Sermon Outline on Lk. 1:26-38 by Wayne Dobratz

Trinity Lutheran Church, Hampton, Iowa USA

Martin Franzmann has written: "If Matthew’s Gospel is the most austere and compelling of all the Gospels, if Mark’s is the most vivid and dramatic recital of the deeds of Christ, Luke’s is the warmest and most winning story of them all... It is Luke’s Nativity Story that has most decisively shaped the Church’s Christmas celebration." (Concordia Self-Study Commentary, N.T., p. 58)

THE MAKING OF A MIRACLE

1) A Great Need

Augustine said: "If man had not sinned, Christ would not have come." The need to repair the damages of sin was so great that special measures had to be taken. God’s Son took human flesh but had to do so in such a way as to avoid the stain of sin. The angel told Mary "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born of you will be called the Son of God."

The word for "overshadow" is the word used in the Septuagint for the appearing of the Shekinah in Ex. 40:35. The appearance of the Shekinah in the tent of meeting is reflected in John 1:14 also. Notice how great our need must be if one so great had to stoop so low to lift us up.

That points us to:

2) A Merciful God

Mary is told about God’s mercy to Elizabeth, her cousin, long childless and suffering the disgrace of her childless condition. God was merciful and sent her and Zechariah a son who would point to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Nothing is impossible for God, Mary was told by the angel. John was the first prophet God had sent to Israel in more than 400 years.

He spoke God’s Word and that Word works miracles. It changes people from the inside out. It changes human hearts right where they need change the most, in their relationship with God. He makes proud people humble and ready to receive the coming of a Humble Savior-King. Read what Mary said in her Magnificat in Luke 1:46ff

3) A Humble Heart

Mary rejoiced in the role God chose for her. "I am the Lord’s Servant. May it be to me as you have said." That makes for a great Nativity scene, but it’s not quite that easy in the Christian life. Humility goes down hard when the will of God is what he wants, but not what you want. Jesus exercised this same humility and submission to God’s will when he prayed in Gethsemane three times, "Not my will, but yours be done." Lk. 1:51ff.

Jesus came in humble circumstances because he is the humble Savior who calls to us with such gracious words: "Come to Me, you are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." My yoke is easy and my burden is light. "I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls."

Mary’s role in life was most special, but it was gained by God’s grace, just as ours is determined by God’s will and empowered by God’s grace. Paul reminds us of this submissive attitude to God in Eph. 5:1 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (NIV)

E.H. Wendland summarizes this text: "This Advent text exudes God’s grace and favor. Why was the angel Gabriel sent to a virgin named Mary in the insignificant town of Nazareth? The answer lies in God’s grace.

Why was God making good a promise he had given to people who had so often turned their backs on him? The answer is grace.

What caused Mary to accept as truth the unbelievable message which the angel brought? Again we come back to the grace which God had given her.

As we approach the celebration of our Lord’s birth we, too, need to be reminded that it was God’s love for us that moved him to send his Son into the world, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, to be our Savior."