Jumping for Joy - Luke 1:26-80

Seen countless miracles throughout the previous century.

Gabriel had watched at the dawn of human history as the word of God spoke into existence with spectacular colors more than 100 billion galaxies we think that's over and watch God crafted man dirt and his bride out of one of his rib marrying nothing will be impossible with God. Seen it with my own. Imagine all the wonders that the angel gave Saul the God that Gabriel served and worshiped in heaven had now become a human and existed as a fetus in Mary's womb today on wisdom for the heart. Stephen Devi continues through his series entitled Christmas cousins. There were two babies into wombs John in the womb of Elizabeth and Jesus in the womb of Mary, something remarkable happened when those two babies came into proximity with one another.

In case you don't know what happened to hit this in Stephen's lesson title jumping for joy.

Well, we just in the last couple of weeks to a couple in their 80s who, instead of shopping for things that you would expect them to be shopping for stuff that would work well with the retirement on the family farm there instead planning a baby shower. Gabriel has appeared and this message has literally blown their minds by the supernatural power of God. There are about to become parents for the very first time. Well into their 80s and have a baby boy and not just any baby boy writer about to become the parents of the first profit speak to the nation Israel and for hundred years. If you are with us in our last session, you may remember that Zacharias did believe the angel of the angel came out of in the holy place.

It caressed you and your wife have a baby and so we asked for signs is always interesting angel appears from God with a message and Zacharias has resigned from God, but Gabriel agreed with Zacharias's demand for size. Okay here is you present your nation unity unable speaker here because of your unbelief until the baby is born with that Gabriel disappears into thin air. He just turns the world upside down and then prove these Dr. Luke the physician gives us the details in the first chapter of his gospel severely by Western there that text again and this time I want to jump ahead as Luke leaves Zacharias and Elizabeth as he shifts the spotlight onto the cousin of Elizabeth Young, Mary and I want for the second time jump right to the announcement of Gabriel to Mary in verse 31 of you there in verse 31 behold look Mary says you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the son of the most I and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.

Gabriel just backs up the prophetic truck and unloads he makes eight predictions and what I just read at least eight the first 5 Will Take Pl. in a matter of months. Mary, you will conceive in your womb, you will bear a son name him Jesus.

He will be great. He will be the son of God. Those five prophecies will be fulfilled in the first coming of Christ. But there are more prophecies that Gabriel introduces to her three more 1.the father will give to God is on the throne of David's forefathers ran. He will reign over Israel forever, and in fact fill rate over everything and everyone forever agent rapid fire century is sweeping the kingdom coming. Prophecy is the bottom of the mind that begin with her pregnancy and with the eternal state. Gabriel just just unloaded the wagon I think is interesting that Mary got stuck on the first production you're getting conceive. I don't think she heard anything Gabriel had to say after that factor first response will be exactly to some degree the same vocabulary as Zacharias was 34.

Mary said to the angel first word how how can this be some version. Remember Zacharias's response we study the last word. Xavier went as Zacharias said that Angela Megan was 18 of it digresses in the angel, how shall I know this for certain, for I am an old man and my wife. He catches himself. Here it is a seasonal woman. She's she's advanced in years. She's mature so you need to give me a sign hi Paul, this all now Mary spotless with the words, how I'm a virgin.

The angel gives the discipline of God, the Zacharias, but not to Mary find it interesting to God hold Zacharias to a greater accountability is a veteran priest spent his life studying the word he knows better.

He's knowledgeable of the history of Israel. He knows the covenant came he knows it was it it it it was confirmed when an old couple had a baby boy Abraham and Sarah. If God did with him, he can do it again. He had no business asking how are you going to pull this off.

In fact he says in his language. I need a sign, but you need to understand is asking for a sign of his on belief what is effectively set.

So Zacharias is disciplined and Mary is Sears was having Zacharias doesn't believe the promise Mary doesn't understand the process for Zacharias. It's really an issue of theology for Mary is an issue of biology, so Gabriel here in the kindness of God provide some insight with verse 35 the angel answered and said to her, the Holy Spirit come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you that word overshadow is the same word used by Matthew Mark and Luke to describe the cloud of God's presence that that's settled over the mountain we call the Mount of Transfiguration were Jesus was briefly revealed as he pulls back the curtain and reveals his glorious brilliant deity. Matthew recorded in chapter 17 marking chapter 9 a look at. It's also the same idea of of the Old Testament description of the cloud covered the tabernacle, when the tent was filled with the glory of God. Exodus chapter Mary are going to be overshadowed with the presence of God will that explains it to some degree we still understand doing lazy on her many things in this book. I do not understand, but I believe because the word of God is true, so Gabriel then kindly graciously provides in verse 37 what I believe to be personal commentary. It may not even be part of his message, but he's just going to tell her on a personal note, by the way, Mary. Nothing will be impossible with God literally translated no word of God is impossible, nothing that God says is impossible to have fully, clearly precisely fulfill Gabriel here in verse 37 is not just putting a great verse Russ to memorize later. He is speaking as an eyewitness, Mary responds wonderfully verse 38.

