12/17 Sermon - Have Mary’s Heart

Jan 3

Have Mary’s Heart

Filled with Wonder – Know your place – Love God’s Will

Luke 1:26-38

Mary is a highly controversial figure. Besides Jesus, she might be one of the most famous people in the Bible.

- Many people see Mary as holy and perfect. They say she was without sin. People pray to her, worship her, and even call her a co-savior with Jesus, putting her on the same level as Jesus our Savior.

- Many people see Mary as a liar. They hear about the virgin birth and they call her out. They say, ‘She probably cheated on him. She was unfaithful. Or Joseph and Mary came were together before their wedding day. Either way, her story is a lie.

- The sad thing is, in both cases, people miss the point.

Mary was not holy and perfect; she is not our co-Savior with Jesus.

Mary was not a liar; the miracle of the virgin birth happened.

But Mary is awesome. She is one of the most outstanding figures in the Bible. She heard Gabriel’s message, and she believed in God’s promise. Today, I want you to be like Mary, to Have Mary’s Heart.

- What is your favorite Christmas decoration? Santa Klaus? Candy canes? Christmas Trees? Mine is the nativity: Joseph, Mary, & Jesus.

- Christmas is one week away. We celebrate Jesus’ birth next week, that beautiful nativity scene. Is our heart like Mary’s heart? Do we listen and believe every word that Gabriel says? Although the nativity scene is my favorite Christmas decoration, I don’t have Mary’s heart,

- Our sinful hearts can miss the point. As Christmas comes closer and closer, the distractions become greater and greater.

- Trivial distractions: cookies, presents, decorating.

- important: sickness, problems, bills, worry.

- personal: our plans, our family, our celebrations

- political: the world is still crazy: wars, politics, inflation.

- Sure, we don’t believe Mary is perfect or a liar, but we miss the point. We don’t listen to what Gabriel says. We don’t view Jesus as our Savior. We don’t always have Mary’s heart.

Another tradition I like are Christmas stockings. My mom would always stuff candy and Pokémon cards in ours. Did you have those?

- Gabriel’s words to Mary in vv. 31-33 are like a stuffed stocking: they are stuffed full of comfort and hope. Look at how it starts! “Greetings, you who are highly favored.” Mary wasn’t perfect or holy. Just like us, she was a sinner but was shown favor by God.

- This promise is at the heart and core of this reading. Have Mary’s Heart, listen and believe God’s promise from Gabriel.

- You will conceive and give birth to a son. Our Savior would be a true human, just like us. He was tempted, hurt, cried and died in our place.

- You will call his name Jesus. Do you know what ‘Jesus’ means? He saves. What a name! This son born to Mary would save humankind from sin. He would save you from your sin by dying on the cross.

- He will be great and be called the son of the most high. Our Savior isn’t just human, he’s true God as well! He is a bridge across an impossibly wide canyon, his blood counts for all.

- The LORD God will give him the throne of his father David. This child, Jesus, will be king. He will be king and rule the whole world, you will be beloved citizens in his kingdom.

- He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. This is a two-fold promise: You are not a Jew, but by Jesus’ blood God brings you into his family. You are a child of God, a member of Jacob’s house. This house will have no end, so you will live forever in paradise.

This is God’s promise: the Savior born to you, the baby Jesus you see in the nativity scenes, true God and true man, saves you from sin and gives you eternal life.

Have Mary’s Heart, listen to this promise, believe this promise.

If I make you a promise, I could try to keep it. I could try my hardest, but a flat tire or a forgetful mind can easily squash my attempt.

- I could promise you anything! The moon or a million dollars, But I can actually give you is much more limited.

- I am a human, so my promises are fragile and limited.

> God is different. His promises are powerful and limitless

- God promised Mary a son that was both true God and true man. That is exactly what happened.

- God promised that this son would save us from our sin and give us eternal life. And that is exactly what happened.

Have Mary’s Heart, believe the promise of God given in Jesus.

Do you see why Mary is awesome? I really think she is one of the most outstanding figures in the Bible. Do you see why I keep repeating that phrase, Have Mary’s heart? We can learn 3 important lessons from Mary and her attitude towards God’s promise.

Have Mary’s heart and be filled with wonder.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Mary was greatly troubled at the angel’s words. And it can be easy for us to be disturbed at God’s promises too, right? God promises that we will be persecuted for our faith, attacked by Satan, live a life filled with sorrow and loss. God promises that someday we will live in heaven, but he seems pretty far off right now.

- Mary was greatly troubled, but that wasn’t an obstacle for her. She was greatly troubled, but she didn’t stay there. Instead, she was filled with wonder. She heard about the coming child, the Savior for her sins and for the world. Her heart was filled with wonder.

- I encourage you today, have Mary’s heart and be filled with wonder and joy. As we see Jesus sin the manger, and we hear about his birth, and we learn about his life, death, and resurrection, may wonder and joy fill our hearts.

One of the biggest differences between believers and unbelievers is our attitude at all times: full of joy and wonder.

Have Mary’s heart and know your place.

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

- Mary questioned God, right? We can question God sometimes too. “God, how are you in control? How are you going to provide for me and my family? God, where are you right now? Do you even care? God, following you seems worthless, what’s the point?”

- Mary questioned God, but not in the way we do. When other people question God, like Zechariah or Sarai, God usually reprimands them in some way. Mary questioned God, but she was just voicing her thoughts aloud. She didn’t doubt God. Mary knew her place. She was a human, God was God. No Word of God, no matter how crazy, wild, or unbelievable, will ever fail.

- I encourage you today, have Mary’s heart and know your place. It’s okay to ask God questions. In fact, God loves when we ask him question, when we bring our deepest, hardest question to him, when we cry out to him in anguish or pain, because we’re coming to him. This is why Job was commended for his faith by God. He cried to God, “Why has this happened?” But he cried to God. When we ask those questions, we listen and be content with the answer, no matter what they are or whether or not we understand them. We are human. God is God. Have Mary’s heart and know your place.

Have Mary’s heart and love God’s will.

I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as you have said.

Mary had a tough road ahead of her. Everyone would see her as a cheat. She would have a reputation for the rest of her life. She would literally change the diapers of God. You have a tough road ahead of you. Your future will have tears, loss, pain, sickness, grief, worry, anxiety, and so many problems. Physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil. All of that is ultimately allowed to happen by God! That is God’s will for your life

- God’s will for Mary was hard. But Mary loved God’s will. She saw how hard her life would get, she was troubled, she had questions, but she simply said, “Okay, I am God’s servant, may it be as you have said.” Mary almost perfectly exemplifies the 4th petition of the Lord’s prayer, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

- I encourage you today, have Mary’s heart and love God’s will.

Everything that happens, no matter how terrible or hard, is meant to strengthen your faith and work God’s will.

Everything that happens, no matter how terrible or hard, is sent from a loving, gracious God who wants you to live forever in paradise.

No matter how tough or hard our situation might be, we love God, follow him, worship him, love God’s will, and say, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”

I hope you understand one simple truth from this sermon: Mary is awesome. She believed God’ promise of a Savior, Jesus, he son.

- Have Mary’s Heart. This Christmas, believe God’s promise of a Savior for you, for the whole world.

- Be filled with wonder at this promise.

- Know your place and trust in God.

- Love God’s will, no matter what that might be.