Sunday, 12/7/2025

The Characters of Christmas: Why God Chose Mary

Luke 1:26–38 (ESV) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”  ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

God took an ordinary young chaste, virgin woman and used her in an extraordinary way.   

Mary was a young woman of faith and devotion to God. 

The Greek word for “ troubled”  means ‘to cause serious distress,’ “to be mentally disturbed and thus deeply troubled—‘to be deeply troubled, to be very much upset".  

The fear of slanderous criticism 

The fear of the supernatural 

The fear of inadequacy 

Fear of change 

GOD USES PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO AND ARE WILLING TO DO HIS WILL

Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV) Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶  For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷  Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Luke 1:46–48  And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;” 

God uses people who want to be used.  

Enthusiastic Praise.  

She gives glory and praise for: The privileges God gives, vv. 47–49, The pattern God follows, vv. 50–53, and The promise God keeps, vv. 54–55. 

Nothing great is ever done without enthusiasm. 

If you get in God you'll be enthusiastic.  

Humility. Luke 1:48 “for he has looked on the humble status of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed” 

John 1:46a “Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”. 

God begins with a place that’s small and people who are obscure. 

None of us deserve to be used by God. We're all trophies of God's grace. 

God speaks to people who listen.  

Luke 2:19 " Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" 

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you." 

GOD USES PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO PAY THE COST

Mary sacrificed her reputation.

It cost her her comfort. 

God's purpose for my life includes some problems. 

There's always a cost.  

Philippians 3:7 ^“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ."

GOD USES PEOPLE WHO DARE TO TRUST GOD’S WORD

They are people of faith because it does take risk, it takes courage to be used by God. 

Courage doesn't mean you're not afraid. Courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear. 

Another word for courage is faith.  

Instead of worrying, she worshiped. 

Instead of panicking at the unknown, she praised and prayed.

"What is impossible with men is possible with God."  

Luke 1:45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”