A Glorious Promise Given In The Darkness (Luke 1:26-38)
This last week a jury awarded an area school district to pay a transgender student $4 million dollars because it refused to let her use boys’ restrooms. The Ghislaine Maxwell trial has been going on this week. And due to past reports, we understand that some of the most powerful people in the world did horribly wicked things because of her and Jeffrey Epstein including at least two past presidents and a prince. And there was a TikTok challenge that promoted threats of violence to schools. Here in Conway they upped protection of students in the school district because of multiple threats this week. And the Biden administration lifted restrictions on abortion pills, so they can now a person doesn’t have to go to the doctor in person. They can now take the pill and have a chemical abortion. They can have them shipped to their door.
Sadly, if we were sitting at a table, drinking coffee, and talking politics I am certain we would have more to discuss. But the thing I am trying to emphasize here is that we live in a time of darkness. We live in a society that destroys and devastates. We are in a society of darkness.
Many people are looking for a remedy to our dire situation. And that is good. We need solutions. We need to be moved in the right direction. But as Christians, we believe that the only real solution to such darkness is Christ.
When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the light breaking into the darkness. We celebrate light and salvation coming into a dark and condemned world.
God sent His Son into a world devastated by sin and destruction to bring light and salvation.
The Devastation Of Sin (Luke 1:26)
I am all for yearly Bible readings. I actually think we should constantly be in God’s Word whether you read it through completely in a year or not. But even if you’ve read this text 100 times, you might have missed the devastating situation that Jesus was born into.
This area was devastated by repeated invasion and occupation. The Book of Isaiah and the other prophets make it clear that this was because of their rebellion against God. And the promised darkness came.
This area, north of the Sea of Galilee, was definitely hit the hardest by the invasions. As was discussed a few weeks ago, Assyria attacked from the North three times between the years of 734-732 BC. And under the direction of Tiglath Pileser III they successfully took Israel. Later, between the years of 604-586 BC Babylon would attack from the North as well. This was under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar, which you likely remember from the Book of Daniel. Persia overtook Babylon and Cyrus set the captives free in 539 BC. Alexander the Great took control of Israel in 323 BC, which meant that Israel was under Greek control from 323-167 BC. Israel was independent from 167-63 BC.
The event that led to Roman occupation occurred in 63 BC. Josephus discussed this in his “Antiquities of the Jews” 14.4. Apparently some within the walls of the city of Jerusalem wanted to let Rome in while others did not. And a group of people let Pompey and his forces into the city. These people opened the gates for him. Others fled to fortifications within the city and Pompey broke these fortifications with what Josephus called “battering engines”. These were battering rams on wheels. And the people fled. Josephus reported that over 12,000 Jews died that day and very few Romans. And heavy taxes were immediately required of the Jews, which is something that lasted until 70 AD when the Jews in Jerusalem were brutally killed by Romans and Jews were drive out of Roman territories.
The event that we celebrate at Christmas time, the birth of Jesus, happened in the middle of the Roman occupation of Israel. Israel was ruled by a heavy-handed government that was oftentimes brutal.
These repeated occupations led Galilee to be a hotbed of corruption that was despised by others. For a long time it was thought that Galilee was a small and insignificant place with a population of around 1,000 people. Though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was Jesus of Nazareth because His family lived in this area. It seems that Nazareth was a blue-collar type village in Galilee. Galilee was about 70 miles from Jerusalem, which put it halfway between Tyre, Sidon, and Jerusalem. So it was a popular stop for people on the road. Usually these travelers were Roman soldiers, Greek merchants, and travelers on their way. And it was known for being an incredibly corrupt place. That is why we have this discussion in John 1:45-46.
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”” (John 1:45-46 ESV)
This area was so devasted by sin Nathanael honestly thought there was no way something good could come from there. It was an area devastated by sin and corruption.
But isn’t this what we were told would happen?
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:1-2 ESV)
It was in that “land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations” that salvation would come. They were “brought into contempt”, but it was there a light would shine.
