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we'll now call on our brother allen archer to lead us in our second uh archer to lead us in our second uh session entitled session entitled the handmaid of the lord brother alan thanks brother honest surprising that my wife didn't put a surprising that my wife didn't put a hand up about speaking too quickly i hand up about speaking too quickly i always get always get told at home i speak to it quickly and told at home i speak to it quickly and now you come when you're talking to now you come when you're talking to people who don't speak english and by the way we don't speak australian either either we come from new zealand we come from new zealand which is which is much different which is which is much different well luke chapter one well luke chapter one this is it this is it it's all happening that which the it's all happening that which the prophets have looked forward to for so prophets have looked forward to for so many years it's now happened here it is many years it's now happened here it is the salvation of god and it's a the salvation of god and it's a marvelous story that we come across marvelous story that we come across the story of the story of of mary of mary what a delightful person what a delightful person mary was mary was the best in the world the best in the world best person in the world best person in the world i guess if there was a better person i guess if there was a better person god would have chosen her god would have chosen her and so it's a delight that mary then and so it's a delight that mary then comes upon the scene and here is comes upon the scene and here is elizabeth in verse 25 elizabeth in verse 25 the old and the aged elizabeth the old and the aged elizabeth who rejoices that god has taken away her who rejoices that god has taken away her reproach reproach among men for not having a child among men for not having a child and mary comes forth and mary comes forth and she's going to carry and she's going to carry a reproach a reproach because she's going to have a child because she's going to have a child before she's married before she's married there's a great contrast then elizabeth there's a great contrast then elizabeth the old lady and mary comes knew the new the old lady and mary comes knew the new life a young person comes life a young person comes springing upon the scene springing upon the scene and to her great credit and to her great credit she accepted she accepted that which that which god has god has involved her with involved her with a child a child without a husband without a husband and even zechariah and even zechariah hadn't done that he hadn't accepted the hadn't done that he hadn't accepted the fact that they would have a child fact that they would have a child mary mary to her credit to her credit does that in a very wonderful does that in a very wonderful and a very gracious way and a very gracious way not easy not easy as we'll see as we'll see well it was a six months in verse 26 well it was a six months in verse 26 which meant that john of course would be which meant that john of course would be six months older than the lord jesus six months older than the lord jesus christ which is really quite christ which is really quite sensible that the forerunner then would sensible that the forerunner then would be the older of the two but of course be the older of the two but of course those six months gave mary the those six months gave mary the opportunity opportunity to see to see elizabeth elizabeth and what had happened to her and what had happened to her and therefore to be reassured about her and therefore to be reassured about her own own revelation and so we read in verse 26 the angel gabriel gabriel was sent was sent from god when gabriel spoke to daniel he said gabriel spoke to daniel he said i am gabriel that stands i am gabriel that stands in the presence in the presence of god of god so of all the hosts and the myriad of so of all the hosts and the myriad of angels angels there was a very special angel there was a very special angel gabriel gabriel sent sent from god from god to nazareth to nazareth and it was as though there was an and it was as though there was an unreality in that because unreality in that because such a contrast from god such a contrast from god to that to that galilee to the gentiles galilee to the gentiles to the mixed up area into the confused to the mixed up area into the confused area the area that was in darkness unto area the area that was in darkness unto nazareth so it's part of the drama of nazareth so it's part of the drama of that story from god up on high to that story from god up on high to nazareth down on below could any good thing come out of come out of nazareth galilee of the gentiles so it's like a fairy of the gentiles so it's like a fairy tale isn't it the drama of that story tale isn't it the drama of that story imagine there in galilee the light was imagine there in galilee the light was coming as it said in isaiah chapter 9. nazareth just sits just up in the hills at the start of the up in the hills at the start of the hills in hills in the area the area with a galilean hills i've got a bit of a picture here but it's a bit hard to actually it's a bit hard to actually see and if you don't actually print put see and if you don't actually print put the right the right uh box on the computer you print out a uh box on the computer you print out a color slide color slide and it comes out black and white and it comes out black and white and that's got me a bit confused but and that's got me a bit confused but that slide really is in color i look at that slide really is in color i look at it on the screen it's in color it on the screen it's in color look at it on the projector and look it look at it on the projector and look it up on the screen it's black and white up on the screen it's black and white for some reason that i just don't for some reason that i just don't understand understand uh but anyhow what nazareth is is really uh but anyhow what nazareth is is really it's a valley actually if you look over it's a valley actually if you look over and looked at before just to flip over there for a minute it says says and you know the story they rose up and and you know the story they rose up and thrust them out of the city and led them thrust them out of the city and led them up to the brow of the hill up to the brow of the hill where on their city was built where on their city was built and yet you can see from that picture and yet you can see from that picture that nazareth is in a valley that nazareth is in a valley the answer to that question is that the answer to that question is that nazareth sits in a valley which is nazareth sits in a valley which is really sits on the brow of the hill so really sits on the brow of the hill so if you could look over the hills in the if you could look over the hills in the distance you would actually then look distance you would actually then look down and go right down this precipice down and go right down this precipice into the plane of estrella into the plane of estrella so you've got the so you've got the the hills of galilee start up and then the hills of galilee start up and then it just drops down a little bit into it just drops down a little bit into this valley and so that's the valley this valley and so that's the valley there where nazareth so you could there where nazareth so you could describe it as in luke chapter 4 in the describe it as in luke chapter 4 in the brow of a hill where on their city was brow of a hill where on their city was built so it's a very small and a very built so it's a very small and a very insignificant kind of city was hardly insignificant kind of city was hardly ever mentioned joshua never mentioned it in his description of the description of the settlements of the tribe of zebulun settlements of the tribe of zebulun josephus josephus mentions 45 cities of galilee mentions 45 cities of galilee but he never mentions but he never mentions nazareth nazareth in the jewish talmud there are 68 sorry in the jewish talmud there are 68 sorry 63 towns in galilee mentioned and there 63 towns in galilee mentioned and there is never any mention