Tuesday: Call His Name Jesus
The birth of Jesus Christ was no normal event. It was marked in God’s eternal calendar, and when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman
(Gal. 4:4, NKJV) . It is the fulfillment of the first promise God made after the entrance of sin in Eden (Gen. 3:15) .
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Read the following pairs of texts. In each one, how was the birth of Jesus an amazing fulfillment of prophecy? What does this tell us about why we must learn to trust all of God’s promises? Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22-24; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:21-23; Mic. 5:2; Luke 2:4-7.
Six months after Gabriel announced to Zacharias the coming birth of John, he announced to Mary of Nazareth an even greater miracle: that a virgin will conceive . . . and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus
(Luke 1:31, NKJV) .
The virgin birth of Jesus goes against all nature, and it cannot be explained by nature or naturalistic philosophy. Even Mary had her question: How can this be, since I do not know a man?
(Luke 1:34, NKJV) . The angel assured her that this would be the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) , and with God nothing will be impossible
(Luke 1:37, NKJV) . Mary’s immediate and faithful submission was remarkable: Let it be to me according to your word
(Luke 1:38, NKJV) . Every human question, no matter how natural or logical, must give way to the divine answer. Be it Creation or the Cross, the Incarnation or the Resurrection, the downpour of manna or the outpouring of Pentecost—the divine initiative demands human surrender and acceptance.
While Mary answered her own question by submission and surrender to God’s sovereignty and eternal purpose, Gabriel assured her with another great answer: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God
(Luke 1:35, NKJV) .
Some secular cultures have been browbeaten into believing that everything, ultimately, has a naturalistic and scientific explanation. Why is this such a narrow, even superficial, view of the grandeur and greatness of reality?
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We can just see even from before the birth of jesus, mary was already a good mother for him. Just look at how she replies to gabriel luke 1:38. "Let it be done according to your word" abd it did happen because she believed. she knew with God everything is possible. Let's believe in the Lord for he is so gracious to us and remember he says there will come a time that whosoever shall believe on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Amen
When the word itself says "am Possible" what are you that doubting God. Nothing is impossible with God. He can do great things in you if only you believe and open your hearts to his word.
God will always cause his intentions to be fulfilled regardless of our state of belief.
Sarah Abraham's wife doubted that she will be impregnated, having longed so deeply and so long without fulfillment for that promised son when the angel spoke about it to Abraham.
Mary was not even longing for a child when the angel came to bring her the news.She was rather young and had plenty of time ahead of her unlike Sarah. Mary's initial reaction was one of surprise and then acceptance.
When you look at Sarah,Zacharias and Mary, you can tell the immediate acceptance of God's will in Mary. Unlike Mary, Sarah looks at God's promises and their fulfillment with wonder and doubt likewise to Zacharias. A question I wish to know is the genealogy of Mary. And secondly the promised Messiah was to come from the house of Judah. Now is it right to say that Jesus was a Jew yet He had no biological relation with Joseph?
Just a few thoughts to share as I ponder on this question in Tuesday's part of the lesson:
"Some secular cultures have been browbeaten into believing that everything, ultimately, has a naturalistic and scientific explanation. Why is this such a narrow, even superficial, view of the grandeur and greatness of reality?"
The following comes to mind:
Scientifically it cannot be explained why we die. This alone already shows how narrow a view it is to think that we can explain everything scientifically or naturally.
Deut 29:29 comes to mind. God has revealed to us why we die (Romans 6v23; 3v23; 18:20). There are also so many things that He has not revealed but what He has revealed in His Word and in nature is sufficient for us to be saved.
Its also great to worship such a great God because I believe in the great truth that man can rise no higher than that which he worships. So we can be sure that if we worship this God for Whom nothing is impossible, then there is truly no limit to the constant progress we make make in all aspects of life - mental, spiritual and physical - throughout eternity as we become more and more like Him.
The history of Mary is spiritually repeated in all our lives, Jesus says that he is at the door of our hearts knocking and waiting for our response. (Revelation 3: 20) How are we responding to this call? Mary was physically a virgin. Are we spiritually virgins? Bible says that those who are a friend of the world are not virgins but adulterous and adulteresses. (James 4:4)
We may look at our sinful lives and think that we are not good enough, but Jesus said in Isaiah 1:18 that when we receive Christ in our hearts He will change our lives (1 Corinthians 5:17. There is nothing scientific about that- because science can never explain how a thief would become a generous giver, a prostitute becomes a virtuous woman, a drunk becomes sober, a hot temper becomes a forgiver,etc. {Read AA 476.1}
This comes to pass the same way Mary was able to conceive though she was a virgin, we must by faith accept Jesus in our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work the greatest miracle in our lives transforming a sinner into a saint. God Bless
Just posting the quote you referred to Paul. Its a blessing indeed:
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the power of Christ, men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have become transformed into the image of God. This change is in itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word. We cannot understand it; we can only believe, as declared by the Scriptures, it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”{AA 476.1}
May God help us to be strong, faithful, patience enough, to believe and trust in the Lord without doubts. We have little faith and it drags us away from God. We desire and wish for fast life that is not God's will but when we don't get them, we lose Hope.
May we put God first on our wishes and desires. Let's have faith and all shall be given to us
Having the Faith is connected to believing! Believing is something that you have in your thoughts, your mind and then comes "action."
You work hard to have something in your life. Same thing with Faith. If a faith doesn't align with what you believe in, it will be hard to do... you have doubts.
If you leave behind a doubtful mind, you will have an open minded attitude. Everything is going to be possible. And if you believe this, nothing is impossible with God. And again, like our memory text this week, "... with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37, NKJV). Then go back about the word "faith." If you have it, everything is possible. Belive in God and you have it...
So grateful because I have faith and I believed. The Holy Spirit guides me and gives me assurances everyday of my life. Living and experiencing the life of being a christian these days are not easy. But if you ask, how can we be protected with what's going on around us? You know, we're not alone. Jesus said that to "abide in Him" and He is in us we need to spend time in His Word! "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7. That's Faith indeed! The Holy Spirit is willing to be with you... always! Just ask.