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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (10-12-1995
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Luke 1 v 26-55
Sometimes the part played by the Virgin Mary in the
Christmas story is overlooked in Protestant circles, for fear of appearing to
elevate her. But if we can preach on Ruth and Hannah in the Old Testament, and
Mary Magdalene, Dorcas and Lydia in the New Testament, we can also preach on
Mary the mother of Jesus. There is much to be gained from exploring Mary’s
place in God’s purpose, and many things we can learn from her character.
Begin in negative way – what do we not believe about Mary? Then the significance of her being, as a virgin, the mother of the Lord Jesus. Finally to consider her character as described in this chapter.
No better example of the importance of being clear about
the matter of authority in belief and practice than Mary. If we take the Bible
alone, we end up with the beliefs which will be set out in the second section.
If we accept the Bible plus, there is no end to the extremes you get to and
which, in the end, contradict the Bible. The Roman Catholic church, which
rejects the sufficiency of the Bible, in practice exalts Mary above the Godhead.
Thousands of shrines to Mary all over the world. Tens of millions of visitors
annually. She is the very heart and life of Roman Catholicism. More prayers
offered to her and more honour given to her than to Christ and God the Father
combined. The present pope [1995], when globe trotting, has visited countless
Marion shrines, and invoked her aid in nearly every discourse and prayer. The
most recited Catholic prayer, the Rosary, concludes “Hail holy Queen. Mother
of mercy, our life, our sweetness, our hope! …. Turn then, most gracious
advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us…O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin
Mary”.
So what do we not believe about
her? Firstly, we do not believe in her immaculate conception – that she was
born without original sin. After all, she called on God as her Saviour, and the
Bible confirms that “All have sinned”. The only one without sin was our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Nor do we believe that she
remained perpetually a virgin. After birth of Jesus she entered normal marriage
relationship with Joseph, as husband and wife. Mother of at least four more sons
– James, Joses, Judas and Simon (Mark 6:3). At least two daughters as well. No
reason to believe they were children of Joseph by former marriage. No evidence
they were cousins of Jesus, since there is no use of the Greek word aneyios
for cousin to describe them. Joseph had no union with her until she gave
birth to a son (Matthew 1:25). This statement confirms the virgin birth of
Jesus, but that she ceased to be a virgin afterwards.
We do not believe her bodily
assumption into heaven, i.e. Raised in her body to heaven where she reigns as
queen. No evidence whatsoever.
Not do we believe prayer to her
will secure favour from Christ for us. Prayer is to the Father, through the Son,
by the Holy Spirit. Bishop Fulton Sheen said he was “very certain that when I
go before the judgement seat of Christ,He will say to me in His mercy ‘I heard
my mother speak of you’.” His assurance does not come from Scripture.
Nor do we believe she can secure
our Salvation, is a refuge for sinners, a redemptrix at the gate of heaven, our
hope nor our guardian. Our confidence is in Christ alone. There is no
condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
We do not believe she should be the object of worship. Unimpressed by the subtle but in practice meaningless distinctions in worship that “latria” are to God alone, while “dulia” are to the Saints, and “hyperdulia” are to the Virgin. Prayer to Mary is a waste of time, idolatrous and unavailing. In practice, it is raising Mary to the level of God, if she can answer all prayers offered throughout the world to her. No one would more disapprove of such unscriptural practice as Mary herself.
She was a virgin when she gave birth to the Lord Jesus
Christ, i.e. we do believe in the virgin birth (but not in the immaculate
conception). Without the agency of a human father, and by a special
overshadowing activity of the Holy Spirit, the second person of the Trinity took
human nature so that he became man. Hence He is both God and man.
The virgin birth was the means
whereby the Eternal Son became completely man without ceasing to be God. Not
half God and half man, but truly God and truly man. Divine and human natures
uniting in one person. The Incarnation was achieved through the Virgin birth.
Essential that the Saviour was both God and man – else no Salvation.
Often aware of attacks on virgin
birth within professing church as well as outside. Reason is rejection of the
miraculous. Easier to say Jesus was born from married couple. Some even say
Jesus was illegitimate child.
We hold the virgin birth because
it is Scriptural. We have no problem with the miraculous, in fact it is very
fitting that such a life should have a unique beginning – virgin birth – and
a unique ending – bodily resurrection. Last Adam, sinless, head of new
humanity was born in way that made clear his separation from old humanity.
In His coming, man was set
outside and God takes initiative, and His power ensures a supernatural
miraculous birth and the perfect sinlessness of the one who was born. So in
light of this we honour Mary like any other female in the Bible. No more and no
less.
Especially chosen as suitable
mother for God’s Son because qualities of kind and loving heart. No other
woman received such honour to give birth to Saviour of the world. Evidently she
was a woman of character, virtue and faith, though far from sinless, because she
called God her Saviour.
We do not worship or pray to her, but with her we worship and pray to Jesus, her son. Also we follow her example in three ways.
(a) A very humble woman, completely submissive to the
will of God. Very humble – she was nothing, God was everything, His will was
all that mattered.
The Angel Gabriel visited her in
Nazareth with the announcement that she had found favour with God, and was to
give birth to His son, Jesus. He would be great, the Son of the Most High, born
to sit upon the Throne of ancestor David, to reign over Israel forever. His
kingdom would never end. This would happen though she was still a virgin. She
would be overshadowed by the power of the Most High, a miracle to take place in
womb. Result – the Son of God would come to earth.
What an announcement. The sight
of an angel, news of a son who would be great and have an everlasting kingdom.
What thoughts and fears surged through Mary’s mind. The amazement of it all,
and its wonder. Then practical realities. Not only mystery but embarrassment,
wagging tongues, gossip, slander to be borne.
