Sermon
Gymea Anglican Church
7:45am, 9:30am
Christmas is one of the increasingly rare times of the year when there's actually a good level of public awareness of the back-story behind one of the big events of the year. In general, people know more about the Bible's narrative of Christmas than any other story in the Bible. Kids in particular know that baby Jesus was placed in a manger. They mightn't know what a manger is, but they know Jesus was in one.
They know that there’s a big, bright star, that angels come and shepherds go, that the wise men come (let's leave off how many for a moment), and they all come to worship the baby King Jesus.
That’s a huge piece of Gospel truth right there, embedded so deeply in our culture we almost miss it altogether. The kids know it better than the adults – King Jesus. Isn’t it strange? We wise, knowing adults are ready to question almost every aspect of that great Christian legend of Christmas, whereas the kids are the ones who show us how to hold the truth. No wonder we see Jesus, later on in Luke’s Gospel, saying; “I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” [1]
We’re looking at part of the traditional Christmas story, and it's a traditional time to talk about it. But in reality, this is something that (of course) happened a good nine months before Jesus was born. For those who follow lectionaries and church calendars, the Annunciation (the announcement by the angel Gabriel) is celebrated on March the 25th, exactly nine months before December 25th. So this is 8 ½ months late. Sorry.
Before we look closely at Luke's acount of this event, it's worth having a look at the chunk beforehand. [2] In that twenty-verse chunk there was another story involving the angel Gabriel. And, as Luke notes, that happened six months previous to this… so, figure about fourteen months before the birth of Jesus.
That’s a huge piece of Gospel truth right there, embedded so deeply in our culture we almost miss it altogether. The kids know it better than the adults – King Jesus. Isn’t it strange? We wise, knowing adults are ready to question almost every aspect of that great Christian legend of Christmas, whereas the kids are the ones who show us how to hold the truth. No wonder we see Jesus, later on in Luke’s Gospel, saying; “I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” [1]
We’re looking at part of the traditional Christmas story, and it's a traditional time to talk about it. But in reality, this is something that (of course) happened a good nine months before Jesus was born. For those who follow lectionaries and church calendars, the Annunciation (the announcement by the angel Gabriel) is celebrated on March the 25th, exactly nine months before December 25th. So this is 8 ½ months late. Sorry.
Before we look closely at Luke's acount of this event, it's worth having a look at the chunk beforehand. [2] In that twenty-verse chunk there was another story involving the angel Gabriel. And, as Luke notes, that happened six months previous to this… so, figure about fourteen months before the birth of Jesus.
The angel Gabriel appeared to a man by the name of Zechariah. Zechariah was a priest, and on this day his job was to enter the Temple and burn incense before the Lord. Lots of people were outside, but only Zecariah would have been allowed inside. An angel was suddenly inside with him, in the smoke – and Zechariah’s reaction tells us something about angels… Luke 1:12 – “He was startled and was gripped with fear.” The Greek puts it slightly more – “and seeing him, Zechariah was terror-filled, and fear fell on him.”
Ditch the normal mental picture of pretty wings and halos and wearing white pillow-cases. Angels aren’t cute, pretty or delicate. They aren't likely to sit gently on the top of a Christmas tree. Nor are they likely to dance on the head of a pin. Angels are supernaturally powerful, immortal beings. They’re terrifyingly real. And they speak with authority, because they carry messages directly from the Lord God Almighty himself. There’s something about the physical presence of these creatures that is intensely intimidating, too. Gabriel’s first words sum up the human experience of angels right through the Old Testament… “Do not be afraid.”
Gabriel tells Zechariah that he and his wife will have a child. Zechariah asks just one question – “How can I be sure of this?” It's worth noting at this point the startling ability of men to ask the dumbest questions… how can I be sure of this? Because she’ll get a really big tummy, swollen ankles, a frightening temper and a desire for garlic ice-cream at three o’clock in the morning?
Gabriel’s response puts the priest in his place. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” And Zechariah is struck dumb for his doubt, never to utter another word until he has obeyed the Lord's word in full.