It was here in this deeply dark and devastated area, among a devastated people, that salvation came. It was here that the Savior would be born. And it would be here that the light of God’s grace would shine with incredible light.
We look around our own world today and see an incredible growth of wickedness. I have to be honest, it feels to me like we are in a desperate situation. Sin and rebelliousness is growing around us. We have to watch what schools are teaching our children very closely now because the rebellion has become so ingrained in this society that we cannot be lax.
But it is in this deep and dark situation that we are called. We were not called to be a church in a pristine world, at least not yet. We were called to live in a world of darkness as the light and deliver this message of hope to a devastated world.
What are we doing as a church? What are we supposed to be about? What is our mission?
Is it not to live and work to spread the good news of what Christ has done to a lost and dying world. We throw that phrase, “lost and dying” world around so much that it may not affect us as it should. We are in a world filled with darkness. And in this world filled with darkness, we are called to deliver the message of Christ, the light of the world.
And this speaks to our personal darkness as well. We did not come out of the womb good. Because of the sin of our first parents: Adam and Eve, we begin our lives with a spiritual darkness that reigns over us. The world is dark because people are dark. All people are in a desperate situation apart from Christ.
The testimony of Scripture is that we are born in darkness. We are told this repeatedly. There is a deadly and cancerous darkness within us that has left us wicked.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5 ESV)
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 ESV)
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 ESV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 ESV)
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)
You and I were born into a desperate situation. We are sinners at birth and deserving of God’s wrath. And if we are left to our own devices that is exactly what we will receive. But praise be to God, He entered the darkness and brought salvation.
God Brought Salvation (Luke 1:27-33)
Notice here that Mary is a “virgin” who is “betrothed”. She was a young Jewish woman in this incredibly corrupt region of Israel who had remained pure and was committed to Joseph. They were to be married. Now, a betrothal is a lot different than an engagement. The difference was not a small one either. It was a commitment that carried the force of law. She was just waiting for the day when they would be married.
This woman from a normal family in a despised region of Israel was then visited by an angel. I’m sure this was a very rare occurrence. And the angel said to her, “Greetings, oh favored one, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28 ESV). The angel announced to her that God’s favor shone upon her. One would think that this would elicit a kind response, but not from Mary.
Mary was “greatly troubled” (Luke 1:29 ESV). She could not figure out why the angel would greet her in this way. This word that is translated “greatly troubled” can also be translated “agitated”. And she is agitated, not because she is visited by an angel but because of what the angel said to her. She came from a common family. She lived in a troubled time. And she lived in a troubled and corrupt place. She just did not see the angel’s assessment of her as right or proper. But God favored her.
God chose this young woman for a task (Luke 1:31-33). It would be through her that the light of the world and salvation would come. She would have a child. And this child’s name would be “Jesus”. Jesus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name “Jeshua” or as we say in English “Joshua”. The name itself means “God rescues” or “God saves”.
Though Mary did not know how this salvation would happen, we live on this side of the cross. And we can see the rest of the story. This one named Jesus lived a perfect life and completely fulfilled the Law. He did everything that we should have done. And then He went to the cross and died in place of sinners. He died as a sacrifice for sin in place of sinners. Therefore, all those who trust in Christ are credited with His righteousness and He paid for their sin. God saves sinners through Christ, and so His name would be called Jesus.
And this is not where the description of Jesus ended. Jesus would be great, the angel goes on to say. He is the One that promise after promise in the Old Testament foretold. He is the One whose rule would never end. And the angel said the most astounding thing, that this child would be “Son of the Most High”, which emphasizes the deity of this child. This child would be the Son of God and He would be the long awaited king over Israel that would sit on David’s throne (2 Samuel 7). And the angel informed her that He would rule over Israel “Jacob”, forever. In essence, this child would fulfill everything that was written in Isaiah 9:1-7 and other places.
