Luke 1:26-33
I am amazed at how accurately doctor’s can predict the future height and weight of babies right after they are born. The birth of Jesus is a unique, dramatic exception. While Mary is not yet even pregnant, God tells her something about the son she will bear: v.32 He will be great (mega)
What did that mean for Mary? We can’t be sure. But the promise raises at least three questions:
1. Why should she know this?
A. This was a MOST HIGHLY unusual occurrence. The Spirit of God would conceive a child in her womb. Never happened before; would never happen again.
B. We can speculate that she should know because she might have been perplexed by his life in this respect:
We could be fooled by modest beginnings:
We could be discouraged by appearances during his ministry:
We could be devastated by his life’s conclusion:
Is. 53:3: despised, forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief; smitten of God and afflicted, having no physical appearance that we should desire him.
2. How could she know this?
Mary could hang her hopes of Jesus’ greatness on one simply fact: God said so:
In the present through the angelic prophetic word.
In the past, the psalms anticipated and Prophets predicted so. Is.9:6-7
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, Eternal father, prince of peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace…
3. In what sense great?
v.32-33 amplify in what sense:
A. shall be called the Son of God; (great in his being; WHO he is)
B. the Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and his kingdom will reign forever. (great in his power and authority; WHAT he came to do)
A. Great in his being
Jesus is the Eternal Son. He made the world. He appeared in the OT. Everything that is God, Jesus has been forever, therefore Jesus is great because God is great. Immanuel: God in the flesh.
Great in glory: People have seen a great light; (Is.9:2) He was great in righteous; he never sinned.
Wisdom, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in him
Tenderness (a smoldering wick he will not extinguish)
Understanding and patience; Servanthood, humility: condescension: Ps138: For great is the glory of the Lord. For though he is exalted, yet he regards the lowly. dependence, independence; faithfulness to his Father.
What good does it do you? Gaze upon it. David in Ps. 27:4
One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in his temple.
Heb.12:2 run race of faith fixing our eyes on Jesus
You’ll know you’re seeing by: Acts 12:22-23, 1 Cor.15:10
B. Great in his power and authority (the Lord will give him the throne of his father David)
Power
Authority Greek exousia (Lit. out of his being)
Where do you see that authority in action now?
By the way his power divides men.
Luke 51-52 he has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart; he has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted those who were humble.
