INTRODUCTION

If Roman Catholicism makes too much of Mary the mother of Jesus, many Protestants honor her too little. On this as on other subjects, Baptists need to maintain a Scriptural balance.

Mary was only a mortal woman, and there is not the least hint in the Bible that she was any less a sinner by nature than any other woman; on the contrary, like any other sinner saved by grace, she "rejoiced in God my Savior" [Luke 1:47]. Nevertheless she is the woman that God chose to be the mother of His Son, and therefore we should properly honor her as a human vessel or vehicle of divine blessing.

Being careful, therefore, to avoid idolatrous "worship" or "adoration" and to reserve our worship for God alone, we may profit spiritually from the Scriptural account of Gabriel's announcement to Mary of the virgin birth. Outline follows:

1. Virgin, Luke 1:26-28. 
a. Foreknown virgin, 26-27. 
b. Favored virgin, 28. 

2. Vehicle, Luke 1:29-31. 
a. Humble vehicle, 29. 
b. Holy vehicle, 30. 
c. Heavenly vehicle, 31. 

3. Victor, Luke 1:32-35. 
a. Destined Victor, 32-33. 
b. Divine Victor, 34-35. 

4. Victory, Luke 1:36-38. 
a. Verified victory, 36. 
b. Vicarious victory, 37-38 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

VIRGIN, Luke 1:26-28.

Quibbling over possible meanings of Hebrew and Greek words for "virgin" is stupid because irrelevant. Context makes the meaning clear to anyone who believes the Bible. Deniers of the virgin birth need simply to be recognized and classified as unbelievers; their doubts and disputations ought not to disturb us who believe. What truth is there that unbel- ievers have not denied?

Foreknown Virgin, 26-27.

Gabriel "was sent from God" at the appointed time to the appointed place with the appointed message for the appointed virgin, all foreknown to God. There was no tedious search, no uncertainty or hesitancy as to the identity of the virgin named Mary. God always knows what He is going to do, and where and when and how He is going to do it. His angels are mighty in power and wisdom, and seem to have no difficulty in carrying out His commands.

Favored Virgin, 28.

"Full of grace" is a perniciously false translation; "favored" here is from a perfect passive participle meaning "graced" or "having received grace." Mary had and has no grace of herself, but she obtained grace from God; God was with her; and so she was blessed among women.

VEHICLE, Luke 1:29-31.

Historically the virgin Mary was the vessel or vehicle through which God became man and so qualified Himself to be the Substitute for sinners.

Humble Vehicle, 29.

Like any humble child of God, Mary was conscious of her own unworthiness, and so had trouble recognizing herself under the glowing terms of the angel.

Holy Vehicle, 30.

But there was no mistake; she need not fear to accept the salutation as properly addressed to her. Not that she was worthy in herself; it was simply that she had found favor or grace with God.

Heavenly Vehicle, 31.

"Jesus" means "Savior" or, more fully expressed, "Jehovah saves." Divine life from heaven was to enter the virgin's womb; the child she was to bear would be divine as well as human.

VICTOR, Luke 1:32-35.

Counterfeit christs or messiahs serve only to emphasize the uniqueness of Jesus, the Christ of the Bible. Nearly 2,000 years of history have demonstrated the truth of His claims, with infinitely greater glory to come. The apparently defeated Martyr of Calvary is our risen Lord, the sure Victor over all the powers of evil for time and eternity.

Destined Victor, 32-33.

God's prophetic Word must be fulfilled. Failure of His chosen people to recognize and receive Him at His first coming cannot defeat the purposes of God. "The throne of his father David" is still His, and He will yet "reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Divine Victor, 34-35.

No honest or intelligent reader can mistake the meaning. If any refuse to believe what is plainly writ- ten, let them take their place with other infidels and anti- christsi but born-again believers in Christ rejoice in the victorious power of our Divine Savior.

VICTORY, Luke 1:36-38.

Our victories are not all in the future. World history and personal experiences abound with examples of victory in Jesus, though some victories are apparent only to the eye of faith. For the believer there is victory here and now.

Verified Victory, 36.

To encourage Mary's faith, Gabriel told her of her cousin Elizabeth, "who was called barren," but who had "conceived a son in her old age." This was a fact which could easily be verified.

Vicarious Victory, 37-38.

We do not gain victory, however, over the world or over our own doubts and fears, through our own power. No, but "with God nothing shall be impossible." The battle is not ours, but His; He wins our battles for us if we commit our cause to Him. When we can say with Mary, "Be it unto me according to thy word," then it will be unto us according to His Word.

CONCLUSION [Isaiah 7:14]

Regardless of denials of modern infidels, Matthew tells us that this was a prophecy of the birth of Christ [Matthew 1: 21-25]. "Immanuel" means "God with us," signifying the incarnation.
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[From AAB, December 3, 1976, p. 2. -- jrd]

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