of nazareth is never any mention of nazareth so small place in those days much larger so small place in those days much larger now it's an arab town these days now it's an arab town these days much larger than albert very small in much larger than albert very small in those days why those days why nazareth nazareth why would nazareth be chosen little why would nazareth be chosen little insignificant place insignificant place i suppose perhaps paul's i suppose perhaps paul's comment in corinthians god had chosen comment in corinthians god had chosen the foolish things of the world the foolish things of the world that no flesh that no flesh should glory in his presence and nazareth really then was one of the weak things weak things of the age there was no prestige you of the age there was no prestige you could not stand up and say i'm from could not stand up and say i'm from nazareth nazareth it would be like saying i'm from nowhere it would be like saying i'm from nowhere virtually virtually and so the work the whole work involved and so the work the whole work involved in this is a work which has no human in this is a work which has no human claim to greatness claim to greatness it has no human recommendation it's a it has no human recommendation it's a work work that's going to be of that's going to be of god god alone alone the glory of god the glory of god alone would be what would be seen in the alone would be what would be seen in the work of the lord jesus christ just an interesting reference about americans an interesting reference about americans but you may not believe this but you may not believe this and i'm just quoting from robert roberts and i'm just quoting from robert roberts and what he did in nazareth revisited and what he did in nazareth revisited he actually compared he actually compared the little despised nazareth the little despised nazareth and the great and mighty jerusalem and the great and mighty jerusalem with with america america and england and england and guess which one america and guess which one america [Music] [Music] was and was and there's no reflection against you but there's no reflection against you but this is what he said this is what he said america america has given us the gospel has given us the gospel which venerable and learned england which venerable and learned england was alone supposed to was alone supposed to be possessed of learning enough to be possessed of learning enough to discover discover just read that sentence again just read that sentence again so what is drawing of course the fact so what is drawing of course the fact was that dr thomas started in america was that dr thomas started in america of all places of all places whereas england really should have been whereas england really should have been the place and he went there of course the place and he went there of course so i just read this this is straight so i just read this this is straight robert roberts i'm not having you on robert roberts i'm not having you on this is straight robert roberts this is straight robert roberts america has given us the gospel which america has given us the gospel which venerable and learned england venerable and learned england was alone supposed to be possessed of was alone supposed to be possessed of learning enough to deliver learning enough to deliver and it isn't in the hands of the poor and it isn't in the hands of the poor and unlearned that its work is being and unlearned that its work is being done done well that's uh well that's uh i'm not american i'm not american no i'm not really that's not true no i'm not really that's not true well nazareth anyhow is off the highway well nazareth anyhow is off the highway of human trafficking so being in that of human trafficking so being in that little valley that was there it was little valley that was there it was close to that way of the sea but off the close to that way of the sea but off the highway so highway so you weren't really connected with the you weren't really connected with the world except that jesus and no doubt no world except that jesus and no doubt no doubt he did could go up to the brow of doubt he did could go up to the brow of the hill and look down on that plane and the hill and look down on that plane and then would see the traffic that was then would see the traffic that was going along that road would see all the going along that road would see all the events that happened in those bygone events that happened in those bygone days there was there were souls they days there was there were souls they went to mil wilbur there was elijah they went to mil wilbur there was elijah they went up the top of the valley to went up the top of the valley to to carmel all those pictures of the old to carmel all those pictures of the old testament times would be just very close testament times would be just very close at hand on the brow of the hill looking at hand on the brow of the hill looking over that valley of jezreel over that valley of jezreel nazareth of course comes from a word nazareth of course comes from a word which means branch which means branch which i would guess you would know which i would guess you would know and there's a whole series of quotations and there's a whole series of quotations in the old testament about the branch in the old testament about the branch just one or two just one or two because it has a great bearing upon the because it has a great bearing upon the virgin birth if we come to isaiah virgin birth if we come to isaiah chapter 11. and there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of jesse the stem of jesse and a branch that's isaiah 11 and verse and a branch that's isaiah 11 and verse 1 and a branch shall grow out of his 1 and a branch shall grow out of his roots so just using this glass of water for a minute to pretend that's that's now our minute to pretend that's that's now our um um stem of jessie then you've got a rod stem of jessie then you've got a rod that comes out from the top that comes out from the top and then you've got a a branch which and then you've got a a branch which grows out of the roots grows out of the roots of jesse of jesse so as you know the lord jesus christ of so as you know the lord jesus christ of course is not only from the stem on the course is not only from the stem on the top he's not only at the line of david top he's not only at the line of david but he comes right from the very origins but he comes right from the very origins of jesse he comes from of jesse he comes from god himself god himself and so it's like a sucker that's uh and so it's like a sucker that's uh that's comes forth and it it shows the that's comes forth and it it shows the characteristics of the roots you know you have a rose suppose you have roses like we have suppose you have roses like we have roses which are grafted and then roses which are grafted and then occasionally you'll get a sucker that'll occasionally you'll get a sucker that'll come up come up and you've got to cut it off because it and you've got to cut it off because it would be nothing like what was on top would be nothing like what was on top but what it is like of course is what's but what it is like of course is what's underneath underneath it has that strength and that virility it has that strength and that virility of the root stock which the rose has of the root stock which the rose has been planted into well same with the been planted into well same with the lord jesus christ he has the lord jesus christ he has the the characteristics then of that root the characteristics then of that root stop he's the root of jesse as he comes stop he's the root of jesse as he comes forth and shows those divine ways in his forth and shows those divine ways in his life branch out of his life branch out of his stem stem so so a right over the stem branch out of his a right over the stem branch out of his roots roots just have a look at revelation just have a look at revelation and that's the whole picture carries and that's the whole picture carries straight through revelation chapter 22 we makes that same thing very clear i am the the it's revelation 22 and verse 16. it's revelation 22 and verse 16. i'm the root i'm the root and the offspring