“Blessed are you among women”

You might not believe it, but Luke Chapter One is one of the most theologically, doctrinally, and prophetically packed passages anywhere in Scripture. To thoroughly exegete it would involve going from book to book, passage to passage, and cross-referencing. This video covers just Luke 1:26-30, where the Virgin Mary meets Gabriel. Subsequent videos will cover more of Mary’s response to Gabriel’s news, that she was selected to bear the Messiah, Jesus Christ. There is detail here that should edify and challenge us in our faith.

First, the name Gabriel, means “Hero of God. It’s very interesting that in Luke 1:19, Gabriel says of himself that he stands in the presence of God. This leads a lot of students and scholars to believe Gabriel may be one of the four angels that surround the throne in Revelation Chapter four. But one thing we do know, whether we’re looking at Gabriel, whether we’re looking at Michael, all the angels reflect God. Their job, their task, their purpose for existence is to reflect God in different ways. Michael is a warrior angel. Gabriel is a teaching and an encourager and exhorter. Note that whenever Gabriel appears, he appears as a man. And when Gabriel appears, the only thing he delivers is information about the coming of the Messiah. We only have three people in the Bible to which Gabriel appears. There may have been more, but he’s not named otherwise. He appears to Daniel in Daniel, Chapters 8 to 12 where Daniel stands there listening, and Gabriel is basically teaching and explaining (and in some cases giving visions) of the Messiah. And then, of course, he appears to Zacharias in Luke 1:11-20, where he revealed the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. Why is that important? Because John the Baptist is the forerunner of the Messiah. And then of course, shortly afterward, Gabriel appeared to Mary, who would be the virgin mother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so Luke 1:26 says “that Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.” That’s very important. This is the town in which Mary lived. It’s significant because it fulfills a prophecy that you might have pondered or maybe wrestled over. You’ll remember in Matthew 2:23, when Jesus’ family comes back from Egypt, it says that Joseph led them to Nazareth. “He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called the Nazarene.” There are no real passages that say, “he shall be called a Nazarene.” You’ll search in vain. You can’t find it. And yet Matthew said that this was a fulfillment of the “prophets,” plural. You’ll probably remember that there are several passages in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah as “the branch” (Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 33:15, Zachariah 3:8, and Zachariah 6:12.) The word branch in Hebrew is “Netzar,” is the root of Nazareth. Is it amazing? God named a town just so a prophecy could be fulfilled concerning the Lord Jesus Christ

Our passage in Luke goes on to tell us that “Mary was betrothed to Joseph of the House of David.” This is going to become significant, but I’m going to save that for the next video. Suffice that it is the fulfillment of a prophecy. “Mary” is derived from the Hebrew name “Miriam,” which goes all the way back to the sister of Moses. It’s very interesting that Miriam is probably derived from the Egyptian “Meri,” which means “beloved.” Isn’t that appropriate? In Luke 1:28, Gabriel identifies the character of Mary using three phrases. These should be a challenge to us. First though, many scholars have suggested that probably every generation of young women in Israel dreamed that possibly, maybe they would be the one who bears the long-awaited Messiah. Well, here of course, it came down to Mary. And I think Gabriel explains something about why she was chosen. He says that she was highly favored. Now favor, of course, refers to Grace. And we’ll see that in a moment. She was highly favored or highly great, highly blessed. This shows me that she was living in intimate association with the grace of God. Her life was enveloped in grace. How does that happen? This fellowship and Grace are available to every one of us. The Apostle Paul amplifies this when he says in Romans Chapter 5, “grace upon grace” and “much more grace.” Much more than what? Much more than anything you’ve known up to this point. There’s more grace available. How do we get it? Well, it’s very simple. In 1^st Peter 5:5, Peter said, “God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Also, Jesus began his public teaching ministry with the Beatitudes, and he began with the statement “Blessed,” or you could say “Grace.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The word for “poor” here in the Greek language conveys a person is so poor, so destitute, so helpless that when people walked by, they would just spit on them. They were what you would call the dregs of the earth. God gives grace to we who realize how poor we really are in comparison to our God

Luke 1:28 continues, “The Lord is with you.” This indicates that Mary was living by faith. You must realize that Mary is likely just 14 or 15 years old, the typical marriage age in her time. How spiritually deep could she be? Let’s not deify Mary, which is idolatry, but let’s give her a rightful place, because she was a very magnificent young woman. She was living in fellowship with God, living in the sphere of grace. Gabriel said, “blessed are you among women,” indicating that she represented the ideal woman. Notice he did not say “above other women,” but, “among women.” Mary represented one half of humans. Immediately our mind goes to Genesis 3:15 where the first promise of the Messiah that tells us essential that “the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.”