There is darkness everywhere, and all of a sudden there comes this declaration of light. It’s as if the angel came to Mary and shined a bright light into her face. At first she was agitated and a little annoyed. She didn’t understand at first.
Our society is growing increasingly dark. I don’t think you’ll argue with that. The remedy to this darkness is not going to come through political processes. The remedy to the darkness is the light of Christ. It’s the spread of the gospel.
When we invite people to have fun on our church lawn and share the gospel with them, we are telling people in darkness about the light that has come in Christ.
When you discuss Christ with a coworker or someone else, you are telling people in darkness about the light that has come in Christ.
Go forth and share the light of the gospel with a dark world. God and tell of the good news. Go and tell of the Light that has come.
If you are here today and don’t know Christ, then you are still in darkness. Though you may not realize it, in the same way that a fish swims around in the water and doesn’t realize that its wet, you are in darkness. The light of God’s grace and mercy has shown upon us in Christ. And He has accomplished a good standing with God through His perfect life, death, and resurrection.
We live in darkness now, apart from God and deserving of His just wrath and condemnation, but a way has been made through the perfect and finished work of Christ for us to be brought into fellowship with Him.
God Accomplished All Of Our Salvation (Luke 1:34-38)
Mary’s response at this point just makes perfect sense. She wondered how this would happen. She was a virgin. She probably wasn’t sure when she was going to be married. How would this child come about?
The angel simply informed her that God the Holy Spirit would do this (Luke 1:35). She would be pregnant and give birth to the Son of God who would sit on the throne of David forever. But it was God the Holy Spirit that would make it happen.
This is what the Church has always believed. It’s even in the Apostles’ Creed that’s been recited for thousands of years.
“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”
I can’t imagine all the questions that were running through Mary’s mind. But the angel mercifully gave Mary assurance that this would take place by telling her that Elizabeth was going to have a baby. Elizabeth was beyond child-bearing years. Her womb was closed and the only way she could have a child is if it was done supernaturally. And she was pregnant with child. If God did the supernatural with her, He could do it again with Mary.
Our salvation from start to finish is a work of God. It is not our own work. We do not contribute one bit of anything to our own salvation. We are rebel sinners who can do nothing to earn God’s favor. Praise be to God that it was earned for us through the sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of His Son.
The Response of Faith (Luke 1:38)
Our text today ends with Mary’s beautiful response of faith.
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38 ESV)
Mary entrusted herself to the Lord’s care and rested in God’s promise. This is the response of faith to the Lord. She did not strive. She trusted. She entrusted herself to the Lord.
When we hear the good news, that is to be our response. We respond by entrusting ourselves to the Savior. We stop rebelling against God and entrust our whole selves to Him.
Our hymnals do a good bit of copying and pasting lyrics to get what we have published. Original versions of these hymns was generally a lot longer than what we sing today. In “Rock of Ages”, Augustus Toplady wrote,
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”
Conclusion
We live in a dark and sinful world. But God has invaded the darkness by sending His Son. The call for you today is to trust the Savior. Turn from ruling your life and trust in the One who came to save. We bring nothing of our own to save us. We come to Christ with the empty hand of faith, knowing that only He can heal the darkness.
We can do things that make life better on this earth. We can also help others and make their lives a bit better as well. And we should. But we cannot take away the darkness. And no amount of good that we do can take away our own sinful wickedness. We are in need of a salvation that comes from outside of us and God has given that to us in Jesus Christ.
But we cannot take away the darkness. God sent His Son into the world and He accomplished salvation from sin. We can be cleansed of unrighteousness and brought into favor with God through His perfect life death and resurrection. Only Christ can do that. And there is coming a day in which God will deal with sin finally and fully. It will happen when Christ returns. Only Christ can do that as well.
And so we come, this Christmas, basking in the inbreaking of light and salvation that came when Christ came. God sent His Son into a world devastated by sin and destruction to bring light and salvation. And that is why we make such a big deal about Christmas.
R. Dwain Minor