of david there is really no other explanation than that he was born of a virgin than that he was born of a virgin had to be to be the roots had to be to be the roots of david as well as the offspring of of david as well as the offspring of david but just look at it a more david but just look at it a more interesting one interesting one in revelation chapter 5 and the same thing here you see in verse 5 5 it's got the root of david it's got the root of david revelation 5 and verse 5 but just notice revelation 5 and verse 5 but just notice this and i'll just read through from verse 3 to verse 5. to verse 5. notice the words i emphasize notice the words i emphasize well i'll start halfway through verse 2 well i'll start halfway through verse 2 who is worthy to open the book who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof and and to loose the seals thereof and no man in heaven nor on earth neither no man in heaven nor on earth neither under the earth was able to open the under the earth was able to open the book neither looked there on and i wept book neither looked there on and i wept much because much because no man no man was found worthy to open and to read the was found worthy to open and to read the book now that look they're on book now that look they're on and one of the elders said unto me weep and one of the elders said unto me weep not behold the lion of the tribe of not behold the lion of the tribe of judah the roots judah the roots of david of david have prevailed have prevailed interesting isn't it no man no man the interesting isn't it no man no man the root of david root of david it's the virgin birth which we have here it's the virgin birth which we have here betrayed them in a marvelous way there's betrayed them in a marvelous way there's god unto us a son is given god unto us a son is given no man will do it he's not the the son no man will do it he's not the the son of man he's not the seed of man he said of man he's not the seed of man he said genesis 3 15 he is the seed of the woman genesis 3 15 he is the seed of the woman he is the one who is going to be raised he is the one who is going to be raised up as a seed of the woman a righteous up as a seed of the woman a righteous branch branch just another one in the series of just another one in the series of zechariah chapter six i just put up on the screen the whole series which includes series which includes two quotations from jeremiah but just two quotations from jeremiah but just look at zechariah chapter six it has the same little detail here because because in verse 12 in verse 12 thus speaketh the lord of hosts saying thus speaketh the lord of hosts saying behold the man whose name is the branch behold the man whose name is the branch like the name nazareth like the name nazareth the man whose name is the branch and he the man whose name is the branch and he shall grow up shall grow up out of out of his place now the margin says the branch up from up from under him under him interesting interesting see see behold behold the man whose name is the branch the man whose name is the branch the branch up from the branch up from under him under him so it's exactly the same concept no man so it's exactly the same concept no man no man he's the no man he's the comes from the root of david he's the comes from the root of david he's the branch which grows up from from under branch which grows up from from under the roots of davis and the one that the roots of davis and the one that therefore shows forth those therefore shows forth those great and divine characteristics truly great and divine characteristics truly truly they could say truly they could say this this was was the son of god there are of course the other linkages like like isaiah 53 the root isaiah 53 the root out of out of dry ground dry ground the dry ground of course was the dry ground of course was galilee of the gentiles galilee of the gentiles in that in that despised despised nazareth nazareth as we would sing in our hymn as we would sing in our hymn well let's go back to luke well let's go back to luke go through the story then in luke go through the story then in luke chapter one gabriel then is upon the scene and gabriel comes and gabriel comes from god from god to to nazareth it makes it clear in verse 27 nazareth it makes it clear in verse 27 that she comes to a a virgin that she comes to a a virgin been to an old woman been to an old woman and now to a and now to a young virgin young virgin and she this virgin then is and she this virgin then is espoused to a man whose name was joseph espoused to a man whose name was joseph we'll say more about that when we get to we'll say more about that when we get to matthew one but meanwhile she's engaged matthew one but meanwhile she's engaged to this to this man man called called joseph joseph we don't know a lot about joseph but we don't know a lot about joseph but what we do know is one of the greatest what we do know is one of the greatest things that was said about him things that was said about him and it's actually in luke one of the in and it's actually in luke one of the in luke chapter two i think it is luke chapter two i think it is the um luke 2 and verse 51 there is the lord jesus christ now 12 years old and upwards years old and upwards coming back to nazareth and was coming back to nazareth and was subject subject unto unto them it says a lot really for joseph doesn't it it there's the lord jesus christ who knows there's the lord jesus christ who knows full well who his father is at that full well who his father is at that stage whistle not that i must be about stage whistle not that i must be about my father's business my father's business and yet he comes back to nazareth and yet he comes back to nazareth nazareth and his subject nazareth and his subject under joseph and mary a great attribute under joseph and mary a great attribute really to joseph you could never find really to joseph you could never find there as the story goes in chapter 1 there as the story goes in chapter 1 to a virgin espoused a man whose name to a virgin espoused a man whose name was joseph was joseph of the house of david of the house of david so they're both there so they're both there of the house of david the virgin's name of the house of david the virgin's name was was mary mary very simply put there's no grand genealogy at that particular point it's very matter of fact and we wonder about mary would like to know wonder about mary would like to know more what does she look like more what does she look like was she beautiful like rachel was she beautiful like rachel or just or just nice eyes like leah what kind of life did she live was she a lively teenage girl was she a lively teenage girl or was she just reflective and quiet and or was she just reflective and quiet and meditated meditated what were the parents like how did the what were the parents like how did the household live lots of questions of household live lots of questions of course but course but no answers and there's no pictures of no answers and there's no pictures of course left behind about mary although course left behind about mary although of course the roman catholic church has of course the roman catholic church has got plenty of those and they transfer got plenty of those and they transfer transform her into a goddess but it's transform her into a goddess but it's obvious obvious looks aren't relevance it's her it's her looks aren't relevance it's her it's her thoughts thoughts what is relevant is is the way she had what is relevant is is the way she had her godliness and reverence now there's her godliness and reverence now there's three quotations or three phrases that three quotations or three phrases that are used are used expressions which show how she was expressions which show how she was regarded first one in verse 28 regarded first one in verse 28 she was she was highly favored highly favored or as the margin says or as the margin says she was graciously she was graciously accepted or much accepted or much graced graced in verse 30 it says in verse 30 it says she has found favor she has found favor with god and then she was lest lest among among women women and that's in verse and that's in verse 42 42 