The Annunciations – Our Family respond

If it’s not about Jesus, it’s not about anything

Motto of the Fountain of Life Church

SPS:  This message is more of an exposition rather than a sermon or a homily.  The purpose is to reintroduce to you some members of our family and to acquaint us with their life and times and their unique response to God.  The specific purpose of the message is to show that we can take great inspiration from our elder family members.  And perhaps to see instances of God’s sense of humor.

Today’s Scripture:  Luke Chapter One.  Here Luke describes Zacharias as a righteous man and Mary as an espoused virgin.  Then Gabriel appears and says to each “Fear not.”  and we see the reaction of our two ancient relatives are different.  

Zacharias, the righteous man of God, was troubled and fear fell upon him, Luke 1:12.

Mary, the virgin, was troubled and wondered about the strange greeting, Luke 1:29.

Zacharias was troubled.  The meaning taken from from Strongs Exhaustive Concordance word #5015 is the Greek word tarasso [tarasso]:  to stir or agitate (roil water):  trouble

Mary was troubled.  From Strongs word #1298 is diatarasso [diatarasso]:  to disturb wholly. i.e. agitate (with alarm): - trouble

Zacharias felt fear.  Strong’s word # 5401:  phobos [phobos] – (to be put in fear); alarm or fright; be afraid exceedingly; fear, terror

Mary wondered (NIV) or as the King James Version says, “cast in her mind”.  From Strongs word #1260 -  dialogizomai dialogizomai:  to recon thoroughly; to deliberate by reflection or discussion) cast in mind, consider, dispute, muse, reason think. 

Gabriel comforts them both and says to both, “Fear not.”

To Zacharias - Luke 1:13: Fear not:  Strong’s #5399:  phobeo phobeo–  to frighten, to be alarmed, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:  - be (+sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly) reverence.

Mary - Luke 1:30; Fear not:  also word #5399.

WORD STUDY OF NAMES:

Gabriel = from the Hebrew Strong’s #1403 - man of God.  A very apt name for one who serves God.

Elizabeth = from the Hebrew Strong’s #472 - God of the oath.  His oath

Elizabeth:  a child was evidence of God fulfilling his promise to Zacharias.  A child was the evidence of God’s favor and cause for wild celebration.  A child causes Elizabeth to rejoice in vs 25 and say “God takes away my reproach.”

Zacharias is from the Hebrew Strong’s #2148 - God remembers

Zacharias was praying for a son, but even in prayer did not believe.  When Gabriel said his prayer was heard, Zacharias still had doubts. 

Instead of Zacharias remembering, Zacharias forgot Genesis 18:11, “And Abraham and Sarah were old and will stricken in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.”  How did Zacharias respond” 

Luke 1:18 –" I am and old man and my wife is well stricken in years.  How can I know this?"  [In other words, give me a sign.] 

Gabriel gave a sign.  Zacharias shall be stricken dumb – because you did not believe my words.

Joseph is from the Hebrew as Strong’s #3130 - “let him add, increase.”  Mary is from the Hebrew Strong’s #4813 – “rebelliously, rebellion.”  Mary was a girl, perhaps 16 years old, or in her time and culture perhaps younger. Despite her youth she knew full well what Gabriel was saying.  In her time and nation and culture an unmarried woman with child was evidence of adultery and cause of great reproach.  It was grounds for divorce.  It was valid grounds for death by stoning.  A child for Mary, then and there, as Gabriel proposed, was dangerous to the point of death.  Mary’s name meant rebellion.  How did Mary respond?  Luke 1:38 – “And Mary said, ‘behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word.’”

Mary went to visit Elizabeth and Zacharias when Elizabeth was six months pregnant.  Upon her arrival Elizabeth said WITH A LOUD VOICE, Luke 1:42-44 -  Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  And why am I favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me.  For as soon as I heard your voice, the babe in my womb jumped for joy.  Yes, she said this with a loud voice.  Zacharias surely heard her too.  Mary stayed three months.

Mary Luke 1:46-55: “And Mary said, ‘My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:  for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree.  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.  He hath helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy.  As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.” 

Beloved, please remember this is from a girl, perhaps 14 or 16 years old, unequipped, with no special gifts or talents, certainly not formally trained in theology. 

Mary’s calling:  This girl gave birth to Jesus.  Gave birth.  Beloved, please remember that.

And what about the man who did not believe?  Would the Holy Spirit return to use a flawed man who did not believe?  Sometimes are we like Zacharias and don’t believe.  Do we think God is done with us?  Do we think God can’t still use us?   Let us rather remember, as Zachariah remembered Gen 18:14, “The angel spoke to Sarah and said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Zachariah’s Calling:  to proclaim the Messiah to the world.  Zachariah gave birth to the world the public knowledge of the Messiah.

When Elizabeth delivered John Luke records in 1:67-69 – “And Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord god of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.  And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.’”   

Yes, God raised up a horn of salvation from the house of David.  That horn is Jesus.  Yes, Zacharias heard Elizabeth and he too LOUDLY spoke his prophecy of the horn of salvation.  We know this because all those around heard him.

Conclusion:  Our Calling

Rev. Todd Crouch spoke about the Annunciation.  He said that Gabriel delivers to Mary the calling and commission upon her life to be that special life thru which the Messiah would be birthed into the world; that she would be what Theologians call the "Theotokos" meaning "God-bearer."

Sometimes, we see ourselves as being not very important; coming from nowhere; going to no place; unequipped and with no special gifts or talents to fulfill some great commission and call upon us. We can't see how our Gods call us to be a "Theotokos",that is, to birth some great thing of God into the world.

It is God's intent that we Christians, each and all of us to be what Mary was a "Theotokos;" to be a bearer of God's saving purposes into the world that others might come to believe in Jesus the Messiah of all to be participants in the world of salvation upon the Earth.

The Good news is that through grace, the life of Jesus may be lived out in us.

Beloved, may the grace and peace of God our Father and of our Savior Jesus be with you all.

Rev. George Relic – Assistant Pastor (724-583-9217)

The Fountain of Life Church

2101 Old National Pike

Washington, PA  15301

A congregation of Grace Communion International

FOL Broadcast on RKP Radio – recorded on 5/5/16 in the FOL Studios.