Ditch the normal mental picture of pretty wings and halos and wearing white pillow-cases. Angels aren’t cute, pretty or delicate. They aren't likely to sit gently on the top of a Christmas tree. Nor are they likely to dance on the head of a pin. Angels are supernaturally powerful, immortal beings. They’re terrifyingly real. And they speak with authority, because they carry messages directly from the Lord God Almighty himself. There’s something about the physical presence of these creatures that is intensely intimidating, too. Gabriel’s first words sum up the human experience of angels right through the Old Testament… “Do not be afraid.”
Gabriel tells Zechariah that he and his wife will have a child. Zechariah asks just one question – “How can I be sure of this?” It's worth noting at this point the startling ability of men to ask the dumbest questions… how can I be sure of this? Because she’ll get a really big tummy, swollen ankles, a frightening temper and a desire for garlic ice-cream at three o’clock in the morning?
Gabriel’s response puts the priest in his place. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” And Zechariah is struck dumb for his doubt, never to utter another word until he has obeyed the Lord's word in full.
Angels generally don’t announce babies, notwithstanding what the gift-card industry suggests. The Word of the Lord hadn’t been heard in the land since the prophet Malachi, four hundred years earlier. So why here? Why now? What was so extraordinary about this child that the Lord God would send an angel? Gabriel indicates to Zechariah that this baby would grow to be unique, filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, like Samuel a child dedicated to God from birth, to become a man who would “go on before the Lord, in the Spirit and the power of Elijah… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” [3] This was to be one child marked from birth. And when Zechariah emerges, stunned and speechless from inside the Temple, we’re told that everybody realised that he’d received a vision. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. And Elizabeth became pregnant.
Luke 1:26 – “In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
News travels through families very quickly, doesn’t it? I think any time there’s a pregnancy, there’s a sense of managing the news before the news just escapes and runs away. So when Gabriel comes before Mary and greets her as one highly-favoured, and tells her the Lord was with her, I’m not surprised that she was a little edgy... especially if she's heard that it was an angel that took Zechariah's speech (and, as a side-thought, possibly his hearing as well; look very closely at Luke 1:62). So we see in verse 29 – “But Mary was greatly troubled at his words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Gabriel again tells her not to be afraid, and repeats that she has found favour with God.
It’s amazing how the world completely turns on just a couple of words. Simple sentences. “Will you marry me?” “I have your medical results back.” “We’re going to have a baby.” “It’s a boy.” Some of life’s most profoundly moving moments come in the simplest of sentences. The entire world’s orbit is changed forever as the coming of the Son of the Most High, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel is announced…
Luke 1:26 – “In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
News travels through families very quickly, doesn’t it? I think any time there’s a pregnancy, there’s a sense of managing the news before the news just escapes and runs away. So when Gabriel comes before Mary and greets her as one highly-favoured, and tells her the Lord was with her, I’m not surprised that she was a little edgy... especially if she's heard that it was an angel that took Zechariah's speech (and, as a side-thought, possibly his hearing as well; look very closely at Luke 1:62). So we see in verse 29 – “But Mary was greatly troubled at his words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Gabriel again tells her not to be afraid, and repeats that she has found favour with God.
It’s amazing how the world completely turns on just a couple of words. Simple sentences. “Will you marry me?” “I have your medical results back.” “We’re going to have a baby.” “It’s a boy.” Some of life’s most profoundly moving moments come in the simplest of sentences. The entire world’s orbit is changed forever as the coming of the Son of the Most High, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel is announced…
But it’s announced quietly, to an audience of one.
In response to her question, Gabriel explains in verse 35 what will happen to Mary – that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and that the power of the Most High will overshadow her – so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. He reminds her of Elizabeth’s case, pregnant in old age, and reminds her that nothing is impossible with God.
Here’s a thing. Zechariah asks the angel a question - How can I be sure of this? Mary asks the angel a question - how will this be? Why is one question punished harshly, and the other answered so openly and gently?