where elizabeth says it so there's where elizabeth says it so there's those three phrases which are showing those three phrases which are showing mary's greatness mary's greatness highly favored highly favored found favor with god found favor with god blessed blessed among women and then the other aspect of a character comes out from the responses comes out from the responses that she showed that she showed in verse 38 in verse 38 an amazing response an amazing response behold behold the handmaid the handmaid of the lord and viewed the difficulties of that task would cause her and the heartache in the would cause her and the heartache in the anguish anguish she's able to say she's able to say behold the handmaid behold the handmaid of the lords of the lords or in verse 46 for example my soul or in verse 46 for example my soul doth doth magnify magnify the lord and all this really is from a the lord and all this really is from a girl whose age girl whose age how old 18 why do you say that yeah yeah somehow some of the young people of adelaide seem to get married quite young adelaide seem to get married quite young these days i was taking a wedding the these days i was taking a wedding the other day and the girl was only 18. other day and the girl was only 18. just turning 19 this week she was just turning 19 this week she was married two weeks ago but but she was married two weeks ago but but she was actually a very mature girl she brought actually a very mature girl she brought up in a very good household and up in a very good household and she she was a good example actually she she she was a good example actually she had a maturity probably beyond her her had a maturity probably beyond her her years and you imagine therefore that's years and you imagine therefore that's mary isn't it mary isn't it now you take most uh now you take most uh 18 and 19 year olds or whatever she 18 and 19 year olds or whatever she might have been or 17 year olds might have been or 17 year olds we've got a lot of them back home which we've got a lot of them back home which are pretty sensible but you know they're are pretty sensible but you know they're still 18 and 19 year olds and i've had still 18 and 19 year olds and i've had about about i suppose four daughters which are i suppose four daughters which are three daughters which are passed through three daughters which are passed through that age group that age group one one approaching that age group approaching that age group but here's a person who's really very but here's a person who's really very different isn't it different isn't it a marvelous example really for young a marvelous example really for young people isn't it when you think about it people isn't it when you think about it the reaction of mary no one's going to the reaction of mary no one's going to be quite like mary but be quite like mary but but there's a thing to strive for to be but there's a thing to strive for to be so receptive indeed to so receptive indeed to god's word and to be so hearkening unto god's word and to be so hearkening unto divine instruction and therefore and to divine instruction and therefore and to control her life in such a way and be control her life in such a way and be constrained and restrained constrained and restrained in the life that she was living in the life that she was living may of a may of a marvelous thing i mean there's not this marvelous thing i mean there's not this little tittering about little tittering about there's going to be a wedding you know there's going to be a wedding you know big concentration that what am i going big concentration that what am i going to wear and who's going to be the to wear and who's going to be the bridesmaids and and what are the men bridesmaids and and what are the men going to be and what cars are we going to be and what cars are we traveling and who's going to what cake traveling and who's going to what cake is going to be and all those sorts of is going to be and all those sorts of things which go on with weddings and things which go on with weddings and we don't sort of deride that really we don't sort of deride that really weddings ought to be sort of special weddings ought to be sort of special things shouldn't they things shouldn't they it's it's i mean i think the world has really i mean i think the world has really sort of ruined all that hasn't it with sort of ruined all that hasn't it with its life of people its life of people you know what it's like here but in you know what it's like here but in australia with invariably people living australia with invariably people living together before they're married and together before they're married and takes a what takes everything away from takes a what takes everything away from the whole thing doesn't it and the whole thing doesn't it and it's like you go and it's like you go and try and block a wedding venue daphne has try and block a wedding venue daphne has tried to do that three times tried to do that three times [Music] [Music] you can hardly book a wedding reception you can hardly book a wedding reception venue venue because people have got them booked up because people have got them booked up two years ahead two years ahead because of course it doesn't matter when because of course it doesn't matter when you actually have the ceremony you actually have the ceremony you know it's a crazy world isn't it you know it's a crazy world isn't it so it's good that we have excitement and so it's good that we have excitement and about them among our own young people about them among our own young people that they they do the right thing that they they do the right thing they're restrained and then they and they're restrained and then they and then they come together at that then they come together at that particular time of joyfulness and particular time of joyfulness and pleasure happiness etc pleasure happiness etc so excitement about weddings is is good so excitement about weddings is is good but but but back to mary of course it's but back to mary of course it's it's the it's the lasting things which it's the it's the lasting things which are the things which affect her are the things which affect her and she responds to that not thinking and she responds to that not thinking about a husband but thinking about the about a husband but thinking about the greatness of the promise that's been greatness of the promise that's been shown shown and so when the angel comes in in verse and so when the angel comes in in verse 28 hail well i suppose the catholics would say say hail mary hail mary let's say um let's say um ave maria ave maria which is a nice piece of music please which is a nice piece of music please the schubert one but the schubert one but unfortunately it's somewhat spoiled by unfortunately it's somewhat spoiled by the connotation that's uh the connotation that's uh that's given to her and it that's given to her and it that connotation really is totally that connotation really is totally lacking in the record i mean i think the lacking in the record i mean i think the interpretation is something like and interpretation is something like and it's like the margin there it's like the margin there where it's got much graced where it's got much graced so hail mary much grace so hail mary much grace and so that that becomes totally and so that that becomes totally misinterpreted to say that mary then is misinterpreted to say that mary then is the source of grace the source of grace so you can obtain grace so you can obtain grace which is more than what we think grace which is more than what we think grace is is you contain that grace you contain that grace by hailing mary so you go through your by hailing mary so you go through your rosary beads and count your rosary beads rosary beads and count your rosary beads and hail mary's full of grace etc and hail mary's full of grace etc totally totally foreign really to what totally totally foreign really to what this record is all about this record is all about this is a plain this is a plain straightforward record and she's favored straightforward record and she's favored the favored one the favored one hail hail the favored one the favored one the lord is with the lord is with blessed are