Sermon Index
December 20, 2020 Advent 4B
Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:26–38 [The Annunciation]Today’s Gospel reading is the dialogue between Mary and Gabriel. But it is also a dialogue between the Holy Spirit and you. The Bible is the Word of God. It is God speaking to us. It speaks to people of every place in every generation. And so in these words the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and me today. Yes, Gabriel announces to Mary that her son is the son of David and the Son of God, but Gabriel is also telling us who Jesus is and what he will be. Gabriel is speaking to you and me.
What is Gabriel telling us about Jesus? First, that his name will be Jesus. Names are very important in the Bible. “Jesus” is the English pronunciation of the Greek “Iesous” which is the Greek pronunciation of the Hebrew “Jeshuu” and “Joshua” which mean “Yahweh is Salvation.” And this is a very appropriate name for Jesus because he will bring salvation from God. And just like Joshua in the Old Testament who after Moses brought the Israelites into the Promised Land, so Jesus will bring us into the Promised Land of Heaven.
Next, the Angel tells us that he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. “Most High” means God. So Jesus is not just human, at the same time he is also divine. And this means that Jesus has the authority and the power to be salvation and to bring salvation.
Furthermore, Gabriel says that he will be given the throne of his father David. The Bible says clearly that Jesus is in the royal line of King David. Joseph, who is a descendant of David will register the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem which is the town of King David. And so Jesus has the legal right to be the next king of the earthly country of Israel. In the Book of Genesis, God gives the man Jacob the new name of “Israel.” Since Jesus is also the Son of God, who is eternal, Gabriel says, “And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And we know that this will be the eternal reign of Jesus in Heaven.
Mary asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Yes, that is a good question. We ask it, too. This has been a stumbling block for many people. The idea of the “virgin birth” is against biology, science, and common sense. Yet, it is very important to the Christian Gospel. Jesus is at the same time both god and man, both divine and human. This is important because only God has the power to forgive the sin of the world. Only a human can be the sacrifice to save humans. God the Father did not send a dog to forgive the sins of dogs. Jesus is called the “Lamb of God” because like a lamb he became a sacrifice on the cross. But God did not send his Son as an ordinary lamb because Jesus did not come to forgive lambs. He came as a man, a human being, to save human beings. Gabriel explained it this way, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Now if you and Mary still do not understand the workings of the Holy Spirit, do not worry. If God is God Almighty, then can do anything. Gabriel said, “37For nothing will be impossible with God.” And we confess this in the Apostles Creed. “And I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, etc.”
God sent an Angel to speak to Mary. To speak to us, the Holy Spirit had the Evangelist Luke write down the account. But it is still hard to believe. We want to see proof, or a sign. And Mary was given a sign. “36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.” Mary went to visit Elizabeth and she saw the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. But even before checking out the sign, Mary believed the message of Gabriel. She accepted the work given to her by God. Her faith is expressed in her words, 38“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
What sign is given to us? There are the miracles and healings of Jesus. But the greatest proof is his death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day. That is the basis of our faith. It is the message of the Easter Angels at the empty tomb who say, “He is not here, he has risen.” There might be other miraculous signs and healings which we might see, and they might strengthen our faith, but the most important sign is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called to faith, and like Mary we too say, 38“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Someday God might send an Angel to you. You might receive a message to do something for God. It might be something ordinary or something special. Like Mary we ask for more information. We might think it is impossible for us. But remember the words of Gabriel. “37For nothing will be impossible with God.” And so it will be a miracle. It will be an act of God. So when we are doing what God wants us to do, it is God acting through us. It is a miracle. And so with confidence and joy we can say like Mary, 38“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church