DR. MICHAEL A PROUD, JR.

DATE:  December 26, 2010 am

TEXT:  Luke 1:26-38

TITLE:  A Lesson from Christmas

Sermon:  Throughout the Advent Season we did not really get to explore what we traditionally refer to as the Christmas Story.  We celebrated it in many different ways, through the presentation of Kids Alive and then through the wonderful Choir presentation last week.  But as yesterday was Christmas, and it is still fresh on our minds, I would like to walk us through a significant element of the Christmas story and that is the pronouncement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary.   

The Christmas story is probably the most familiar story known to the Church.  In fact, it may even be the most familiar story in our country.  I mean, Christians and non-Christians alike have grown up singing Christmas songs such as "O' Little Town of Bethlehem,"  and "Silent Night,"  and "Away in a Manger."  Each  of these songs point the way to the Christ child, each of them speak of God's special gift to humanity, but not every body has grasped the meaning of the season.  And that is really when Christmas takes on significance, when one grasps the true meaning of the season.  But I'm not telling any of you anything new, you already know that.  In fact, there aren't many of you here this morning that are not acutely aware of the story of Christmas and its meaning.  That's one of the reasons you are here today.  I'd even be willing to venture that there are very few details about the Christmas story, especially from Luke's Gospel, that have escaped your attention.  You know about Zechariah and the angel, and how Elizabeth in her old age conceived a son.  You have heard for years and years about how the angel Gabriel made his announcement to Mary, and how that announcement held for her severe ramifications.  I mean you already know about the scandal that would brew, for she was betrothed--but would be found to be with child.  No doubt you have even had preachers share all the dreadful details about what could have happened to Mary simply because she said, “Yes” to the Lord.   The shepherds, the camels, the wise men and the angels.  All part of a story so familiar, it's hard to hear anything new.

In fact, one of the most difficult things about preaching the Christmas message is that you have heard it all before.  Its often difficult to share about something so familiar because our minds run to the conclusion so quickly, that it is possible we miss important details along the way.  So this morning, what I want to do is look at one of those important details found in one simple statement made by Mary.  You have seen this statement before and I have seen this statement before; but if we can grasp its simple meaning--it is a statement that can become revolutionary for us.  When Gabriel had finished his message, Mary simply responded (v. 38), "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word."  Now, I know what you are thinking, "Revolutionary?  I already knew that."  Ah yes, you may have seen it before, but have you truly grasped its meaning?

In Mary's response she was saying, "I am the Lord's, and will do what ever he says, No Matter What!"  Hear that again, "I am the Lord's, and will do what ever he says, no matter what."  Did you realize that to say, "No Matter What" to the Lord, is to say goodbye to all control over your life?  Did you also know that this is what God expects you and I to say to him each and every day of our lives?  And did you further know, that saying "No Matter What" is the ONLY answer that the Lord wants to hear from His people?  Ah yes, you may know it, but have you truly grasped its meaning?

It want to take you to another example of people who had said, “No matter what” to the Lord.  Turn with me to Matthew 4:18-22...READ. These were the first of Jesus’ disciples.  The Lord called them simply saying, “Follow Me.”  He did not tell them where He was going nor did He define for them what “following” would entail.  Jesus called and these men said “Yes.”  They left their families, they dropped their nets, and they followed the Lord wherever He went. 

Now turn with me a bit further to Matthew 9:9...READ. As Jesus approached Matthew sitting at his station collecting taxes Jesus offered the same call to this man that he offered to the fisherman earlier, “Follow Me.”  Once again I want you to notice there was no elaboration on Jesus’ part as to what this call would mean.  He simply said, “Follow Me,” and Matthew did.  He got up, and by doing so, he said, “Yes.” to the Lord. 

Now, we are not told about the specific details of the other disciples who were called, but we have no reason to believe the Lord would have changed His approach.  He made a declaration and the twelve men who would be His disciples all responded in the same way.  Their “Yes,” to the Lord was an unconditional response.  It was a “Come what may, I will follow.”  Even Judas, though he would eventually betray Jesus, at this point followed. 

But here is what I am trying to get at, to say “Yes” to the Lord is both a fearful and a wonderful thing.  For when you say “Yes,” to the Lord, you are saying to Him, “Do with me as you desire.”  And when you say “Yes,” He does exactly that.

I want you to look at Matthew 10:1.  There must have been some excitement among the twelve about the power which Jesus gave them to exercise authority over demons and diseases.  There must have been a sense of affirmation, perhaps even a feeling of elitism; for Jesus did not give this authority to just anyone, He gave it to them.  But, here is where the excitement must have run out, for Jesus never gives out tools just to have and store away.  What He gives, He expects His people to use.  In verses 5-15 Jesus sent His disciples into a hostile world and gave them the command to preach and to trust.  They were commanded not to take any provisions for themselves of any kind.  Their journey was to be a journey of faith.  They were to trust the Father to provide for their every need, not just provision, but also protection.  Look at Matthew 10:16-20...READ.  You see, to say “Yes” to the Lord is to give up all control, No Matter What.

