WHEN GOD CHANGES YOUR CALENDER (LUKE 1:26-31)
Introduction
Messiah would Bruise Satan’s Head Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel. Messiah would be God Himself Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace.
Messiah would be Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from Christmas is about the fulfillment of God’s promises to those who are insignificant. The amazing thing is not that Christ came but that He came for us. Not that He came bring salvation but that salvation came to us.
I. A Young Couple who’s Lives Were Suddenly Interrupted The first thing I want to call to our attention from this story is that here was a young couple whose lives were suddenly interrupted. That sometimes happens, doesn’t it? We have our plans all laid out for how it’s all supposed to happen, but then something occurs and all our plans are changed. Why does God sometimes allow our lives to be interrupted? Let’s consider the story of Joseph and Mary.
A. THEIR DELIGHT 1. Their Engagement The Bible says that Mary and Joseph were ‘betrothed’ to be married. The Jewish process of getting married was a little different than it is for us today. Oftentimes the parents of the couple arranged the marriage long before the couple met each other. At the proper time the young man and the young woman would be brought together for a ceremony known as the ‘betrothal.’ During this special ceremony the groom would place a ring on the finger of his wife to be and say, “With this ring, you are consecrated to me according to the law of Moses and Israel In the eyes of the Jewish community, the betrothing was as sacred and binding as the actual marriage covenant and could be broken only by death or a divorce. After the couple was betrothed, both the bride and groom would return to their parents’ home for a period of six months to a year in order to get prepared for their wedding day. 2. Their Excitement Imagine how excited Mary and Joseph must have been as they waited for the day when they could become husband and wife.
B. THEIR DISRUPTION But then something happened to disrupt their excitement. Matthew 1:18 Notice that the Bible says that ‘before they came together’ as husband and wife, (before there was any type of physical interaction between them), it was discovered that Mary was carrying a baby. We’re not told how Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. Did Mary somehow send him word? Did she herself go to see him? Did he hear some rumors? We don’t know. But we do know how he reacted.
Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,
was minded to put her away secretly.
I wonder if at some point Joseph asked the question many of us ask whenever our plans are suddenly
interrupted. ‘Why God did you allow this to happen?’
1. Joseph Questioned ‘Why?’
The Law of Moses dealt with adultery in two ways:
i. The Sentence of Death
It says in Deuteronomy 22:22 that if a man’s wife was caught with another man, both she and the other
man were to be put to death by stoning.
ii. The Certificate of Divorce
It ways in Deuteronomy 24:1 that if a husband discovers that his wife has been unfaithful, yet she has
not been caught her in the very act; he is to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away from his
home.
The news of Mary’s pregnancy must have hurt Joseph very deeply. No doubt he loved Mary and looked
forward to the day when she would fully become his wife. The Bible seems to indicate that he wrestled
over the decision of what do. Finally Joseph decided to divorce her quietly.
2. Mary’s Question was ‘HOW?’
Joseph’s big question was ‘Why did God allow this to happen?’ Mary’s big question was ‘How in the
world did this happen?’
However, the context in which this word is used here clearly indicates that Mary was someone who had
never been sexually involved with a man. Neither Mary nor Joseph could understand how it had
happened. The angel explained that it was only because of the power of God.
a. The Angel’s Announcement
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with
thee: blessed art thou among women.
The word ‘favor’ means grace. God has chosen to pour out His grace upon you.
There are at least three wondrous details given in the angel’s announcement:
i. You shall conceive a son in your womb
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
There’s the Bible’s answer to those who doubt the virgin birth of Christ. Mary could not understand how
she could possibly conceive a child in her womb when she had never been with a man.
ii. Your son will be the Messiah
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.
Every Jew knew that sitting on the throne of David and reigning over the house of Israel forever were
clearly prophecies pertaining to the promised Messiah.
iii. Your son will be the Son of the Most High God b. Mary’s Amazement Luke 1:34 … How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
i. How can such a thing like this happen? ii. Why would such a thing like this happen? Why would God choose to bring His Son into this world through the womb of a young Jewish virgin? The Bible says – Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. At God’s appointed time, He sent His Son to this world to be born as a human so that He might eventually die for the sins of humanity.
II. A Young Couple Who’s Lives Were Changed Forever A. Why Did God Choose Mary and Joseph?
1. Because of their purity We could say that it was because of their purity. Scripture says that they both were striving to live righteous lives before the Lord. Yet most likely it was because of their poverty. B. How Did Being Chosen by God Affect Their Lives?
1. It Brought Them Pleasure I’m sure that there must have been great joy for Mary and Joseph as they held in their arms the newborn baby Jesus. One wonders what they must have thought and felt as they looked into His face and tried to understand who He was.
2. It Brought Them God’s Presence Consider what the angel Gabriel said to Joseph –Matthew 1:22
Conclusion a. God is with us because the Son of God came to die for our sins The reason the Son of God became the son of man was so He could die for our sins. b. God is with us because the Son of God came to walk with us through life