Wednesday Evening Bible Study
April 12, 2000
Introduction
Last week we saw the amazing things that happened with John the Baptist’s
parents, Zacharias and Elisabeth.
:26-38 Gabriel visits Mary
:26 And in the sixth month
The sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Luke 1:36).
:26 the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named
Nazareth,
Gabriel had last appeared to Zacharias, John’s father, in the temple in
Jerusalem. Now he heads north to Nazareth.
:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
virgin – parthenos –
a virgin; a marriageable maiden; a woman
who has never had sexual intercourse with a man
espoused – mnesteuo –
to woo her and ask her in marriage; to be
promised in marriage, be betrothed
There were three phases to getting
married in Jesus’ day. Parents would arrange marriages for their children even
while at the age of 2. They would be considered “engaged”. A year or so
before the actual marriage, the “espousal” period was entered. Though they
were not married, they were considered by custom to be as if they were married
(cf. Gen. 29:21; Deut. 22:23-30). The final stage came at marriage.
house of David – meaning the royal line of kings.
Mary – Maria – Miriam =" their rebellion"
How important is it that we believe that Mary was a virgin?
Jesus needed to be a perfect sacrifice for our sin. That meant that He
needed to have no sin Himself.
Even in the foreshadowing of the Passover Lamb –
(Exo
12:5 KJV) Your lamb shall be without blemish …
We are sinners both because we are born with a sin nature, but also because
we commit sin.
Jesus was “without sin” because He committed no sin
(2
Cor 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(1
Pet 2:22 KJV) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
But it goes farther than that. Jesus also did not have a sin nature, which
seems to be passed from father to child.
(1
John 3:5 KJV) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in
him is no sin.
Is the “virgin birth” all that important? Yes. As you understand the
nature of God’s plan, offering up a sin sacrifice to take pay for the sins of
the world, it is essential that the sacrifice be without sin. Otherwise He
wouldn’t be dying for our sins, He’d have to pay for His own sin.
:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
highly favoured – charitoo –
to make graceful; charming, lovely,
agreeable; to peruse with grace, compass with favour; to honour with blessings
This word is only found one other
place,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Lest you make more of Mary than you
should, keep in mind that God uses this term for us as well.
blessed – eulogeo –
to praise, celebrate with praises; to
invoke blessings
Having a balanced view of Mary.
Mary was a very special gal. She was chosen by God to give birth to the
Messiah.
But she was just an ordinary gal. She had a sin nature. She had other
children by Joseph after Jesus was born.
(Mat
13:55-57 KJV) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary?
and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? {56} And his sisters,
are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? {57} And
they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without
honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
It seems that Jesus at times even might have been a little frustrated at
His mom.
(John
2:1-5 NASB) And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there; {2} and Jesus also was invited, and His
disciples, to the wedding. {3} And when the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus
said^ to Him, "They have no wine." {4} And Jesus said^ to her,
"Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come." {5}
His mother said^ to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
Jesus had respect for His mom, but His mom told the servants to obey JESUS.
(Mat
12:46-50 KJV) While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and
his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. {47} Then one said unto
him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with
thee. {48} But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother?
and who are my brethren? {49} And he stretched forth his hand toward his
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! {50} For whosoever shall
do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and
sister, and mother.
We want to be careful that we don’t go too far in this and become critical
of Mary. It’s not her fault that people want to worship her.
:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be.
I find it interesting that she didn’t seem bothered that she was being
visited by an angel. Instead, she was bothered that he called her “highly
favored” and “blessed”.
:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
with God.
favour – charis – grace; good will, loving-kindness, favour
:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS.
Jesus – Iesous – “Jehovah is salvation”. Just as with John,
Gabriel tells the parents what to name the child.
A fulfilled prophecy –
Isa
7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
: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:
Fulfilling prophecies
Isa
9:6-7 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, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase
of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of
David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and
with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.
(2
Sam 7:12-13 KJV) And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. {13} He shall build an house for my
name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a
man?
know – to know in the “Biblical” sense, she is saying that she has
not had sexual relations with a man.
Mary isn’t questioning Gabriel, she just wants to know how it would happen.
:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
shall come – eperchomai –
to come to arrive; to come upon, overtake,
one
power – dunamis – strength power, ability
overshadow – episkiazo –
to throw a shadow upon, to envelop in a
shadow, to overshadow. The word suggests a gentle power.
From a vaporous cloud that casts a
shadow the word is transferred to a shining cloud surrounding and enveloping
persons with brightness. Used of the Holy Spirit exerting creative energy upon
the womb of the virgin Mary and impregnating it (a use of the word which seems
to have been drawn from the familiar OT idea of a cloud as symbolising the
immediate presence and power of God)
:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her
old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
cousin – suggenes –
of the same kin, akin to, related by
blood. Even though Mary too was of the tribe of Judah, it’s possible that
Mary’s and Elizabeth’s mothers were sisters, both of the tribe of Judah, yet
Elizabeth’s mother married a guy from the tribe of Levi, making Elizabeth of
the tribe of Levi (Luke 1:5). Yet because of their great age difference
(remember, Elizabeth is old and past child-bearing age, Mary is just a young
gal, perhaps 14 –16 years old), they may be related in some other fashion.
Other translations have “relative”.
she hath also conceived – keep in mind, this is probably the first
that Mary has heard of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
nothing – literally, “no word” (word – rhema – that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word
– see vs.38)
impossible – adunateo –
impossible; not to have strength, power, or
ability, to be weak; can not be done, to be impossible
Lesson
God can do anything.
Gabriel was telling Mary about what had happened to Elizabeth to show to
her that nothing was impossible for God.
The same thing had been told to Abraham about the birth of his son Isaac –
(Gen
18:14 KJV) Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
God can do anything.
(Jer
32:17 KJV) Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy
great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
(Mat
19:26 KJV) But Jesus …said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible.
Don’t let the size of your problems become bigger than your concept of
God. I’m not saying that God will do anything, but keep in mind that He
can do anything.
:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according
to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
handmaid – doule –
a female slave, bondmaid, handmaid
word – rhema – that which is or has been uttered by the living
voice, thing spoken, word
Lesson
Submission to God
What the angel was talking about would certainly lead others to think that
she was either a promiscuous young lady, and possibly that she was crazy as
well.
Mary was not afraid of what God would do to her.
She was willing to let God
do whatever He wanted with her.