Now in Luke 1:29, Mary responds within herself in two ways. She was “troubled,” and she “considered.” First, the word “troubled” is actually an intensified verb, which literally means “terrified.” You know, there’s an interesting reaction that you will find in everyone in the Bible when the invisible, unseen realm intersects with the human realm. They’re terrified. If you want to see a vision of angels or the Lord, prepare yourself to be terrified, because the spiritual realm is something that we’re not qualified or capable of taking in. Second, I love this word “consider” which in the Greek is the word “logizomai.” It’s a mathematical term. What a magnificent young woman! What kind of facts do you think she’s adding up here? She’s had an appearance of an angel that calls himself Gabriel who tells her that she is highly favored and she’s standing there dumbfounded, terrified, and she’s in her mind casting about with what? Scripture! She’s beginning to add up the facts she knows of scripture. Being a young Jewish woman, you know, there wasn’t a lot of training. A young man, on the other hand, was trained in the law. Before a young man’s bar mitzvah, he got some intensive training, but not so much a young woman. Something interesting, however, is revealed in the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). There are 15 direct references and allusions to Old Testament scriptures. Off the top of her head, she begins to sing a song composed of fifteen Old Testament texts. Anybody here want to try that? We might get John 3:16 and a couple of others. Mary was obviously a scholar of scripture, and likely, because she was not pushed into knowing the law like a boy would be, she was probably searching on her own.

To me this means she loved the word of God!