She basically says okay here I am, I'm all yours.

She's effectively saying I'm going to present my body to God. A living sacrifice, holy and acceptable with the most reasonable thing ever do my worship of God what Gabriel says next is gracious the word of God is going to condescend to match the heart and the experience of the girl is probably more than 15 or 16 years of age look back at verse 36 what Gabriel said, a look. Mary look Mary even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age.

Wonderful things are happening, unexplainable things. She was Colbert and is now in she's six months pregnant, you should see Gabriel just so happens to drop Mary's cousin's name into the net.

Here's what I believe is happening believe Gabriel in the grace of God is is hinting at what shall pick up on he saying Mary you need somewhere to go and you need to go there soon.

Your reputation as Mary Usher understood is about to be destroyed. Your unmarried and about to show effect as soon as Joseph. Here's the good news of your expectancy. He's going to assume what everybody else will assume and visit him in the night to keep them on track.

We studied these cousins.

Thus far in this incarnation story in light of their their world and their lives for Elizabeth.

Keep this in mind that the news of her pregnancy well and her shame the news of Mary's pregnancy will begin for her a life of shame for Elizabeth the delivery of this boy sweep away the dust of suspicion that has gone her heels for at least 50 years.

Her inability to conceive, as we've already discussed in the series was tantamount to the Abraham a covenant that was taken out to God's displeasure at in the new covenant where we are today. Pregnancy then will end her shame. It will restore her reputation before her cousin married her pregnancy will destroy her reputation begin a life of shame she's gonna live under the clouds of suspicion, people will assume that she certainly under the displeasure of God factor Jesus introduces himself and ministry.

The religious leaders throw them back at him and they basically say your mother was sexually immoral. They say to him what we, unlike you, we were not born out of fornication.

She never lived that. Can I pull off on the side of the road just long enough to to make a point or two about how serving God for one woman is about to become an extremely joyful thing in serving God for another is about to become a very pain.

Elizabeth's world is about to be put together Mary's world fall apart. She and her husband are going to end up on the run for their lives for the life of their little boy will follow the announcements that he's going to be born.

I can't help but wonder how many of us will serve Christ as long as he puts everything together. How many of us will serve him when things fall apart Mary's world that's become very confusing to be filled with accusation and suspicion gossiped. These events are to be the talk of the town. Mary's expecting out of wedlock and and do we really know who the father is even Joseph won't say he's author that is the baby's father. Some of said that Mary is said that it's God that takes the cake.

This is a delicious scandal, and everybody is gonna want to take this to be on the cover of every tabloid and every checkout line of every Food Lion meeting see it all go to buy groceries. You read about it here. The headlines now. Mary is expected Joseph not in exclusive interviews with Joseph inside Mary's wedding postponed. Mary rumored to be expecting missing Rishi. Mary knows that her family will be outraged. Her father will be shamed. The rabbis will be incensed and she may very well be in physical danger and thus the grace of God to Mary here, Gabriel is just name dropping favorite cousins. This is more than well you know your cousin Elizabeth is expecting a baby is wonderful, barren now expecting notes it's it's more than that Gabriel is giving Mary information that ultimately provides for her some hope in some security and some training, safety, and some understanding and clarity. Gabriel is saying Mary you need somebody who understands what it means to live under a cloud of suspicion. I've somebody in mind, you need to learn from someone who learned how to keep serving God. In spite of Tom's wagging fingers and suspicion following accusations of shame. Here's what I think and in this is in between the lines, I could be wrong but I believe the Gabriel is giving Mary the name of the only person on the planet who at this moment can understand her who can train and teacher pray with her. And so it isn't really a surprise at the very next phrase as Mary got up and took off. Verse 39 Mary Rose and went with haste to the hill country to the city of city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. This is 100 mile journey 3 to 4 days.

No mention of a family member along the custodian chaperone guy she as we would say up and leaves her North Carolina. She takes off and in the construction of this language indicates that she's running.

She she's going to work. Gabriel was told something else is unusual happening there shall understand. By the way, if Mary had anything to hide the last place you would on the planet is to the home of a priest whose duty it was to uphold the law.

She doesn't have anything to hide. She she's has a lot to learn. Apparently she's alone. Suddenly, he or she is in the doorway, unannounced, unexpected, saying hello Elizabeth verse 41, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leave them alone and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out with a loud voice shouting blessed among women, are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb and how is it as it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me. I'm in the presence of mylar. Now you need to understand these are Old Testament times, even though you're in the in the New Testament covenant begins with the descent of the Holy Spirit, the creation of the church at Pentecost. These are Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit anointed people. He did not and 12. The dwelling will take place in this era.

This dispensation we call the church a this to be unique and of course to us in the New Testament.

He came and he stayed were not praying for the Holy Spirit to come.

He came, he hasn't gone anywhere.

He indwells the growing bride of Christ. Every member immediately upon conversion is indwelt by the Spirit you were all baptized by means of the spirit into the body of Christ prescribed his 1213. Every believer has been spirit baptized. If anybody asks you if you been baptized by the Spirit you can say yeah yeah spirit came you to get a leg and arm and torso.