they blessed are they among women among women some translations by the way omit that some translations by the way omit that but it doesn't make much difference but it doesn't make much difference because it occurs in verse 42 anyway so because it occurs in verse 42 anyway so it's okay it's okay her reaction then in verse 29 her reaction then in verse 29 when she saw him she was troubled well when she saw him she was troubled well that's not very surprising she was that's not very surprising she was greatly distressed or were of course when they saw an angel like that like that greatly greatly trouble she didn't understand of course why why her why would she be visited by this angel visited by this angel and so she in verse 29 says she was and so she in verse 29 says she was troubled as saying and cast troubled as saying and cast in her mind in her mind what manner of salutation this should be what do we imagine [Music] [Music] cast in her mind there's a few references isn't that to mary mary in her mind remember what they are whereabouts are they the verses good just just a few references in this just just a few references in this particular section particular section is in verse 29 oh sorry is in verse 29 oh sorry chap chap so that's the one we've got 129. the so that's the one we've got 129. the next one is chapter 2 verse 19 where it says and mary kept all these things kept all these things and she and she pondered them in her heart so i guess pondered them in her heart so i guess that's two things isn't it she keeps that's two things isn't it she keeps them them and then she ponders them in her heart and then she ponders them in her heart and then and then without going on to that other incident without going on to that other incident just staying in chapter 2 verse 51 just staying in chapter 2 verse 51 [Music] [Music] but her mother but her mother kept all these signs in her heart so there's a remarkable remarkable thoughtfulness i've just got on the thoughtfulness i've just got on the screen just a few little screen just a few little words words that they say is reflects the meaning of that they say is reflects the meaning of these ideas a cast in her mind she she these ideas a cast in her mind she she pondered them in the first one when the pondered them in the first one when the angel comes she ponders what's to happen angel comes she ponders what's to happen chapter 2 verse 19 she kept all these chapter 2 verse 19 she kept all these things it's like it's like retaining things it's like it's like retaining them them memorizing them if you like pondered them in her heart so she's so she's linking them through linking them through turning them over turning them over working the whole things out working the whole things out then 251 as though she's sort of watching carefully and she sees these things carefully and she sees these things happening before her with her son happening before her with her son [Music] [Music] and she's trying to work it out and she's trying to work it out and watching carefully at what happens and watching carefully at what happens isn't she a marvelous person like that isn't she a marvelous person like that you know you know reflector reflector meditator meditator and mind really filled with the and mind really filled with the scriptural import of what's happening scriptural import of what's happening a great woman a great woman mary the best ready mary the best ready there was there was at least in the line of david in those at least in the line of david in those days all that from a girl who's just days all that from a girl who's just about to be married about to be married an amazing maturity in her mind wonder what she really thought in chapter 1 and what she really thought in chapter 1 and verse 9 29 verse 9 29 she cast in her mind she cast in her mind what manner of salutation what manner of salutation this should be this should be now of course the chances are that now of course the chances are that events occurred so quickly that events occurred so quickly that there wasn't much time through a lot of there wasn't much time through a lot of thinking but thinking but if you did have time to stop and think if you did have time to stop and think and you thought about angels appearing and you thought about angels appearing to women then the old testament really would make you the old testament really would make you start thinking about children start thinking about children because because the mothers of isaac and the samson and the mothers of isaac and the samson and possibly moses and jacob they were sort possibly moses and jacob they were sort of tied up with this angelic visitation of tied up with this angelic visitation the they were to do with the impending the they were to do with the impending births births of of children could mary possibly have thought about that could mary possibly have thought that she might be involved that she might be involved in the working out of god's purpose no well possibly yes possibly yes i mean she at least was the right i mean she at least was the right generation and if they thought that that generation and if they thought that that was the time of the birth of the lord was the time of the birth of the lord but she was the right age but she was the right age and there weren't many direct and there weren't many direct descendants descendants of david of david and she was and she was one of them it seems like she had no brothers we only say that because it remember we only say that because it remember john at the crucifixion is given in john at the crucifixion is given in charge of mary charge of mary not any other relations not any other relations and she was espoused to another person and she was espoused to another person who was actually in the kingly line so who was actually in the kingly line so it was really a remarkable circumstance it was really a remarkable circumstance that maybe they had maybe they hadn't that maybe they had maybe they hadn't maybe they had thought about that maybe they had thought about that situation but i guess never of course situation but i guess never of course would she ever thought about the fact of would she ever thought about the fact of a virgin birth a virgin birth never because never because verse 34 how shall this be saying i know verse 34 how shall this be saying i know not a man but they may have thought that not a man but they may have thought that may have been some involvement possibly may have been some involvement possibly possibly not but anyhow possibly not but anyhow whatever it was she cast whatever it was she cast those things in her mind there was those things in her mind there was something ticking something ticking something great really going on with something great really going on with that that verse 30 then gabriel says verse 30 then gabriel says fear not mary fear not mary for that has found for that has found favor favor with with god and by now gabriel was getting quite used to used to saying that because he said finn up to saying that because he said finn up to daniel daniel and he said fear not to and he said fear not to zechariah zechariah and he says fear not then to and he says fear not then to mary mary if you're not mary for if you're not mary for the hast found favor the hast found favor with god and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb there's no mention of course of any man any man that's the point that mary immediately that's the point that mary immediately then then picks up picks up but who would it be his father then but who would it be his father then they shall conceive in thy womb and they shall conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son who would be his bring forth a son who would be his father world it's obviously second father world it's obviously second samuel chapter seven i will be his samuel chapter seven i will be his father or when the fullness of time was father or when the fullness of time was come in galatians chapter four when the come in galatians chapter four when the fullness of time was come god sent forth fullness of time was come god sent forth a son made of a woman a son made of a woman i will be his father i will be his father was ringing in the ears of was