Sandy shared with me a story someone sent her from Beth Moore who wrote about an experience she had at an airport.  As she sat waiting for her flight she noticed a man who was sitting in a wheelchair in the crowded concourse.  His elderly body was withered by illness, his nails clean by unkept, and his gray hair extraordinarily long and tangled.  As she noticed him she sensed the Lord telling her to make her way to the man.  Her first thought was the Lord wanted her to witness to the man, but she begged the Lord not to make her become a spectacle in front of all those people.  In fact, she confessed she began to bargain with God.  She promised Him if she were on the same plane with the man she would approach him, but she desperately did not want go there and then.  She wrote that as she responded back to the Lord these words, she heard as close to an audible voice as she had ever heard, and the Lord spoke to her saying, “I do not want you to witness to him, I want you to brush his hair.”  To which she responded, “Okay Lord, I’ll go and witness to him right now.” 

The man’s hair was long and clean, but tangled and unkept.  Beth said began to make excuses as to why she could not go, after all, she had packed her hairbrush in her suitcase and it was already checked.  But God insisted, “I want you to brush his hair.”  So, after more struggling with God she finally relented and walked over to the man who was gazing down at the floor.  She approached him and knelt in front of his wheelchair.  Then, in a low softy voice she said, “Sir, may I have the privilege of brushing your hair?”  The man then looked up as if startled by her question and responded, “What did you say?”  She repeated, “Sir, may I have the privilege of brushing your hair?”  He then said to her, “Young lady, if you expect me to hear what you are saying, you’ll have to speak up!”  This time with more volume she repeated her request, “Sir, may I have the privilege of brushing your hair?”  To which the shocked man said, “Yes.”  Beth said, “I don’t have a hairbrush though.”  And the man told her he had one in his bag.

While she brushed his hair a strange thing began to happen, it was as if suddenly there were no other people in the concourse, just this elderly man and her.  As she brushed, being careful not to pull through the tangles, she became aware of a great sense of fulfillment which came from obedience to the Lord.  No longer did what others think matter to her, it was just her and this man, and the Lord’s empowering Spirit coursing through her being.  When she finished she moved back in front of the man, got down on her hands and knees and asked him, “Do you know my Jesus?”  To which he told her how he had been led to faith in Christ by his beautiful bride before they were married.  And then he told her how he had been separated from his bride of almost 60 years as he was away for treatments and she had been too sick to travel with him.  But, he was on his way to see here again and was grateful that he would now be presentable to the woman he loved so much.  God moved Beth Moore to be a loving blessing to a man who desperately needed His touch.  Could there be a greater blessing than to be used of the Lord like that?  And it all took place because one of God’s children said, “Yes,” to the Lord.

While most people want to focus on Mary's courage at this point in the Christmas story, I want us to focus on the fulfillment that she must have felt by saying “Yes” to God's plan.  I am convinced that had Joseph pressed his right and had her stoned at the city gate for being with child before their marriage vows were complete, she would have died in peace knowing that she did exactly what the Lord had asked her to do.  She was obedient to the Father and she left all the details of that obedience into God’s hands.  I want you to note something in our text.  In the 13 verses of our text Mary speaks only two times.  The first time she asks a question and the second time she makes a statement.  But right now it is the question she asks that I want us to look at.

Gabriel’s purpose was to tell Mary about God’s plan of sending the Savior into the world.  He told her that she had found favor with God and that she was going to bear a son and His name will be called Jesus.  He told her further that this child would be the Son of the Most High, that He will have the throne of His father David, and that His kingdom would have no end.  Now look at Mary’s question in verse 34, “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’” There are 2 things about Mary’s question which are of significance. 

1.     Mary’s question had nothing to do with the future.  That is to say, her question did not deal with how things were going to work out if this came about.  She did not look forward to her plans or her dreams and try to determine how this was going to change them. 

2.     Mary’s question was not an attempt to get all the details.  She did not ask, “When will this take place?” or “What will be my on going part in this plan?”  These are questions that we have a tendency to ask.  Sometimes we reserve our response to God’s call until we have determined how all the details will unfold.  This was not true of Mary. 

Mary’s questions had no agenda beyond what we see on the surface, and that is, to ascertain how such a thing could happen since she was still a virgin.  However, this question served as a platform for Gabriel to share more about who this child was to be.  Gabriel told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, then he goes on to tell her plainly in verse 35, “for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.” As I read through this familiar text I was overwhelmed with the picture of pure obedience on Mary’s part.  Even though the text does not use these words, you understand from Mary’s statement that once she understood this to be God’s will Mary simply said, “Let it be!”

Folks, this is the commitment which should exemplify our lives as God’s people.  We spend far too much time weighing out God’s requests against our own personal agendas.  But the Lord is looking for one simple response form His people when He calls, and that is the response of Mary, “be it done to me according to your word.”

Folks, those individuals we read about in Scripture, who laid everything on the line to do what God asked of them, are perhaps the people who lived with the most physical difficulties in their lives.  But I am also convinced of this, they are the people who experienced the greatest blessings because they saw God move first hand.  They were people who knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that where God wanted them to be was the only place where they could truly experience peace.  And what held them there was their love for the Father.

Folks, obedience is not just a matter of doing the right things.  It starts first with a commitment.  And that commitment is to yield one’s self to the will of God the Father.  But once again when I talk about yielding I am not talking about just doing the right things.  Because anyone can do the right things, whether their heart is in it or not.  I’m talking about being sold out to the Lord at the level of our hearts.  I’m talking about a love relationship that brings us to a place where we not only do the right things, but where we want to do the right things because we love the Father.  All of us have had experiences when we have performed because of obligation, and when we have acted out of a desire to do so.  But the blessing which comes from obedience is only realized when we say “Yes, I will serve you No Matter What!” 

What is your response to the Lord?  Will you say “Yes” and trust Him for the outcome?