You get the whole person indwells you been in the Old Testament, he would come and go. He would come and anoint like you did with King Saul need to leave as David pray don't take your Holy Spirit away from something believer never has to pray. So in this context the Holy Spirit in this immediately anointing Elizabeth with his inspiring presence so that she bursts out with this amazing declaration in and in Zacharias by the way, representing an unbelieving nation, unable to speak for God, join and stand there watching, no doubt rejoicing. By the way, why because for both of them a big piece of the puzzle is just dropped into their lap.

They had been given the message from Gabriel that their son would be the forerunner of the Messiah, which didn't beg his big question, where's the Messiah that our boy will introduce our son is going to introduce to the nation, the son of God.

Where is the son of God, how will he manifest himself. How how is our boy can recognize him where will he come from, as even born yet is to be born. Houses were and all that is answered on the porch when Mary simply shows up and says hello immediately.

Elizabeth turns around and says effectively.

I understand now is coming together.

You she doesn't know that Mary's expecting she hasn't heard from Gabriel about Mary, but as soon as she hears her greasy turns and says get it down your caring the Messiah the Prince's of my more and all that by her simply saying hello that isn't enough for the moment to remember. Did you knows what pre-born baby John does. Elizabeth summarizes it in verse 44 is wonderful here for the whole Elizabeth is when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby might lead in my womb for joy. He left for joy. You should mother knows the sensation of winter. Baby delivers a kick Elizabeth and faith says verse 43 I am the presence of my Lord. He's unborn to she calls in my Lord unborn yet divine presence of the Messiah very very helpful. No doubt to Mary. In fact, verse 56 where it tells us that Mary stayed with Elizabeth and it says about three months before returning to her home. I'm grateful for one linguist to point out the verse 56 is a summary verse that informs us that Mary did eventually go home not to tell us that she left before verse 57 Takes Pl., which is highly significant to the preparation of of Mary to the context of John's birth.

If you study this carefully for the second time just to give you an overview here know that the the family and the relatives.

The extended family and also the neighbors show up after the birth.

It's after the birth that they celebrate with her joy, which means they kept this thing a secret, all the way up through the delivery, which means that Mary may very well have played the role of midwife. She was the only woman there Zacharias.

As you know, he's kind of necessity lay ready without our water whatever you need to go for this would been important as Mary's education is provided for childbirth and delivering why because in a few months. Mary is going to deliver a baby. All all she has Joseph even in this God is preparing Mary with what she she needed not more, not what she would like to have an so you have this scene here John is delivered the news gets out Elizabeth in Zacharias.

Everyone there, filled with joy. Verse 59 came about on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. This is according to the prescription of the law they can make sure that John has impeccable Jewish credentials which you will need is a prophet on the eighth day is prescribed by the law to go to circumcise him, bringing him into the covenant family and the name of the name of Zacharias after his father not notice that they are the extended family in the name of Zacharias can talk so they assume they got the right name we discussed with Evelyn Powell well family, uncles and aunts, cousins got together everything you be called Zechariah verse 60 and his mother answered and said no indeed that the force of that language says no way that his name will be called John and said to her, no one among your relatives is called love the scene time and in the boy Zacharias can offer any help.

We decided to call in Zacharias Junior exact in little Elizabeth says no you're not there thinking John would come from the disease is not even close to Zacharias doesn't rhyme with everything else from Walmart cute names for babies rethinking postnatal confusion. So we better ask dad, that's what happens next for 62 they made signs to the father as to what you want to call in the aspirin tablet is wax covered tablet and wrote as follows.

His name is John and they are all astonished nuance of the word means are slightly scandalized people either doing this offended to carry on the name.

Listen, here's the here's the here's the great story by just as naming he is there is ministry will be there to introduce someone who will give to everyone who believes in him a new name.

In fact, it's got to be a new family to John means the grace of God, owned by the way that you get the family you get your new name Christian he's there to do something totally. All of a sudden, after Zacharias right on that waxed tablet.

His name is John and obedience to the word of God.

For 64 tells us that he began to speak his tongue as Lucy begins to speak in praise of God and fear came on all those living around them and hold these batterers were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. I'll bet they you know in your heart of hearts because you belong to God the father by faith in this is your Lord, you can nothing other than respond with okay okay joy. I surrender my body, mind and heart to you as a living sacrifice, holy, separated, sanctified, acceptable to you, God, which is the most reasonable thing ever to life as I worship you because you are my Lord you are my I hope today's time in God's word is blessed and encouraged you this Christmas season here on wisdom for the heart were working our way through a series entitled Christmas cousins are Bible teacher is Stephen Davey Stephen is the senior pastor of colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina. Our offices close today as the staff enjoys some extended time with their family and friends this holiday season. However, you can still interact with our ministry at our website which is wisdom online.org. Once you get to that site you'll be able to access all of our resources listen to any of our messages or making year end gift to our ministry. You can do all the same things on our smart phone app as well, so be sure and install that and join us tomorrow for our next lesson here on wisdom for the hearts