ringing in the ears of david david write down those in the line of david write down those in the line of david and that shall bring forth a son and that shall bring forth a son and shall call his name and shall call his name jesus jesus yah shall save yah shall save he's going to be he's going to be emmanuel emmanuel and we know the way that all happens and and we know the way that all happens and i think i've got a table in those notes i think i've got a table in those notes there just that link up together the there just that link up together the luke 1 verse 31 luke 1 verse 31 and the and the isaiah 7 verse 14. so you see the whole isaiah 7 verse 14. so you see the whole both cases they shall conceive in thy both cases they shall conceive in thy womb a virgin shall conceive bring forth womb a virgin shall conceive bring forth the son the son bear a son and thou shall call his name bear a son and thou shall call his name which i'll call his name jesus or which i'll call his name jesus or emmanuel it's the case in isaiah 7. so emmanuel it's the case in isaiah 7. so there's a very direct direct cross there's a very direct direct cross linkages between luke 1 and linkages between luke 1 and isaiah 7. isaiah 7. you will actually remember that matthew you will actually remember that matthew 1 quotes luke 7 1 quotes luke 7 verbatim verbatim but luke 1 but luke 1 then then strings together the ideas of isaiah strings together the ideas of isaiah chapter 7. chapter 7. and so he shall be great in verse 32. he'd used those words of john the baptist but gabriel then uses them in a baptist but gabriel then uses them in a greater sense of the lord jesus christ greater sense of the lord jesus christ he shall be great he shall be great and shall be called the son of the and shall be called the son of the highest highest and the lord god shall give unto him the and the lord god shall give unto him the throne of his father david throne of his father david it's going to be the lord god it's going to be the lord god who would give him that throne who would give him that throne now it's interesting come back to second now it's interesting come back to second samuel chapter seven this is quite samuel chapter seven this is quite fascinating really fascinating really it's the lord god shall give him the it's the lord god shall give him the throne throne of his father david of his father david that that you know that's like the expression the you know that's like the expression the lord yahweh lord yahweh or adonai yahweh or adonai yahweh in the hebrew in the hebrew the lord god shall give unto him the the lord god shall give unto him the throne of his father david not a very throne of his father david not a very common expression it's not used very common expression it's not used very much in the in the old testament but you much in the in the old testament but you take 2nd samuel 7 and there is the take 2nd samuel 7 and there is the promise which is given to david i will promise which is given to david i will be his father and he shall be my son be his father and he shall be my son and then in a remarkable way in verse 18 and then in a remarkable way in verse 18 king david went in and sat before the king david went in and sat before the lord lord i mean that's remarkable you never did i mean that's remarkable you never did that that the priest stood the priest stood david comes in and sits and what does he david comes in and sits and what does he say what he says from verse 18 through say what he says from verse 18 through to verse 29 to verse 29 whom i owe lord god whom i owe lord god and then verse 19 and then verse 19 and this was he had a small thing in thy and this was he had a small thing in thy sight o lord god sight o lord god at the end of the verse at the end of the verse and is this the manner of man o lord god and is this the manner of man o lord god and then in verse 20 for thou lord god and then in verse 20 for thou lord god knoweth thy servant knoweth thy servant and verse 22 and verse 22 wherefore thou art great o lord god wherefore thou art great o lord god and then verse 25 and then verse 25 and now o lord god the word they hath and now o lord god the word they hath spoken to concern thy servants spoken to concern thy servants and then in verse 28 and now o lord god and then in verse 28 and now o lord god there are that gods there are that gods and then finally in verse 29 and then finally in verse 29 oh lord god oh lord god thou hast spoken an interesting thou hast spoken an interesting connection connection gabriel comes gabriel comes and says the same words and says the same words unusual phrase unusual phrase the lord god the lord god shall give unto him the throne shall give unto him the throne of his father of his father david david that's amazing isn't the way the that's amazing isn't the way the scripture connects scripture connects with all those things it's also of course said he's the son he's the son of the highest the most high god when was that first used who said that or who was it set off the most most high god abraham yeah yeah said about what said about what in the time of abraham in the time of abraham that melchizedek yeah yeah the priest of that melchizedek yeah yeah the priest of the most high god so here's melchizedek the most high god so here's melchizedek the type of the lord jesus christ he's the type of the lord jesus christ he's of the most high god so jesus comes then of the most high god so jesus comes then he's the son of the highest and how many he's the son of the highest and how many times does it say in luke about the times does it say in luke about the highest highest well let's count them there's there's well let's count them there's there's one in verse 32 one in verse 32 the son of the highest the son of the highest there is one in verse 35 there is one in verse 35 the power of the highest the power of the highest there's one in verse there's one in verse 76 said by zechariah 76 said by zechariah that child shall be called the prophet that child shall be called the prophet of the highest of the highest and when the angels came outside and when the angels came outside bethlehem bethlehem and they heard the voice it was glory to and they heard the voice it was glory to god god in the highest in the highest so it's interesting that the whole sort so it's interesting that the whole sort of expression is surrounding those of expression is surrounding those events are surrounded by that idea the events are surrounded by that idea the highest the high hope that we have we highest the high hope that we have we have the the most high god before us have the the most high god before us who's coming who's intervened for our who's coming who's intervened for our salvation salvation the son of the highest is about to come the son of the highest is about to come and so he's going to have the throne of and so he's going to have the throne of his father david then in verse 32 his father david then in verse 32 a throne which is going to show mercy a throne which is going to show mercy judgment judgment and righteousness and it's going to and righteousness and it's going to reign in verse 33 over the house of reign in verse 33 over the house of jacob jacob forever forever you stop and think you stop and think why does it say the house of jacob i mean i mean wouldn't it be more sensible sensible to have said the house of israel to have said the house of israel because remember jacob is more often because remember jacob is more often used as the confined sort of word for used as the confined sort of word for israel israel the nation of israel and israel then can the nation of israel and israel then can be used then for a more expansive be used then for a more expansive idea idea generally so generally so but not always it's interesting to go but not always it's interesting to go back to their prophets let's come back back to their prophets let's come back to isaiah to isaiah and just see the way that sort of and just see the way that sort of expands so that the house of jacob expands so that the house of jacob starts really it is a focus then upon starts really it is a focus then upon israel but israel but it's referred to in an expansive kind of it's referred