Gene Cunningham - January 28, 2003

Hebrews 14

Heb 3:1-6 Thrust of this book is a challenge to believers in a historical crisis to fix their eyes on Jesus. It’s stated several different ways Heb 3:1 “consider” Seven things the author wants us to take into consideration Consider-takes mental effort, energy, focus, to establish a way of thinking, it’s designed with the end in view of blessing us heb 3:6 Three things that keep our eyes off Christ 1-Self, we look at ourselves, there are two extremes (human nature is always extreme and the divine is balanced) strengths and weaknesses. In your strength you look at yourself in pride. In your weakness you look at yourself in your failure and inadequacy . Dangerous to sin in your mind because it’s the easiest to cover up. 2-Look at someone else. If you look at someone’s strength, then you feel inadequate. If you look at someone’s weakness, then you feel pride. Same effect. What is the eye of the soul looking at. Rom 12:3 look to Christ then we will see as God sees. 3-Look to circumstances. Things are going great because rom 8:28 The author is challenging and commanding us to look where we’re supposed to look. It’s dangerous to not look where you’re going. Where are we going? Phi 3:12-16 upward path from the cross to the crown Heb 12:1-2 Jesus is the Author and Finisher. He cheers us at the beginning to go, but He is also at the finish calling us toward Him. We must make a lot of decisions in life, but a runner makes the choice to make every step get him closer. The one who focuses on the finish and doesn’t bother looking to see where everyone else is keeps his speed. It’s a call that says “come here” it starts on the earth and you end up in heaven Seven things he wants us to see about Jesus 1. Apostle-presents God to men, to declare the things of God in ways that men can understand, take divine truth, and as a man communicate it in a way men can understand. Jesus communicated it with His words and with His life. Ultimately, all your learning comes from Jesus, who gave you His Spirit so you could understand. 1co 2:9-10 2. High Priest-this takes us one step further, takes us into the presence of God, when He went to the cross and was resurrected and ascended and sat at the right hand of God, God received Him and accepted His work, and He accepts us the same way. As long as Jesus is sitting there we are welcome in God’s presence. He is our advocate because we are a new creation. Heb 2:17 mercy withholds judgment we deserve. We are all sinful and deserving of wrath and judgment. We all have equal standing before God without condemnation. Jesus always has, always will, He will never change, He is always merciful to us. Heb 5:6 after order of Melchizedek He is a warrior priest king. Heb 5:15 priest able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Heb 5:2 when God chose a priest in the Old Testament, a qualification was a person with weaknesses so he could deal graciously with others. He is able to sympathize with you, your thoughts, words, actions. Psa 103:1-22 heb 7:26 He is just the kind of High Priest sinners need. He is exactly what we need. Heb 8:1 He is the theme of the book. No matter where you’ve been looking, look to Jesus. Don’t look at yourself or other, look on Him only. Look at Jesus, look at His plan, look at His deliverance, look heb 13:8 He is for us, who can be against us. Confession means to agree with God. To speak the same thing. He is the Apostle, the High Priest 1ti 2:5 Job 9:33 Jesus is the mediator that has come, the God-Man. Joh 3:33 you agree with God. Don’t just do that at the moment of salvation, do it today knowing He is still your Great Shepherd. Do you really believe Jesus has an intimate and ultimate love for you, He knows every fear and anxiety, and He wants to carry it for you. He is the friend of the sinners, the weak, the broken, the reject. 3. Faithfulness- He is always faithful. He never changes heb 3:2 Heb 13:8 num 12:7 num 12:3 Moses was humble. He fell down, underwent divine discipline. Men see differently than God. God’s pleased with Moses just as he was. God uses all of us just as we are. Rev 19:11 Faithful and True, that’s Jesus’ name. 4. Worthiness-Heb 3:3 This is a big deal for the author, because to the Jews, Moses is the greatest. He’s saying to these Jewish believers that Jesus leaves Moses in the dust. He is infinitely beyond Moses. Worthy means weighing things of value, and Jesus always has always been more worthy. rev 5:11 glory and honor anthem of angels, the chorus is worthy to receive glory honor and power because You created all things. The greatest failure anyone can make about Jesus is to only see Him as a man. He is God. Joh 1:1-6 Jesus made two households. Israel and the Church. Jesus was a servant, a noble servant, the man who served voluntarily, the house of Israel. Jesus called Abraham, and guided Moses, He was the pillar of fire and smoke, who resided in the Holy of Holies? Eph 3:14-15 God alone gives meaning to the word “Father” the author of the plan of salvation. 5. Deity- heb 3:3-4 The author declares that Jesus is God. Don’t forget you are dealing with God in the flesh. If Jesus isn’t the God-man then salvation is not possible. Isa 9:6-7 6. Sonship-Heb 3:6 He is faithful in a house as a Son. The second household is the church with a heavenly calling. Joh 14:1-4 He has chosen us to be His bride. If it took God 6 days to make such a beautiful world, how wonderful do you think the place will be that He’s been working on for 2,000 years. Marriage to Jesus is Heaven. Eph 5:32 He is perfect and we will be made perfect. Marriage on this earth as the best it has been is just a preview of what we can expect with Christ. You are not cheated if you don’t experience marriage this side of eternity. Surpassing your wildest expectations. 7. Foundation Stone-Blessing He has in mind when He tells us to keep looking on Jesus. We need to begin our day thinking about Him, reading, praying. Continue through the day. How does this relate to Jesus in my life, pray constantly that He would keep our eyes fixed on Him. We belong to His house as believers. There is a conditional phrase that says if we hold fast. Don’t read into scripture, just read what it says. We are His house as a believer, He sent the Holy Spirit to be our guide and teacher so we can fulfill the plan He has for us. The grace of God will not remove our personal responsibility. This if is a maybe, if maybe you will and maybe you won’t, have in your possession and to hold, firmly grasping. If we firmly grasp what we’ve been given as a gift we will experience the blessings of fixing our eyes on Jesus. He is the foundation stone of spiritual steadfastness. What if we don’t hold fast? The consequences of failing to lay hold of His resources by faith are losing many things, but the worst thing to lose is Christ Himself in the sense of His fellowship 2co 13:5 Jam 4:7 in the experiential sense, if you are indifferent to Him He will do likewise, but if you draw near He will draw near to you. Rev 3:14-22 expulsion, nauseating. There’s nothing that makes Jesus more sick than someone with every resource and indifferent to Him and His plan. Be a beggar for more things from God, He will give the purified faith, that we might be clothed in white. Beware of a chasm between you and Him. Problem is a believer that took his eyes off of Christ, Jesus ultimately withdraws and is on the outside, treated as a stranger, and humbly knocks and asks permission to come back in. Heb 3:6 what are we to hold fast to? If you want Jesus to be the Son over the house, to have authority in your life, we have to hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of our hope, our absolute assurance, conviction, confidence in God. It will produce courage to face the conditions we’ll face, and joy in the midst of them. Trust in Jesus, in the Word of God. If you trust in Him you’ll be able to face whatever comes with courage, boldness and joy. It’s the hallmark of faith. Heb 11:1- they sang songs of rejoicing, people who could give thanks to God in everything. Mat 24:13 not about eternal salvation, the believer that endures to the end, runs to the finish line and will be saved 1jo 2:28 saved from abide in Him=consider Jesus saved from being ashamed at His coming. The greatest tragedy in the Christian life would be to stand in His presence in shame, the one factor that will cause shame is failure to look to Him in trust. We look to Him for the work He’s already done. Learn, pray, seek to keep your eyes on Jesus Christ.

Scripture References: Revelation 5:11, Hebrews 5:2, John 14:1-4, John 3:33, Romans 12:3, Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 3:3, Hebrews 5:15, Hebrews 3:6, Job 9:33, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 11:1, Revelation 19:11, Hebrews 5:6, Isaiah 9:6-7, Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 3:6, Numbers 12:3, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 3:3-4, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 3:1-6, Revelation 3:14-22, Numbers 12:7, Hebrews 12:1-2, Ephesians 3:14-15, Hebrews 7:26, James 4:7, Hebrews 13:8, Philippians 3:12-16, John 1:1-6, Psalms 103:1-22, Ephesians 5:32, Hebrews 3:2, Romans 8:28