Simply Christmas | Mary gave her all //
The wisemen gave their best, the shepherds gave their experience, Joseph gave his reputation, Mary gave her all…
To truly understand the destiny of Jesus to the cross we must first unwrap the gift of Jesus to the manger.
Luke 1:26-38 “26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee…”
27 “…to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary…”
28 “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”
30 …“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
When Jesus died, they expected Him to stay dead.
But he didn’t.
36 “Even Elizabeth, your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
God’s gift for you may never be a present someone gives, but the presence they have.
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”
In the midst of the mundane, God works out the miraculous.
39 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 20:28 “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Will you let him use you? Will you let him hold you? — Will you say — “yes”?