to in an expansive kind of sense you take isaiah the two and it's got that well-known part in verse 3 in verse 3 come ye and let us go up to the mountain come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the lord to the house of the god of of the lord to the house of the god of jacob and that's referring of course to jacob and that's referring of course to the kingdom age when gentiles will come the kingdom age when gentiles will come in to the house of the god of jacob so in to the house of the god of jacob so that's next phrase then becomes a an that's next phrase then becomes a an inclusive phrase to bring people in you inclusive phrase to bring people in you see see what was the house of jacob doing at what was the house of jacob doing at that stage well in verse 5 it says o house of jacob come ye and let us walk in the light of come ye and let us walk in the light of the lord the lord so the house of jacob literally was in so the house of jacob literally was in darkness darkness and there was suicides verse six and there was suicides verse six involved with all these soothsayers and involved with all these soothsayers and like the philistines like the philistines that were there and so the encouragement that were there and so the encouragement then of israel is to come out of that then of israel is to come out of that darkness the house of jacob comes and darkness the house of jacob comes and comes out of that darkness and they comes out of that darkness and they worship worship the lord jesus christ at jerusalem so the lord jesus christ at jerusalem so that the house of jacob then is used in that the house of jacob then is used in this sort of kind of expansive sense this sort of kind of expansive sense isaiah chapter 14 for the lord will have mercy on jacob and will yet choose israel and set them and will yet choose israel and set them in their own land in their own land and the strangers shall be joined with and the strangers shall be joined with them and they shall cleave to the house them and they shall cleave to the house of jacob of jacob so gabriel saying he shall be of the so gabriel saying he shall be of the house of jacob house of jacob holds together this expansion that's holds together this expansion that's going to come in going to come in isaiah chapter 49 has the same sort of thing so the ringing of the prophets so the ringing of the prophets isaiah 49 and now set the lord that formed me from the womb the womb to be his servant to bring jacob again to be his servant to bring jacob again to him though israel be not gathered yet to him though israel be not gathered yet shall i be glorious shall i be glorious in the eyes of the lord and my god shall in the eyes of the lord and my god shall be my strength and he said it is a light be my strength and he said it is a light thing that thou should have been my thing that thou should have been my servant to raise up the tribes of jacob servant to raise up the tribes of jacob and to restore the preserved of israel i and to restore the preserved of israel i will also give thee for a light to the will also give thee for a light to the gentiles that there must be my salvation gentiles that there must be my salvation unto the ends of the earth unto the ends of the earth so that's the so that's the the idea then that's behind that phrase the idea then that's behind that phrase that gabriel says in luke chapter one that gabriel says in luke chapter one thirty thirty three three he shall reign over the house he shall reign over the house of jacob because that house of jacob because that house is going to be a house which will pull is going to be a house which will pull together together all people but at least you can't work out how it's going to happen going to happen in verse 34 saying i know not a man how should this be sing i know not a man i know not a man it's pretty obvious it's pretty obvious what's happening here is that mary is what's happening here is that mary is she's not questioning the fact that it she's not questioning the fact that it will happen she doesn't doubt the fact but like abraham did but like abraham did he questions she questions the mode remember that's the difference with abraham and sarah sarah laughed because abraham and sarah sarah laughed because that would never happen they could never that would never happen they could never have a son have a son abraham believes it but doesn't know how abraham believes it but doesn't know how so so mary then mary then doesn't know how but believes it but doesn't know how but believes it but zechariah zechariah early in the chapter early in the chapter couldn't believe it couldn't believe it and so he was struck down and so he was struck down that's a marvelous thing isn't it mary that's a marvelous thing isn't it mary she just accepts it she just accepts it she believes it but she believes it but is puzzled is puzzled to know how to know how how's it going to be how's it going to be verse 35 and the angel answered and said verse 35 and the angel answered and said unto her the holy spirit should come unto her the holy spirit should come upon thee upon thee and the power and the power of the highest of the highest shall over shall over shadow thee shadow thee now there's another case where it talks now there's another case where it talks about the highest himself and that's about the highest himself and that's psalm 87. psalm 87. remember psalm 87 is a psalm that has remember psalm 87 is a psalm that has the bringing together of the the bringing together of the people from different countries the people from different countries the ethiopians philistines and tyrions and ethiopians philistines and tyrions and they come together and where are they they come together and where are they all born they're all born in jerusalem all born they're all born in jerusalem because that's where their heart and because that's where their heart and their hope is their hope is so it's a so it's a it's the highest himself it says that in it's the highest himself it says that in that psalm the highest himself brings that psalm the highest himself brings all these gentiles in and brings them all these gentiles in and brings them into the hope of israel and so they're into the hope of israel and so they're all born in zion like us all born in zion like us birthplace birthplace zoro zoro birthplace birthplace zara zara first place first place zion and it's the highest himself so zion and it's the highest himself so that reference to the highest that reference to the highest really again like the phrase house of really again like the phrase house of jacob becomes jacob becomes a phrase which brings people in there's a phrase which brings people in there's going to be a going to be a new relationship new relationship there's going to be gentiles as well as there's going to be gentiles as well as jews now participating in the things of jews now participating in the things of the house the house of david of david therefore also that holy thing which therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be born of thee shall be called the son of god and there weren't many that appreciated that appreciated that what would it mean to mary difficult what does it mean to be what does it mean to be in a household with a son who's the son in a household with a son who's the son of god of god i guess she could never really i guess she could never really appreciate that appreciate that she found it hard obviously as the she found it hard obviously as the record later says record later says to know to know that this was the son of god that this was the son of god there were of course a few occasions there were of course a few occasions when he was said to be such when he was said to be such nathaniel nathaniel when he read nathaniel's mind under the when he read nathaniel's mind under the fig tree says that this is the fig tree says that this is the son of god right at the beginning of the ministry but but it didn't happen for many others peter it didn't happen for many others peter about the christ the son of the living about the christ the son of the living god he said at one stage god he said at one stage in his in his enthusiasm that peter show martha said lord i