Second Presbyterian Church

"Mary's Scandalous Faith:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
December 7, 2003

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2003 » Sermons for December 2003 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#2 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• 2 Samuel 7: 4-14a
• Luke 1:26-38

Last week we noted that Luke had begun describing how God was getting the Land of Judah ready for the coming of the Messiah. The announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner, was made. He was the return of Elijah.

Today we read about another special announcement. It is the announcement to Mary by the angel, Gabriel. He told her that She was to be the mother of the Messiah. And, like last week, Luke tells a marvelous story about how this all took place.

First of all, the sixth month denotes that Elizabeth had been pregnant for that length of time. So, Luke is connecting the two announcements together in time.

Mary was a very young woman. She was "betrothed" to a man named Joseph. In our day we are not so familiar with "betrothed." Some Bibles translate it as engaged, but that word doesn't carry the legal weight that betrothal did in those days. What happened was this: the daughter's father made an arrangement for her to marry a man. It was a legally binding arrangement. So, Mary was betrothed to Joseph.. After a year of betrothal, then the groom would claim his bride and the wedding would take place; it lasted for about a week. They knew how to party. If either wanted out of the betrothal, then they would have to obtain a divorce. In Matthew's version of the birth narrative, Joseph - when he found out that Mary was pregnant - had planned to quietly divorce Mary Matthew 1: 18-20). So Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they had not yet had their wedding ceremony.

Back to the story, Gabriel came to Nazareth and met Mary and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" This greeting troubled Mary and scared her so the angel continued, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

Wow! Don't just hear these words as words from the Bible! Try to put yourself in Mary's place. Here you are, a young, relatively poor woman who is legally pledged to a man. An angel confronts you; he tells you that you have found great favor with God. The angel goes on to tell you how you will become pregnant, NOT by Joseph, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that the child you have will be the Messiah. He will be called the Son of the Most High. Can you imagine how Mary must have felt and thought when confronted with Gabriel and his announcement?

It is little wonder that Joseph might have had trouble believing her the first time. I find this fascinating and amazing stuff! To be perfectly honest with you, I would have reacted a little more like Zechariah, than Mary. I would have probably said, "Ya, sure, you betcha!"

What did Mary say? She said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

She believed. She believed the angel's prediction of a pregnancy without intercourse. She believed the angel when he told her that her son would be the Son of the Most High who will possess the throne of David forever. She believed Gabriel when he said, "nothing will be impossible with God."

And what was so scandalous about Mary's faith? She trusted Gabriel; she trusted that his announcement was true. She trusted that her pregnancy would not end in divorce. She trusted that her pregnancy was the Messiah, the Son of God!

Last week we met a wise, righteous man who had trouble believing what the angel told him. This week we met a young, innocent woman whose faith could serve to inspire us all.

Next time, in two weeks, (Next Sunday is Joy Service Sunday) we will hear the song of Mary, the Magnificat. It is another wonderful expression of faith. Indeed, the Kingdom of God IS coming into the world and we see it in the eyes of those who believe.

In the meantime we could benefit by taking to heart the words of Gabriel, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.