Zechariah’s question comes from a place of disbelief. He’s a priest, in the temple, and God speaks directly to His priest through a herald-angel. Zechariah has no excuses, as far as Gabriel is concerned, for his disbelief. He should be prepared for the Lord to speak, but clearly is not – and the poor old man is dealt with, in a way that would be recognised very publicly. Big warning-sign… do not doubt the Word of Yahweh!
But what about Mary’s question? “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Is that a question coming from a place of disbelief? How is it possible for a virgin to remain a virgin and yet give birth?
Her question says something of her honour – she certainly wasn’t prepared to break that law, even with her husband-to-be, before it was right to do so. Pre-marital pregnancy was beyond shameful – it would disgrace Mary and her family, as well as Joseph and his. It makes her final word all the more amazing. Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant – may it be to me as you have said.”
In response to her question, Gabriel explains in verse 35 what will happen to Mary – that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and that the power of the Most High will overshadow her – so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. He reminds her of Elizabeth’s case, pregnant in old age, and reminds her that nothing is impossible with God.
Here’s a thing. Zechariah asks the angel a question - How can I be sure of this? Mary asks the angel a question - how will this be? Why is one question punished harshly, and the other answered so openly and gently?
Zechariah’s question comes from a place of disbelief. He’s a priest, in the temple, and God speaks directly to His priest through a herald-angel. Zechariah has no excuses, as far as Gabriel is concerned, for his disbelief. He should be prepared for the Lord to speak, but clearly is not – and the poor old man is dealt with, in a way that would be recognised very publicly. Big warning-sign… do not doubt the Word of Yahweh!
But what about Mary’s question? “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Is that a question coming from a place of disbelief? How is it possible for a virgin to remain a virgin and yet give birth?
Her question says something of her honour – she certainly wasn’t prepared to break that law, even with her husband-to-be, before it was right to do so. Pre-marital pregnancy was beyond shameful – it would disgrace Mary and her family, as well as Joseph and his. It makes her final word all the more amazing. Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant – may it be to me as you have said.”
That’s obedience, isn’t it? She knew full well that she faced the possibility of rejection by her husband, ostracism from society in general and her family in particular. And yet she takes it on.
I realize that I’m going against the trend at the moment. I’m being a highly unfashionable preacher. The current trends, as far as I can tell, is to leave the whole matter of the Virgin Birth alone. It’s an odd thing, it’s outside any scientific paradigm, it’s something that people find hard to believe…
And at points like this, at points where there are difficulties, at points where belief is hard, we are actively encouraged to put our faith in these things aside. "Oh, it’s too difficult. Don’t strain yourself trying to get your head around these things that are too hard. God wouldn't really do that, would he? The Virgin Birth is a legend – a myth. The resurrection isn't really believable... the authors of these books are hardly credible historians, are they?" Sadly – tragically – shamefully - these cries are coming as much from pulpits and bishops as they come from the world outside. Be careful.
So why is it so important? Why make such a big deal out of it?
Matthew records Jesus saying “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the One who sent me”. Matthew records Jesus saying “All things have been committed to me by my Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him”. And, crucially, when Peter declares to Jesus “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Matthew records Jesus saying “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man but by my Father in Heaven”.
What are we to make of these claims that Jesus makes of himself? If, as more and more people are content to believe, he was the son of two humans (no matter how remarkable they were), where do these outlandish claims take us? Certainly, Jesus' sayings and parables show that he deserves titles like “a great teacher” and “influential philosopher” and “wise man.” And, to be sure, most people today are more than happy to accord Jesus that honour.
I realize that I’m going against the trend at the moment. I’m being a highly unfashionable preacher. The current trends, as far as I can tell, is to leave the whole matter of the Virgin Birth alone. It’s an odd thing, it’s outside any scientific paradigm, it’s something that people find hard to believe…
And at points like this, at points where there are difficulties, at points where belief is hard, we are actively encouraged to put our faith in these things aside. "Oh, it’s too difficult. Don’t strain yourself trying to get your head around these things that are too hard. God wouldn't really do that, would he? The Virgin Birth is a legend – a myth. The resurrection isn't really believable... the authors of these books are hardly credible historians, are they?" Sadly – tragically – shamefully - these cries are coming as much from pulpits and bishops as they come from the world outside. Be careful.
