Rev. David Holwick ZM Advent #1
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey (re-working of December 15, 1991, sermon)
November 28, 2004
Luke 1:26-38
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I. Baptists and Mary.
A. Christmas series on key personalities.
1) One of most critical - Virgin Mary.
a) Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
b) Can even be called Mother of God.
2) She has also been a source of some contention.
B. Alien image.
1) $28,000 grilled cheese sandwich with her image.
Diana Duyser of Hollywood, Florida, made internet history
when she half-eaten grilled cheese sandwich on eBay.
It attracted 100,000 hits and many bids.
"I made this sandwich 10 years ago.
When I took a bite out of it, I saw a face looking up at
me - it was Virgin Mary starring (sic) back at me.
I was in total shock."
Mrs. Duyser kept it in a little box, and says for the last
decade it has not shown any sign of mould or crumbling,
which she considers "a miracle".
She said the sandwich had brought her great luck since she
found it 10 years ago.
Its mystical properties have brought her blessings,
including $70,000 won in a nearby casino.
When skeptics ridiculed her, she responded, "I do believe
that this is the Virgin Mary Mother Of God."
Her good luck from the sandwich continues, since a real
bid was made for it to the tune of $28,000.
An online casino bought it...
#28690
2) Statues of Mary in parades, and statues that weep.
3) Prayers to her.
a) Every year, we get a flyer from the St. Therese Rosary
Society.
b) I haven't responded, but we don't do Mary like that.
C. What we accept.
1) Baptists don't believe in the superstitions or legends.
a) (Undoubtedly we have plenty of superstitions of our own.)
2) We accept everything the Bible says about Mary - and that
is a lot.
a) She was chosen by God for a very special mission.
b) She had the faith to accept that mission.
c) She had the strength to carry it out.
3) An assessment by two Christians from very different traditions:
Pope John XXIII said the Virgin Mary "is not pleased when
she is put above her son."
The staunch Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck once wrote
of Mary, "She has been given an honor that has not been
given to any other creature.
She far surpassed men and angels in the undeserved grace
bestowed on her."
#20777
C. What should we believe about Mary?
II. Mary's faith was genuine.
A. God chose a humble vessel.
1) She does not claim any special talent or moral standing.
2) She insists she is no more than a servant.
B. Any grace was God-given.
1) "Greetings, you who are highly favored!" Luke 1:28
a) Older version: "Hail, Mary, full of grace!"
b) Catholic dogma - a specific amount of grace is necessary
to get to heaven, and Mary has extra to pass out.
2) Biblical meaning - Mary received a blessing from God by
being chosen at his initiative.
a) There is no suggestion of any particular worthiness
on the part of Mary herself.
1> Same with Abraham, Gideon, and other Bible heroes.
2> It is due to God's choice, not her qualities.
A> On the other hand, God will only use those
who are wholly committed to him.
b) Her aunt Elizabeth says Mary is blessed simply because
she believed God. 1:45
3) Mary says "yes" instantly. 1:38
a) She portrays herself as a servant of God.
b) God's will is her only concern.
C. Reality check: Mary faced humiliation of irregular birth.
1) Jews had tough attitudes about engagement.
a) Engagement lasted about one year.
b) If fiancééééééée died, you were considered a widow.
c) Could only be broken by divorce.
d) Any sexual relationship during engagement was considered
adultery, and could be punished by death.
(consider infamous video of a public execution of an
adulterous woman in Afghanistan under the Taliban.)
2) It is difficult in a sexually casual age to realize what
depth of trust Mary displayed.
a) Her pregnancy would have exposed her to great
embarrassment, suspicion and misunderstanding.
b) This was a threat to everything she held dear on earth:
her honor and respect in the community, and her
betrothed husband.
c) (Joseph's immediate reaction was to divorce her.)
D. God helped her to believe.
1) Mary was no dummy - virgins don't have babies. 1:34
2) God encourages her with the news about Elizabeth. 1:36
a) If an elderly woman can give birth, so can a virgin.
b) Perhaps having an angel visit helped her faith, too.
1> Interesting it didn't seem to be unusual to her.
2> (Perhaps indicates no more than Bible's brevity)
3) Mary responds with a simple affirmation: "I am the Lord's
servant." 1:38
III. Mary's faith was tested.
A. Simeon prophesied her soul would be pierced. Lk 2:35
1) Amply portrayed in Mel Gibson's "Passion" movie.
B. Her son seemed to distance himself from her.
1) She expresses a motherly concern at the wedding in Cana
and gets turned down by Jesus. John 2:1
a) "Woman, why do you involve me?" John 2:4
2) Nevertheless, she tells servants to obey his every
command, then shifts to background.
C. She was subtly rebuked when she and her family tried to rescue
Jesus. Mark 3:20f; 3:31-35
1) He was overwhelmed by crowds, and she was concerned about
his health. (Actually, she thought he had "lost it")
a) Jesus announces that his real family is those who
believe and do God's will.
b) A rebuke may be implied that she's not concerned about
God's will in the proper way.
2) Physical relationship to Jesus does not confer blessing,
but only obedience to God's message.
IV. Mary's faith endured to the end.
A. Mary was one of few believers at the cross. John 19:25
1) Mary was never driven away from her son.
a) In the end, he had to give her away (to John).
2) She watched him die for her sins.
a) The Bible never portrays Mary as sinless.
b) Indeed, Mary acknowledged her need for a Savior. Lk 1:47
B. Mary participated in Pentecost. Acts 1:14
1) Her other sons, once doubters, were now believers.
2) They received the gift of the Holy Spirit, as do all
Christians.
V. Making Mary's faith your faith.
A. God still gives out grace.
1) God offers each of us the gift of salvation.
a) It is a gift, not a wage.
b) You cannot earn it, but only receive it.
2) God calls each of us to a mission.
a) Mary's mission was to give birth to the Savior.
b) Our mission may be less dramatic, but equally important.
1> Nurture our own kids to believe in God.
2> Provide for the homeless, or support a foreign
mission.
A> Comment by a father to me: "I wish my kids would
live for something beyond themselves.
Even if it is just a social cause, it would be
better than pursuing the almighty dollar."
B. We must receive it in faith.
1) God will give us signs that help us to believe.
a) Would it be easier if we were visited by our own angel?
b) I don't think so - angels give tough messages!
c) But God will give us something to show us the way.
2) There will be many things we won't understand now.
a) We don't believe when we have all the answers.
b) We believe when we trust in the One who does.
3) Can YOU say to God, "I am your servant"?
a) It is not a willingness to do great things.
b) It is a willingness to do GOD'S things.
C. Nothing is impossible with God.
1) He can save you, no matter what you have done.
a) You probably don't have Mary's piety or purity.
b) But he is still willing to be your Savior.
2) We must acknowledge that God can do anything.
3) He will give us the strength to remain faithful.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#20777 "A Most Misunderstood Woman," Kenneth S. Kantzer, Christianity
Today magazine, December 12, 1986, page 19.
#28690 "Blessed By The Holy Toast," British Broadcasting Corporation
online, November 23, 2004. Also used an update from AOL.com
titled "$28,000 Bid for Unique Grilled Cheese Sandwich."
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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