TEXT: Luke 1:26-38

SUBJECT: Studies in the Nativity #2: The Annunciation

The story begins with an angel on assignment. It is "Gabriel" the Messenger of God. Where is he? In "Nazareth of Galilee", a small town steeped in poverty, ignorance, and vice. He's come there to meet a young woman and convey to her what God's about to do.

Her name is "Mary...a virgin betrothed to Joseph". She is a "virgin" in both senses of the word--a young woman, never married and...never with a man.

Her fiance' is "of the house of David"-- the great king's descendant and heir to his throne. That sounds impressive, till you remember, the House of David was in ruins. Joseph is a poor carpenter, scratching out a living, far from the centers of power and prestige. His connections--though doing him no good--is at the heart of the Story.

The Angel hails Mary,

"Rejoice, highly favored one,

The Lord is with you;

Blessed are you among women!"

The greeting is bizarre! Mary is badly shaken by it. What does he mean? She doesn't have to wonder long. The angel gets right down to business

"Do not fear, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will conceive a child in your womb, bring forth a son, and call His name Jesus".

Angels know a lot, it seems, but Mary wonders if they know "where babies come from"!

"How can this be,

Since I do not know a man?"

Is hers the voice of unbelief? No, it isn't! But of sincere and devout curiosity. "How can this be?" is a good question; it deserves an answer.

Gabriel has one:

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you

And the power of the Highest

will overshadow you;

Therefore, the Holy One who is born

will be called the Son of God".

What does he mean? He means God Himself will father Mary's child. He will be as human as she is; yet He will be no less Divine than God. The Son will be both--and in equal degrees--

"Very God of very God;

Very man of very man".

That's Who He is. "Immanuel--God with us". "The Word made flesh".

What will He become? The Angel knows:

Mary's Son will become a King. And not just "any king"--but the king David pointed to--the Ideal King who would rule God's people in peace and prosperity. Forever.

The Child, in other words, is both "David's Son" and "David's Lord". In short, He is the Messiah!

When Mary hears this, she takes no airs, but puts herself into God's service, and cries:

"Let it be according

to your word".

Months later, "the word comes to pass". God joins the human race.

That's the story. What does it mean? It means "Jesus is Lord". Observe the details: Our Lord's legal father is "of the house of David"; He will be "great" (this, I think is more than a description; it's a title, like "Alexander the Great"); "Son of the Highest" is another royal tribute; "the throne of His father" speaks for itself; as does "reign over the house of Jacob" and "His kingdom".

Jesus is more than a saint; more than a Rabbi; more than a martyr. Jesus is Lord.

The extent of His Kingdom? "The house of Jacob". Mary, I presume took this to mean "Israel" in an ethnic and political sense. But, in light of the New Covenant, we know it means more than that; "the House of Jacob" stands for the Whole People of God--"Redeemed

"Out of every nation,

Kindred, tribe, and tongue".

The duration? "Of His kingdom, there shall be no end". Other kings die; kingdoms are forgotten; Empires fall apart. But His Rule is eternal.

When did it begin? The Wise Men looked for the One "Who is born, king of the Jews". And they were right.

"Hark! The herald angels sing,

Glory to the new born King!"

Though born a King, His coronation was delayed. Till when? Till God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own Right Hand. At that time--forty days after the resurrection--the Psalm was fulfilled

"Lift up your heads, O gates;

And be lifted up,

You everlasting doors;

And the King of Glory

will come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The Lord of Hosts--

He is the King of Glory".

Make no mistake about it: Our Lord Jesus is "reigning" right now! Many profess His Lordship. But one day, it will be more than "many".

"Every knee shall bow

and every tongue confess;

That Jesus is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father".

That will be at His Second Coming, when He "Shows who is the Blessed and Only Potentate--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords".

This is why Luke told his story. He wants us to know "Jesus is Lord". Why?

That we might bow to Him! That we might

"Crown Him with many crowns;

The Lamb upon the throne".

How do we do this? In every way!

Personally, we submit to His will--even when it runs counter to our own and makes us look like fools to other people!

Every thought, word, and deed must come under the Lordship of Christ. How you spend your time; what you buy with your money; what movies you watch; what friends you have; whom you marry; how you treat your children. To everything, we must say with the young Pharisee,

"Lord, What will You

have me to do?"

Together, we submit to Christ by meeting for His worship and performing our public duties with reverence and joy. In this way, we

"Give unto the Lord glory and honor

Give unto the Lord the glory due His name".

If "Jesus is Lord", then, well: You're not. That's a bitter pill for some people to swallow, but it shouldn't be. For, let's face it, you're not qualified to be Lord. You can't even rule your own life, no less the world. Why not admit the truth and do something about it?

What's that? Turn your life over to Jesus Christ. In faith and repentance. Are you afraid He'll do a worse job than you? You know better than that. He will rule you--all right--but His rule is wise and loving. Why not submit to Him--right now?

Is there some area of your life that is not submitted? Are you obeying Him in everything--but your marriage? Everything but your spending habits? Everything but your choice of books? Everything but anything? If so, you cannot be happy of successful. But you can be--under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

And so, to Him, we sing with David,

"The LORD is king

Forever and ever".