So why is it so important? Why make such a big deal out of it?
Matthew records Jesus saying “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the One who sent me”. Matthew records Jesus saying “All things have been committed to me by my Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him”. And, crucially, when Peter declares to Jesus “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Matthew records Jesus saying “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man but by my Father in Heaven”.
What are we to make of these claims that Jesus makes of himself? If, as more and more people are content to believe, he was the son of two humans (no matter how remarkable they were), where do these outlandish claims take us? Certainly, Jesus' sayings and parables show that he deserves titles like “a great teacher” and “influential philosopher” and “wise man.” And, to be sure, most people today are more than happy to accord Jesus that honour.
But can he still be called a great teacher as he makes these claims of himself? Can a teacher be half-wise and half-delusional? If he is a liar, should we trust any of his wisdom? Next question, by logical extension… If this book, these accounts, this Bible, is full of half-truths instead of the truth… can I trust the God that I find in these pages with my soul?
How will this be, since I am a virgin? Can a Virgin Birth be proven? Can I give you scientific, rock-solid, absolutely irrefutable evidence that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit instead of by normal human agency?
In an age of science and reason, where scientists declare that if it can't be proven it cannot be said to have happened, I have to say... no. There is no scientific, rock-solid, absolutely irrefutable evidence that would satisfy these criteria that I can provide for you.
What I can do is point to the Scriptures. And there are one or two things that should be considered here. Even the harshest secular literary scholars agree on one thing. If these writings about Mary and Joseph and Jesus' miraculous birth were an invented myth, devised by the early Church... they shouldn't look like this.
* It's not myth – certainly not in the classical vein of mythology. Remember, Luke was writing to Theophilus, and whereas most of the classical mythical writers (like Homer) wrote highly-stylised poetry or lyrical stories for oral story-telling, Luke and Acts bear all the hallmarks of a written factual account in documented form.
There were certainly many myths concerning Greek and Roman gods who used all sorts of tricks to sleep with humans – and often in these stories a child happened afterwards. Traditionally, the resultant unwanted child would often become a nemesis to the father (look up the origin of the word nemesis!). Luke and Matthew make it completely clear that there is no accident – the direct will of God the Father brings forth the Son of God in flesh. The Father loves his Son, and the Son remains obedient to the Father - even to his death. That flies in the face of any mythological pattern that I can recall.
*It's overly simple One of the greatest arguments in favour of the truth of these Gospel accounts is, quite simply, that they are so simple. Matthew and Luke simply state what was. If it were a literary invention, there would be far more explanations attached, and a far-larger back-story. The thought that it was a First-Century addition actually creates more problems... why would you add such a strange, outrageous, unproveable, unbelievable portion?
The old 1662 Book of Common Prayer puts it just as simply. Being of one substance with the Father – who, for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. There is simply nothing remotely like this anywhere else. Matthew and Luke don't give any stylised details of how this might have happened. It was enough to note that it occurred. The how is utterly irrelevant to them.
How will this be, since I am a virgin? Can a Virgin Birth be proven? Can I give you scientific, rock-solid, absolutely irrefutable evidence that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit instead of by normal human agency?
In an age of science and reason, where scientists declare that if it can't be proven it cannot be said to have happened, I have to say... no. There is no scientific, rock-solid, absolutely irrefutable evidence that would satisfy these criteria that I can provide for you.
What I can do is point to the Scriptures. And there are one or two things that should be considered here. Even the harshest secular literary scholars agree on one thing. If these writings about Mary and Joseph and Jesus' miraculous birth were an invented myth, devised by the early Church... they shouldn't look like this.
* It's not myth – certainly not in the classical vein of mythology. Remember, Luke was writing to Theophilus, and whereas most of the classical mythical writers (like Homer) wrote highly-stylised poetry or lyrical stories for oral story-telling, Luke and Acts bear all the hallmarks of a written factual account in documented form.
