The Glory of Christ: The Acceptance

On Sunday mornings at Grace we’ve been focusing on the birth of Jesus in Luke’s gospel: the Announcement, the Acceptance, the Arrival and the Aftermath. We want to see & celebrate His greatness & goodness in sending a Savior daily (not just once a year at Christmas) as we focus on the glory of Christ in the story of Christ.

In Luke 1:39-56 we see the Acceptance by Mary (& Elizabeth) of the purposes and plans of God. The news they received didn’t fit with what they were planning for at that point (Elizabeth had resigned herself to having no children, Mary was planning to marry Joseph). In the Announcement story we saw the glory of Christ theologically in the VB; so important the Christian faith hinges on it. It links Jesus to God organically, points to His position as God; and His sinless Perfection. It inspires our trust, as recipients of God’s grace, to know God is in control. Luke 1:37 says Nothing will be impossible with God. God had invaded time and space and Mary was the chosen recipient of wonderful grace. And as there is in any endeavor where Almighty God enters into human affairs, some will worship and some will scorn and at the hands of the unknowing there will be a human price to pay. For her there would surely be questions, whispering, disbelief, scorn, contempt. Such would be the case for Mary, and she bore it beautifully.

Mary visits Elizabeth; goes from Nazareth to the hill country of Judah (100 miles south, a 3-5 day journey). When she arrives it was John who first communicated by leaping in Elizabeth’s womb. Pre-birth John testifies to the baby Jesus! His ministry begins 3 months before his birth (it was lived out some 30 years later, see John 3:29). Elizabeth responds with a prophetic double blessing: “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. She recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Mary sings a song of praise; really a declaration of faith on her part. It includes praise for God’s work for Mary, praise for God’s acts to all, and for His acts for Israel. And God directed the whole process; orchestrated things, cared for His own. Gifted Mary with Elizabeth for 3 months.

The Glory is seen in God’s Action. Acting unilaterally, He promises Jesus, chooses Mary, fulfills His Word and fills people with the Holy Spirit. Our Response is important. Mary believed God, cooperated with Him, worshipped Him, and walked in the Spirit. Filled with God’s Spirit she lived accordingly. The question for us is: How do we cooperate with God, how do we accept His will and plans when it doesn’t fit where we were thinking things should go?

1. We must acknowledge God’s direction and involvement. Acknowledge His sovereignty, Lordship, greatness, because yours or His will be functionally acknowledged. Be dependent on Him and confident in His abilities not your own.

2. Ask God to change our perspective. Ask God to give you wisdom to know where you are off track. Ask Him to show you the truth. Perspective matters.

3. Choose to think and act differently. Choose to praise v. complain, cooperate v. rebel. You are not a victim; it is not by chance it happened, it was allowed by God for some higher reason. Mary didn’t choose to be the mother of Jesus; she chose to cooperate with God. God prepares the hearts of those He’s chosen so they’d be able to respond appropriately to His leadership. He is sovereign and we are responsible for our actions.

4. Live in humble obedience. This is the follow-through step. Continue to take action based on your belief, trust & acknowledgement of Christ’s love and Lordship. 2 Cor. 6:1 says “working together with Him, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain”. Read Phil. 2:12-13; Prov. 16:9. The high road of humble obedience is better than low road of arrogant rebellion.

The Result? Blessing and peace. Elizabeth said 1:42 Blessed (Eulogeo) speak well of among women are you, and blessed (Eulogeo) is the fruit of your womb; and blessed (makairos) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. Makairas means indwelt by God and therefore fully satisfied. Mary said all generations will count me blessed (Makarizo). Makairas is often translated happy, which sells it short. We say we are happy when we get what we want. Read the Beatitudes; they weren’t ‘happy’, they were mourning over sin, persecuted, hungering, thirsting for righteousness. They were indwelt by God therefore fully satisfied in Him in the midst of hardship. When we seek God’s blessing we are asking Him to invade our plans & show us His own. Mary was a ‘living beatitude’; she was filled with God and therefore fully satisfied and at peace.

Peace is harmony with God that results in contentment. Rom. 5:1 “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Ps. 119:165 “Great peace have those who love Your law and nothing causes them to stumble”. Is. 26:3-4 “the steadfast of mind You will keep imperfect peace, trust in the Lord forever for in God the Lord we have an everlasting Rock”.