A Magnificent Surrender

OUTLINE FOR Luke 1:26-56:

I. A MAGNIFICENT APPEARANCE (vv. 26-28).

A. Now remember this was a period of time when visions, spiritual experiences with angels was a rare thing.

1. God had not spoken through prophet or angel for 400 years.

2. And now since Zachariah.

B.It is God who sent Gabriel to Mary.

1. He has a specific message for Mary, and that is that she will have a Son; not just any son of man; but He will be the Son of God, and Son of man.

2. Let me stress this at this point; Mary was not an “Unwed mother”.

a. Note the instructions to Gabriel, “To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph…”

II. A MAGNIFICENT MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR ALL PEOPLE (vv. 29-37).

A. It has been decreed by God through Gabriel that Mary is “Full of grace”, which means she is a receiver of grace, not a dispensor of grace.

1. This same term is used in Ephesians 1:6 “he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (KJV); and is reference to all who are in Christ Jesus. 2. Anyone who would use this to give Mary co-redeemtrix rights is Biblically incorrect.

B. God transcends the laws of nature that He has made, and can at any time, any place, and with or without anyone or anything perform what we would call “Miracle”.

1. With Mary God would perform a first.

2. “The virgin will conceive, have a son…” Isaiah 7:14 (HCSB) were the words of God through the prophet Isaiah to king Ahaz.

C. Notice these great things that are given to Jesus:

1. He will be called the Son of the Highest;

2. He will receive the throne of David;

3. He will reign over the house of Jacob;

4. His kingdom will have no end.

III. A MAGNIFICENT OBEDIENCE (v. 38).

A. After the angel Gabriel tells Mary of her “Highly favored” situation with God Mary’s response is one of obedience.

1. This is not evidence of her placement into a divine position as co-redeemtrix with Christ, or of her supposed immaculate conception.

2. It is nothing more than what any of us can do; and that is being a willing, obedient vessel for God’s glory.

B. We – Christians – are in fact doing just that when Christ becomes our Lord and Savior.

1. The Seed of God is given to us, resurrecting our dead spirit, and empowering us with the Spirit of God.

2. Consider John’s [the apostle] letter, writing;

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His Seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9 (KJV)

C. It is just as much A MAGNIFICENT OBEDIENCE when any child of God hears the voice of God, and is moved to obey in faith believing all that God has said to do.

IV. A MAGNIFICENT WORSHIP (vv. 39-55).

A. Mary, now, having conceived in her womb the Son of God journeys to the home of Zachariah and Elisabeth and stays for three months.

1. Mary probably stayed until the birth of John Baptist.

2. Songs of praise and adoration break out from both women.

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

B. How could Elisabeth even know that Mary was bearing a child, little lone, that she was bearing a son, and not just any son, but the very Son of God? 1. The work of the Spirit of God.

2. Elisabeth even recognizes that Mary has given the utmost of her life to our Lord, surrendered to Him.

C. Note that Mary does not congratulate herself, but gives glory to our Lord; to the greatness of the Lord.

V. A MAGNIFICENT PATIENCE (v. 56).

A. All mothers have, and show patience for that awaited day when the labor pains begin (though not looking forward to the pain, but the outcome), and they begin the birthing process.

1. Expectancy, excitement, rejoicing are great words to use to express the heart of that mother when her child is born;

a. Can you imagine the joy that was in the heart of Elisabeth as John is born, knowing that he will be the first prophet since Malachi, around 430 B.C.?

b. That he will be the herald for the Messiah who is to be born only six short months later.

2. They are seeing the evidence of God’s message returning to His people who have been in darkness for so long; and this is without the Ark of the covenant.

B. I can almost guarantee that the most important thought in Mary’s life; when she received the announcement that she was going to carry and give birth to the Son of God; was not “What is Joseph, and my parents, and others going to say?”

1. Her thought was most likely, “In nine months the Messiah will be born, and for these nine months God has given grace, to me, to bear His Son.” a. Nine months to display patience.

2.  Nine months to plan, prepare, and proclaim the coming of the Lord.

C. We do not know the day or the time of our Lord’s coming for His Church.

1. We have been given an indefinite time to plan, prepare, and proclaim the coming of the Lord.

2. We too can display A MAGNIFICENT PATIENCE.

3. A Patience that is found only through the faith and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Tim A. Blankenship
My study notes for this outline