WE BELIEVE--PEACE: HAVE NO FEAR

Sermon Notes, December 4, 2016

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry continued Advent 2016, “We Believe,” with his second sermon, titled “Peace: Have No Fear.”  The scripture reference was Luke 1:-25-38, the story of Mary and the angel Gabriel, who was God’s messenger.  He brought news to Mary.

Sometimes in history when a messenger brought bad news, the recipient had the messenger killed; thus the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger!”  Others who receive bad news take their cue from the ostrich and plug their ears, or hide, hoping things are better when they dare open their eyes. Mary could have done any of these things, but her response was fear.  Fear makes sense. Anger and distress when people are powerless can turn into fear, and Mary was powerless at this point. 

We know Joseph’s ancestry, but all we know of Mary is her name, and that she’s a virgin.  We can deduce that she’s about 12 to 14 years old because she is betrothed. But most of all we know about her Son.  While Mary’s identity is brief, her Son’s is renowned.  If Mary’s fear first presented itself as distress, now it is unbelief.  “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”  How can she, who has never known a man, have a child?  The answer of course, is God.  It is through the Holy Spirit that this miracle will be accomplished.  It is not anything she has done or will do, but simply the favor of God.

Advent is a season of preparing for the favor of God.  Just as Mary had a season to wait for the favor of God to be present in the birth of Jesus, so we are waiting for the favor of God to be fully present at His return.  We can take three cues from Mary that acknowledges God’s favor and that will help us to respond faithfully.

·         Mary acknowledged that she was God’s slave

·         Mary affirmed that God’s plan is best.

·         Mary accepted being alone.

Mary acknowledged that she was God’s slave.  We try to soften the language in verse 38 by translating the word to “servant.”  Slave has too many negative connotations.  But the word used here, daoul, means “slave.”  She admits no rights before God.  Our culture is deeply concerned with rights.  But this isn’t necessarily the approach of Christian faith.  When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, we give up our rights.  God doesn’t owe us anything.  Fear is the natural response when you attempt to place yourself above God.  To avoid fear, acknowledge you are God’s slave, and that He owes you absolutely nothing.

Mary affirmed that God’s plan is best.  She gave up any plans or dreams that she may have had for her life.  She said “May your word to me be fulfilled.” She was saying, “God, you know best.  I will act and I will trust in you.”  She was forsaking all other plans to say YES to God.  She counted up the cost, and determined that following God’s plan for her live was totally worth it.

Mary accepted being alone.  Perhaps the reason we don’t know much about Mary’s ancestry is that her family didn’t approve or believe her mission from God.  We know that God’s path for her was difficult.  Can you imagine being her age at this time?  Last week we read about a woman who was looked down upon when she could have no children.  Now imagine how a young girl would be looked down upon when she was about to have a child without being married.  Now, this is a common occurrence but it wasn’t in those days.  And can you imagine what her fiancé thought?  Later, she goes to Elizabeth, but right now, she is alone.  The angel is gone; no one else heard his message.  She will face a betrothed who will not necessarily understand.  She will face the scorn of her society for bearing a child out of wedlock.  She will be unmarriable, threatening to bring dishonor to whatever home she enters.

The favor of God confronts us today, and it is our invitation to act.  He might be calling us to Himself to experience the forgiveness of sin.  He might be convicting us to give over a hidden or persistent sin.  He might be calling us to consecration—giving over everything in our lives to Him. 

Like Mary, we can ask “How can this be?”  “How could God call me to himself?  I’ve done so much wrong.”  “How can God call me to ministry that’s not in my 5-year plan?”  “How can God call me to generosity that doesn’t fit my budget?”  “How can God call us to marital faithfulness and abstinence before marriage?  That doesn’t fit in this world.”   Have you ever asked ‘How can this be’ questions?

Have you ‘shot the messenger’?   Not just the preacher, but anyone else who has brought the word of God, or told you an unsettling truth.  Sigmund Freud called ‘shooting the messenger’ a way of fending off what is distressing or unbearable.  Mary may not have been able to shoot the angel, but she could have said “No,” or closed her ears, or run away, but she didn’t.  She said “Yes,” and in doing so she becomes a model for us today.  She shows how we can respond to God’s grace, to overcome fear, and to experience peace.  No matter who we are, how young we are, or how old we are, God has a purpose for us.  With God’s help, anything is possible.  In saying “Yes,” she allowed peace to come into this world through her Son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.