) would be filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb. (19:33) So here Holy Spirit takes control of mom, an old lady by the way, (19:39) and in a loud voice she exclaimed, (19:41) Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. (19:45) But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (19:51) As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, (19:54) the baby in my womb leapt for joy.

(19:58) Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. (20:04) Wow, what kind and reassuring words for Mary to hear. (20:11) There was no way Elizabeth could have known Mary was pregnant with Yahweh’s Messiah, (20:21) and know all the details of the visit of Gabriel the angel, except by the Holy Spirit.

(20:29) So we’ll continue in Luke 46 through 56, (20:32) And Mary said, My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (20:41) for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servants. (20:46) From now on all generations will call me blessed, (20:50) for the Mighty One has done great things for me. (20:53) Holy is His name.

(20:55) His mercy extends to those who fear Him. (20:58) From generation to generation, He has performed mighty deeds with His arm. (21:04) He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

(21:08) He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. (21:13) He has filled the hungry with good things, but He has sent the rich away empty. (21:18) He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever.

(21:25) Even as He said to our fathers, Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home. (21:37) This is what’s known as Mary’s Magnificat. (21:42) It was her song.

It was her praise to God. (21:46) She wasn’t a little child. A little child couldn’t speak like that.

(21:51) Although, I don’t know, that would be maybe not giving the Holy Spirit credit, (21:54) because I’m sure the Holy Spirit moved her to say all that. (22:00) But nonetheless, I’m sure she was a young woman at this time. (22:05) And she stayed there for three months.

(22:09) So, with Elizabeth being in her sixth month, she probably stayed until John’s birth. (22:16) And then once Elizabeth got settled in being a new old mom, you know, she left for home. (22:25) So, when she gets home, I’m sure people might have noticed a baby bump.

(22:35) Well, Mary, you’ve gained a little weight. (22:39) Elizabeth must have fed you well. (22:44) But, let’s go to Matthew 1, 18-25.

(22:48) Now, this is how the birth of Jesus came about. (22:52) His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. (22:56) But before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

(23:04) But Joseph, her husband, he was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace. (23:14) He had in mind to divorce her quietly. (23:20) So, I’m sure Joseph noticed that baby bump.

(23:27) But perhaps he didn’t receive that good news that Mary got from Gabriel yet. (23:34) But after he had considered this, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, (23:40) Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, (23:45) because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (23:50) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, (23:54) because he will save his people from their sins.

(23:59) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. (24:04) The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, (24:07) and will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. (24:13) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him, (24:17) and took Mary home as his wife.

(24:20) But he had no union with her until she gave birth to the son. (24:25) And he gave him the name Jesus. (24:32) So, Joseph got a visit from Gabriel.

(24:37) God knew his heart, knew he was a righteous man, (24:41) and knew what he was thinking about doing. (24:46) He didn’t want to shame Mary, so he was a pretty decent guy. (24:51) When somebody is betrothed back in Jesus' day to each other, (24:57) it was as good as marriage.

(25:00) And so he would have actually had to have filled out a certificate of divorce. (25:07) And he also, if he wasn’t a righteous man, and he became self-righteous and indignant, (25:14) he could have had her stoned if he wanted, but he didn’t. (25:19) He was a righteous man.

(25:21) He was thinking about her welfare. (25:24) So God wanted to set the record straight, and sent Gabriel. (25:30) And to Joseph’s credit, he too, being a righteous man, (25:35) got up and did exactly what that angel told him to do, (25:39) and took Mary home as his wife.

(25:41) Now, jumping to Luke 2, 1 through 39. (25:46) Now, in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus (25:49) that all of the world should be enrolled. (25:52) This was the first enrollment made when Guinereus was governor of Syria.

(25:59) All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. (26:04) Joseph also went up from Galilee out to the city of Nazareth, (26:09) into Judah, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, (26:14) because he was of the house and family of David, (26:17) to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him. (26:22) As wife.

(26:24) His wife was pregnant. (26:26) While they were there, the day came for her to give birth. (26:30) She gave birth to her firstborn son.

(26:33) She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, (26:37) because there was no room for them at the inn. (26:41) And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby, (26:44) keeping watch over their flocks at night. (26:48) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, (26:52) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, (26:55) and they were terrified.