believe that there are the christ the son of the living are the christ the son of the living gods but i wouldn't open that tomb because he's been there for four days because he's been there for four days and it's not good one thing isn't to say he's the son of god but the reality say he's the son of god but the reality of it is it was hard for them to of it is it was hard for them to to know what that really was doing they to know what that really was doing they really saw it before their eyes all really saw it before their eyes all happening and it was only afterwards happening and it was only afterwards they probably realized the greatness of they probably realized the greatness of it the son of god it the son of god i guess the greatest one really was i guess the greatest one really was the centurion he sees him on the stake or the cross stake or the cross a time when really he was no one's son a time when really he was no one's son no one wanted him who would want a son no one wanted him who would want a son on the cross on the cross and the jews certainly said he's not our and the jews certainly said he's not our son and the centurion is able to stand back and say truly and say truly this was this was the son of god the son of god amazing really amazing really well all those things of course are well all those things of course are ahead at this point of time and ahead at this point of time and mary really cannot really appreciate mary really cannot really appreciate what was happening but what mary does what was happening but what mary does do in the greatness is she accepts it do in the greatness is she accepts it it said in verse 36 and behold thy it said in verse 36 and behold thy cousin elizabeth she hath also conceived cousin elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her who and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren was called barren but with god but with god nothing nothing shall be shall be impossible impossible nothing nothing shall be shall be impossible impossible actually that was said later on and he's in the garden and he says and he says father father all things are possible all things are possible unto thee unto thee take away the cup take away the cup so it's interesting right from the so it's interesting right from the beginning of the minister the birth of beginning of the minister the birth of the jesus the jesus to his final hours to his final hours nothing with god nothing with god would be would be impossible and the fact of course that she's actually been able to go and see actually been able to go and see elizabeth elizabeth it's a six month now with her who was it's a six month now with her who was called baron and she probably had not called baron and she probably had not known about lizards because elizabeth known about lizards because elizabeth had hit herself for had hit herself for remember for remember for five months five months so no one really knew what was happening so no one really knew what was happening with elizabeth so probably this is the with elizabeth so probably this is the first time then which mary has heard first time then which mary has heard about those things about those things and you can imagine the encouragement and you can imagine the encouragement that therefore it's given so she can go that therefore it's given so she can go there there and be reassured and be reassured of those things of those things behold behold the handmaiden the handmaiden of the lord be it unto me according according to thy word could she have said no thank you no thank you possibly she could have possibly she could have and possibly some would have and possibly some would have shrinking from the very difficult shrinking from the very difficult situation that they were going to be situation that they were going to be faced with faced with the malicious talk the malicious talk that was going to inevitably follow the gossip the looks the looks and so on and so on would you go along with this would you go along with this would you volunteer to be would you volunteer to be in mary's situation but she voluntarily chooses the handmaid the handmaid of the lord of the lord and what lay ahead for her and what lay ahead for her elizabeth was going to have this child elizabeth was going to have this child to take away her approach as we said to take away her approach as we said mary's child was going to bring her mary's child was going to bring her approach upon her approach upon her elizabeth could come and she could elizabeth could come and she could proudly proudly proudly carry the child that she had proudly carry the child that she had looked for for so long but looked for for so long but mary couldn't mary couldn't here she was living in a group of people here she was living in a group of people who were who were very moral very moral it was a moral age i guess all of us have seen an age change very dramatically an age change very dramatically at least if you're over perhaps 40. at least if you're over perhaps 40. there was a great much greater sense of there was a great much greater sense of morality morality at least in our part of the world and i at least in our part of the world and i probably are part of the world is worse probably are part of the world is worse now than your part of the world now than your part of the world a sense of of shame if that was going to a sense of of shame if that was going to happen having a child happen having a child outside of marriage outside of marriage and now it's all confused it's all and now it's all confused it's all changed and women see it as their right changed and women see it as their right to have a child even if they haven't got to have a child even if they haven't got a husband the programs ivf programs and a husband the programs ivf programs and big thrust in australia to make those big thrust in australia to make those ivf programs available to women ivf programs available to women with no husbands or even with other with no husbands or even with other women women dramatic change that we've seen dramatic change that we've seen well i mean in those days of course well i mean in those days of course there was a great morality around the there was a great morality around the place might have been wrongly directed place might have been wrongly directed but there was a great morality and mary but there was a great morality and mary then has been asked then has been asked to go among those to show the shame that would come from her condition but she accepted it all her condition but she accepted it all and she was god's slave be it and she was god's slave be it unto me unto me according according to your word to your word and so she expresses very quietly and so she expresses very quietly the submission the submission she had to face the unknown she had to face the unknown the unknown reaction of joseph to her the unknown reaction of joseph to her pregnancy she wasn't yet married to him what's his reaction going to what's his reaction going to be likely to be very strong be likely to be very strong what's going to happen to her if joseph what's going to happen to her if joseph deserves her deserves her how she can offend for herself and her how she can offend for herself and her baby and what support possibly would her baby and what support possibly would her parents give to a disgraced daughter parents give to a disgraced daughter and there was a penalty of course and there was a penalty of course for adultery for adultery well well there is the greatness before and i there is the greatness before and i guess she probably didn't understand guess she probably didn't understand everything the sword that would come everything the sword that would come upon her upon her but in a great way she comes but in a great way she comes and she and she ponders those things ponders those things and in a grand example and in a grand example willingly accepts willingly accepts those things and she resolved those things and she resolved yes we should all resolve yes we should all resolve men women or men women or young people or so on young people or so on to be to be handmaidens handmaidens of the lord of the lord to be it unto us to be it unto us according to according to god's word