Mary’s response is a model for
us. Behold the maid servant of the Lord – Let it be to me according to your
word (Luke 1:38). This was all very strange. She could not have really
understood it. There was going to be trouble ahead. Where would it all end? And
yet she was able to say “I am your servant” – belong to you, hand self
over to you, here is my body, circumstances, reputation, uncertain future – it
is all yours. Do with me as you want and plan. She simply yielded self and gave
away body and soul to be instrument in God’s purposes.
Does this not put finger on the
problem of many Christian lives? People will give selves to the Lord – 50%,
90%, 99% - but they hold back the last bit, to keep final control. Want to
remain in charge of the process, with the option to withdraw if possible. Yet if
lives to achieve anything for God, progress in Christian life, effective in His
service, really satisfied, God’s best – requires being able to say “I am
your servant – do with me as you want”. As Oswald Chambers wrote, “The man
God uses has one purpose in his life, has removed every hindrance, and placed
himself at the disposal of God” Is that us? It ought to be, of course, but is
it?
Problem – incomplete
consecration, divided heart, one thing we must retain final control we cling to
(a plan, affection, sin..). How many lives are spoilt by that one thing. Every
key of life handed over except that one. “I will follow you – but…”.
Here is the source of ineffectiveness, weakness, lack of peace. How we rob
ourselves.
A book on my shelves “Scots
Worthies” by John Howie. Not a comfortable book to read. Mini biographies of
Christian heroes of Scotland in 16th and 17th centuries.
The author’s aim to encourage readers to grasp “the heroic, sacrificial and
glorious nature of life consecrated unreservedly to Christ”.
(b) Grateful heart for all God’s goodness and grace. This
follows from last point – heart right with God is always grateful and full of
praise. The words of the Magnificat: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my
spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Luke 1:46-47).
God had been mindful of her in
her lowly situation. Done great things for her. She was thrilled with God’s
dealings. Such an honour to be mother of Messiah, to give birth to the Son of
God. Every Jewish girl dreamt of that honour. Girl of noble family in Jerusalem
would have been overwhelmed at such an honour. But to Mary, a peasant girl in a
place like Nazareth, of which Nathanael said, Can any good thing come out of
Nazareth (John 1:46).
Not only her lowly social
position but spiritual state – here she calls on God her Saviour. So far from
being in her immaculate conception, she admits she is a sinner, deserving of
judgement and condemnation. But here is God acting in sheer grace to her.
Do you ever look back over life
and trace God’s dealings with you? So gracious to us. Think of where you might
have been born, the home you might have lived in, the influences you might have
been under. You have been born in a land where the Gospel is fully preached. You
have been brought to realize your need of a Saviour, and to discover God’s
provision in His Son. That godly example set you by a faithful servant of God,
that book you read, the home where you were reared. Think of His restraining
hand, a miraculous escape, an accident where you almost died, an illness you
almost succumbed to. Behind all this is God - His grace, power, Son, Holy
Spirit, providential care, eternal purposes for life, His daily support,
guidance, provision.
Have you ever thought of the
kind of person you might have been, lost eternity to go to if God had not
intervened? Who are we that God should have thus dealt with us?
Need to recapture sense of
wonder and gratitude and privilege. Then a praising grateful spirit to be
cultivated. As we live among ungrateful, dissatisfied, discontented people, we
ought to be outstanding because we have very different spirit. Created to
glorify God. Redeemed for same purpose. Grandest thing to do. Nothing so
prepares us for heaven. Heaven is a place of ceaseless praise. Day and night
adoration to Him that sits on the throne and to the Lamb. Worthy to receive
power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.
Learn to speak well of God –
at home, church, in conversation with fellow men. The more He occupies our
praise, the less we are patting ourselves on the back. Every day as we travel
through world, if heart is in right place, never find it difficult to raise an
Ebeneezer. Sweeten spirits, banish depression, silence carping criticisms and
dismiss our grumbling habits. You are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people – that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light (1
Peter 2:9).
(c) Diligent reader of God’s
word. Mary’s Bible was our Old Testament. Her song, the Magnificat, is full of
its teaching. Seven references or
clear allusions to Psalms, 1 Samuel, Job, Isaiah, Micah, Deuteronomy and Exodus.
Whole song is modelled on prayer of Hannah after Samuel’s birth. She uses
words of Scripture to praise God. She is thoroughly acquainted with God’s
dealings with His people – how He put down the mighty (e.g. Pharoah,
Nebuchadnezzar), and exalted the lowly (e.g. Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel).
Knows Bible promises – the words He spoke to our forefathers, Abraham and his
seed forever.
Do we know God’s word? Are we
familiar with its teaching? Resting on His promises? Can we say with Jeremiah Your
words were found and I ate them. And your word was to me the joy and rejoicing
of my heart (Jeremiah 15:16). Paul said Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly (Colossians 3:16). Regular, daily, prayerful, obedient study of
the Word. Learn what blessings to expect, what promises to claim, sins to avoid,
encouragements to take. The Word builds us up, strengthens us, matures us. We
shall find, as Mary did, God keeps His word and He can be perfectly trusted.
In days of iniquity and error, false religion and weakness in the church, one of our greatest strengths is the Bible regularly read, prayed over, believed, obeyed. Bible reading people are source of all strength and usefulness. Many rivals to Bible – newspapers, radio, TV, good books, various duties. But none are substitute for Bible. Bible is source of all strength and usefulness in Christian life.
Mary is not queen of heaven, nor is she co-redemptrix at the gate of paradise, a refuge for sinners. But she was a good, virtuous woman chosen by God to be mother of incarnate Son. Honoured and respected. Example to us of obedience to God’s will, gratitude for His blessings, and diligence in the study of His word.