(27:01) But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. (27:04) I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (27:10) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.

(27:14) He is Christ the Lord. (27:16) This will be a sign for you. (27:18) You will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.

(27:24) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared, (27:27) with the angel praising God, saying, (27:30) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men, (27:35) on whom his favor rests. (27:38) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, (27:41) the shepherds said to one another, (27:44) Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, (27:47) which the Lord has told us about. (27:50) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph (27:53) and the baby who was lying in the manger.

(27:57) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning (28:00) what had been told them about this child, (28:03) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (28:08) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (28:16) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God (28:20) for all the things they had heard and seen, (28:23) which were just as they had been told.

(28:26) On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, (28:31) he was named Jesus, (28:34) the name given by the angel before he had been conceived. (28:42) When the time of their purification, (28:44) according to the law of Moses, had been completed, (28:48) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (28:54) as it is written in the law of the Lord. (28:57) Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord (29:01) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord, (29:07) a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

(29:13) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, (29:16) who was righteous and devout. (29:19) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, (29:23) and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (29:26) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit (29:29) that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

(29:35) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. (29:38) When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him (29:43) what the custom of the law required, (29:45) Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, (29:49) Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, (29:52) now you can dismiss your servant in peace, (29:56) for my eyes have seen your salvation, (30:00) which you have prepared in the sight of all people, (30:03) a light for revelation to the Gentiles (30:06) and for glory to your people Israel. (30:10) The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

(30:15) Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, (30:18) This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel (30:24) and to be a sign that will be spoken against, (30:28) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed (30:32) and a sword will pierce your own soul too. (30:38) There was also the prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phenuel, (30:42) of the tribe of Asher. (30:44) She was very old.

(30:45) She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage (30:49) and then was a widow until she was 84. (30:53) She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, (30:58) fasting and praying, coming up to them at that very moment. (31:03) She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child (31:07) to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

(31:12) When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law of the Lord, (31:17) they returned to Galilee to their own hometown of Nazareth. (31:25) Wow, God is so good. (31:27) He also sent shepherds and Simeon and Anna to both Mary and Joseph (31:36) to confirm what the angel had told them.

(31:41) That probably put such peace in their hearts (31:47) to know that God was behind all this (31:51) and that the Savior was coming into the world (31:56) and how proud and joyful both Mary and Joseph (32:02) must have felt to be the parents of Israel’s Messiah, (32:11) Messiah to the whole world, to the Gentiles too. (32:16) And we have the luxury of looking at these events as recorded in history (32:20) and can read and discuss them at our own leisure (32:23) and marvel at how God is so amazing (32:27) that it’s providence brought all of that about at the right time. (32:33) All of the ducks having to be in row in order for all this to take place.

(32:40) God is awesome. (32:43) And all of these special miracles and events (32:46) were not only to inform the people of Israel that their Savior and King was born, (32:51) but they gave Mary and Joseph that wonderful validation (32:56) that their baby was a miracle baby (33:01) and everything was true about him. (33:03) It would give them a sense of confidence (33:06) that God would accomplish all that he said he would do (33:10) and continue to do.

(33:12) And that, whatever he required of them, (33:16) they would be able to do with his strength and divine guidance (33:20) and protection. (33:22) God picked out a good young woman to be the mother to his son. (33:28) And Mary and Joseph were righteous people.

(33:32) You could see them fulfilling every point of the law (33:36) concerning their new son. (33:39) So they were a holy people. (33:41) And they brought Jesus up that way.

(33:44) And we’re going to see in part two of my lesson, (33:47) the next time I speak, (33:49) the conclusion of Mary, the mother of Jesus. (33:53) So many prophecies were fulfilled in these verses. (33:57) And Jesus would say to the Pharisees (33:59) that he didn’t come to destroy the law, (34:03) but to fulfill it.

(34:06) Jesus led a sinless life. (34:09) And that showed the world his righteousness. (34:13) And his righteousness is a gift that we all can share (34:17) if we put our faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

(34:23) So if you need the prayers of the saints who believe in this Savior, (34:28) we’ll be glad to pray for you. (34:30) Just let whatever your needs be known, (34:33) and we’ll assist you. (34:35) That’s the invitation.

(34:38) So let’s stand and sing to God. (34:39)