There were certainly many myths concerning Greek and Roman gods who used all sorts of tricks to sleep with humans – and often in these stories a child happened afterwards. Traditionally, the resultant unwanted child would often become a nemesis to the father (look up the origin of the word nemesis!). Luke and Matthew make it completely clear that there is no accident – the direct will of God the Father brings forth the Son of God in flesh. The Father loves his Son, and the Son remains obedient to the Father - even to his death. That flies in the face of any mythological pattern that I can recall.
*It's overly simple One of the greatest arguments in favour of the truth of these Gospel accounts is, quite simply, that they are so simple. Matthew and Luke simply state what was. If it were a literary invention, there would be far more explanations attached, and a far-larger back-story. The thought that it was a First-Century addition actually creates more problems... why would you add such a strange, outrageous, unproveable, unbelievable portion?
The old 1662 Book of Common Prayer puts it just as simply. Being of one substance with the Father – who, for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. There is simply nothing remotely like this anywhere else. Matthew and Luke don't give any stylised details of how this might have happened. It was enough to note that it occurred. The how is utterly irrelevant to them.
The why becomes apparent as you read the Gospels – only the Son of God has the authority to forgive sins. The Pharisees were absolutely right about one thing – only God can forgive sins. Only the Son of God can take every sin and place it upon himself. Only His blood, shed at great cost and pain, can atone for me and my rebellion against God the Father. Only the Son of God can save... me.
That’s why the question is so important. That’s why we bother working through the difficult bits. That’s why.
Mary’s reply to all of this amazes me every time I read this. Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Simple belief, despite the enormous impact that this will have on her life. Great risk, great cost. I look at the difference between Zechariah’s terrified disbelief and Mary’s quiet, thoughtful, understanding acceptance and obedience. I find myself wondering what I’d do, what I’d say if I found myself in Zechariah’s place. Would I do any better?
That’s why the question is so important. That’s why we bother working through the difficult bits. That’s why.
Mary’s reply to all of this amazes me every time I read this. Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Simple belief, despite the enormous impact that this will have on her life. Great risk, great cost. I look at the difference between Zechariah’s terrified disbelief and Mary’s quiet, thoughtful, understanding acceptance and obedience. I find myself wondering what I’d do, what I’d say if I found myself in Zechariah’s place. Would I do any better?
*Here’s a question. If you were visited by a herald angel, what would you do? Would you freeze with fear? Would you do what Zechariah did and have great trouble believing the message of the Lord? Would you be like Gideon, who needed to see proofs before he’d believe that the angel spoke the word of God?
Because that, in essence, is the choice that we're given when we approach the Word of God. We read it. We study it. Sometimes we are perplexed by it, sometimes we don’t understand all of it. And that’s fair enough – I don’t think that there are too many people who would be brave enough to put up their hand to say “I understand all of the Bible.”
But here’s the real question. Do we trust it? The question isn’t “Can we trust it” – Matt looked at that one last week – but “do we trust it?” Do we accept what this book says about Jesus, what it says about God, what it says about us as fallen men and women? Do we trust it?
Children around the world are poking at Nativity sets, either in churches, front lawns, living rooms or in shopping centres. They know Santa, and they probably know the names of all the reindeer. But…
They know that the shepherds came to Bethlehem to see the baby King Jesus.
They know that the shepherds came to Bethlehem to see the baby King Jesus.
They know that the wise men came with gifts and worshiped King Jesus.
They always know which one the Virgin Mary is, and that Joseph stands right beside her.
And they know that in that little nest of straw lies King Jesus. They don’t see the irony of the King of heaven and earth lying in a cow’s feed-box. But they know who the King is.
The most important question we can possibly ask as we approach Bethlehem through this week and the next, is “do we know the King?”
The most important question we can possibly ask as we approach Bethlehem through this week and the next, is “do we know the King?”
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
[4] Let me encourage you over the next couple of weeks... be childish this Christmas!Amen.
[1] Luke 10:21
[2] Luke 1:5-25
[3] Luke 1:17
[4] Luke 18:16-17
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