Mary’s Role, Our Purpose

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One of our hopes for the Advent series was to create a sense of anticipation. We arranged the series to start in Genesis, hoping to build each week upon the longing and anticipation that the Jewish people might’ve felt. As I studied Luke 1:26-38, I could feel this in the text. It was a sweet privilege to think about how Mary might have processed this moment and to ‘hear’ her account. Because we weren’t there, it’s challenging to put ourselves in her position or to perfectly feel what the Jewish anticipation would be like.

I would love to hear how this sermon series has encouraged or challenged you. Has it built a sense of anticipation?

The Impossible

Luke’s narrative of the promises concerning John the Baptist and Jesus is given to us to reveal that all things are possible with God. There is nothing impossible with Him. He can cause a barren woman and a virgin to have children. His arm is not too short, and His power is not limited.

But more than doing the impossible, this narrative was intended to show us that God will save His people without the help of human striving or human ingenuity. The Holy Spirit, at the calling of and by the power of God, put baby Jesus in Mary, the virgin’s womb. He did it. He did not need humans to save humans. God will fulfill His promises, His way, by His power.

This is a storyline that you’ll see throughout the Bible. Here are some examples:

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they clothed themselves with fig leaves. Their attempt to cover this sin (3:7). Instead, God promised a Champion (3:15) and clothed them with animal skins (3:21).
God promised Abram his very own son would be his heir and the son of promise (Gen. 15:3-4). But when God didn’t seem to answer at the time that they had thought, Sarai, Abram’s wife, devised her plan (Gen. 16:1-2). God made it clear that the promised son would be Abram’s and Sarai’s (17:15-16).
In Genesis 11, when humanity’s sin and rebellion spread, they attempted to build a tower to the heavens. The goal was to achieve ‘godlikeness’ through human ingenuity. But God stepped in and confused their languages and caused them to divide into different nations.

Humans have always attempted to ‘save themselves.’ We have always thought we could ‘be like God’ through our abilities and strength of will.

The virgin birth is another (more than like culminating) event where God steps in to say, ‘I will save humans, My way, with my power.’ God doesn’t need our help to save us.

This is the extravagant wonder of God’s grace. We can’t earn, work for, or force it to happen. God’s grace comes to us on God’s terms and by His power.

Mary’s Unique Role

Sometimes, Christians read stories like Mary’s, and they assume that God wants all of us to be like Mary. Even more, they believe that God expects us to be like Mary. But I think that’s aiming too low for several reasons.

For one, God calls and uses different people at different times for unique things. Those things are not supposed to be duplicated. Mary, for instance, was called to carry the Son of God and be His earthly mother. No one else in the universe’s history is called to do this. We can say the same thing with the apostles Peter and Paul. No one else was the tip of the spear into the world of gospel missions like these men. God called them at a unique time and place. He gifted them with unique gifts and gave them unique courage. Their character and spiritual qualities are undoubtedly worth emulating and are great examples. But, if we think we’re supposed to be like them, we’ll miss who God made us to be.

The reason why this aim is too low is because we’re called to be like Jesus. Paul told us to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Peter, Paul, and Mary (sounds like a musical group😉) would all tell us not to be like them but to be like Jesus.

This tells us that God has placed each of us in the home, family, neighborhood, city, school, work, and church to play our unique role. He has also uniquely gifted each of us with gifts, talents, and interests that are uniquely ours. No one else can play the role God has called us to play.

Looking Ahead

We will continue our Christmas series, “Awaiting the King,” this Sunday as we look at Luke 1:39-56 and at joyful expectation. We will examine the first meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist. I’m sure there might be an application of “He must increase and I must decrease.”

From the Cheap Seats

Can I brag about some kids from our church? In the picture at the bottom, several kids (Weston Smith, Crowder Anderson, and Isaac Karnofski are three of the six kids pictured) competed in a regional robotic competition, and they placed 2nd, which qualifies them for the state competition. They’re part of the Compass Homeschool Co-op. Denise Smith and Abby Anderson were their adult leaders. Congrats!
Rumor has it that our Ladies’ Christmas Party was a smashing success. Over 180 ladies gathered at the Winston Community Center (our Vine Street building is too small to host) on December 6th. I heard Amanda Castellanos did a fantastic job sharing about trusting God in hard times. Pictures are at the bottom.
I think the NCAA Football Championship Committee got it right. I respect Alabama, but they had some bad losses. The SEC is incredibly challenging, but SMU had a better year.
As a Texas A&M fan and an OSU fan, having UT and UO on the same side of the bracket saves me from the misery of possibly watching them in the final. It’s one small way the Lord cared for my sports fandom😉…
15 years for $805 million for Juan Soto?!? No thanks.

Last Sunday’s Sermon