Awkward Family Christmas | Awkward News
About this series:
This series aims to bring a sense of authenticity and relatability to the Christmas story, reminding us that God’s grace and purpose are often found in the midst of our most awkward and challenging moments.
About this talk:
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
In v 27 we are introduced to Mary who will, of course, become central to the story of Jesus’ birth. She is a young woman, a virgin, going about her quiet daily chores in Nazareth when God’s plans for her suddenly come crashing in.
The language Luke uses instantly brings to mind Isaiah 7:14 (which Matthew makes explicit in Matthew 1:22-23). There, in a familiar passage in the Christmas story, Isaiah prophesies that God will give a sign of coming judgement. However, God will spare a remnant and here’s how the people would know: a son, who will be named Immanuel, will be born to a virgin as a sign that God is still with his people; and while that boy is still a child, Israel’s enemies will be overthrown. Those events are now coming to reality in the fullest sense.
The names the angel uses for Mary’s son are all hugely significant: Jesus (v 31; cf. Matthew 1:21), the Son of the Most High (v 32), the holy one (v 35), the Son of God (v 35). Joseph is described as “a descendant of David” (v 27) - see week 1’s notes. Vs 32b-33 clearly refer to the famous promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:11b-16.
God appears to a ‘nobody’ in a nowhere kind of place to announce the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. Despite being “greatly troubled,” “afraid” and confused (vs 29,30,34), Mary’s response, v 38, is remarkable, full of submission and faith. It is hard to imagine the shock of the angel Gabriel appearing to her (this is not only a dream or a vision, but a fully awake encounter!) And of the enormity of the responsibility she is to carry as the one who will be the mother of the Son of God whose kingdom will never end. Yet she is completely submitted, humble (v 48), full of faith (after the inevitable question in v 34) and in fact asks that what has been promised will be fulfilled (v 38).
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