Sermon

Introduction: Imagine, if you had never read the Bible before, what would you think if I told you that God intended to use a teenage country girl to change the entire trajectory of human history? What if I added that this young girl came from a despised village, lived in extreme poverty with zero social status? The girl, as if her whole life was expected to be nothing more than "get married, have children, do housework, and grow old." Would you ever believe that she could become the one whom "all generations will call her blessed"(Luke 1:48)?

But this is precisely the story of Luke 1:26-45. God sent the angel Gabriel, not to the majestic Temple in Jerusalem (as He did with Zechariah in the previous passage of Luke 1:1-25), not to the imperial palaces of Rome, nor to the intellectual academies of Athens, but to Nazareth in Galilee, a place so insignificant that even Jews looked down upon it (John 1:46: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"). Yet, God sent Gabriel to this humble place to seek out a humble country girl named Mary.

From this, we see that the story of Jesus’ birth represents a radical subversion. God did not choose power, wealth, status, or the religious establishment; instead, He chose a poor, unknown, and marginalised young girl. This really contradicts our human logic, but this is the very logic of the Gospel. The logic of the Gospel is this: God uses those whom the world considers 'unqualified' to accomplish His greatest work. And the passage we look at today is one of the clearest proofs of this truth.

Now, I invite everyone to bring three questions to your minds as we go through this passage together:

·       How does God break into an "impossible" life? (Luke 1:26-33)

·       How do human beings respond to God amid the "impossible"? (Luke 1:34-38)

·       How is faith strengthened within the fellowship? (Luke 1:39-45)

I. Grace Comes to the Impossible Place (Luke 1:26-33)

At the very beginning of verse 26, Luke highlights the timing of the passage, "In the sixth month..." If we cross-reference earlier verses in Luke 1:24 and 36, we can see that this refers to the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. This is not a coincidence; it intimately connects Mary's story with the preceding account of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

God's work is seamless and continuous. He first prepared John the Baptist, and then sent Jesus. So, the arrival of grace is never an isolated event, but an integral part of God's redemptive plan.

And verse 26 also highlights the setting: "… Nazareth, a town in Galilee." What kind of place was Nazareth? As I briefly mentioned, it was located in the southern region of Galilee, far from Jerusalem, the religious centre of the day. That means there was no temple, no prophets, and no priestly system. So, it was an obscure little village without any commercial or political significance. Even the broader region of Galilee was considered remote countryside in the eyes of contemporary Jews. The Jews despised the people there because of their impure accents and mixed bloodlines. And Nazareth itself was so unremarkable that it was never even mentioned in the Old Testament. So, humanly speaking, it was the most impossible place for anything big to happen.

But God deliberately chose the "most impossible" place to be the place of redemptive history. In a sense, this foreshadows the entire direction of Jesus' earthly ministry. Jesus didn’t come to add "icing to the cake," but to provide "lifesaving relief in the freezing cold." As the Apostle Paul declared: God chose the foolish, weak, lowly, and despised things of the world (1 Cor 1:27-28), so that no human being could boast in His presence.

Last month, while I was visiting a theological seminary, I met a student from a rural background who had just graduated from high school. One evening, he told me that he often felt "unworthy to serve God." I asked him why, and he said, "My Mandarin pronunciation is Not standard, my biblical knowledge is so limited, and my high school grades were very average." And I shared Mary's story with him, just want to help him to see that God does not search for vessels among the 'elite,' but among the willing. And I told him that since God had called him out to be equipped, God would surely give him a specific harvest field and flock to shepherd, making him a true channel of God's grace. That is the way God works.

Then in verse 28, we notice that the angel's initial greeting to Mary was not "You are going to achieve great things," nor "You must obey," but rather: “Greetings, favoured woman! The Lord is with you!" God's grace always precedes human response. Mary was chosen not because she was more devout, clever, or holy than other young girls, but because God sovereignly chose to bestow His grace upon her.

And we see that the angel was not saying, "You will receive grace later," but "You have already received grace, and this grace remains continually in effect." So, Mary's obedience was a response to the grace she had already received, not a condition to earn it. Brothers and sisters, this is the very heart of the Gospel! 1 John 4:19 told us: “We love because He first loved us.” We obey because we are already favoured, not to purchase favour. Mary's obedience was made possible because she was first wrapped in God’s grace.

Just a few weeks ago, news reported that the CEOs of the “Big 3” AI companies: Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI, issued a joint statement urging a slowdown in AI development to mitigate the risk of losing control. But some people said that these warnings were just commercial attempts to keep their market dominance by making people afraid. As Christians, how should we respond to these? In a time when it seems like truth is becoming less clear, Mary's story is a very clear example of how God’s grace comes before Response and Identity comes before Performance. No matter how complicated these tech leaders' intentions may be, as Christians, our response is not based on fear or suspicion, but on the firm promise that "We are already highly favoured."

But when Mary heard this, we see from verse 29 that she was greatly troubled at the angel’s words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel's very first words to her in verse 30 were: "Do not be afraid." This mirrors Zechariah's reaction back in Luke 1:13. As I mentioned a few weeks earlier, whenever God breaks into human experience, our initial instinct is fear. Mary was overwhelmed not because she saw angelic light, but because she couldn't understand how important this greeting was.

But the opening word of grace is always: "Do not be afraid." Because when God approaches us, He comes not to condemn, but to save.

Continuing in verse 31, the angel declared: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus." The name “Jesus” means "Yahweh is Salvation." So, for Jesus, His name is His mission: He came to save.

In the following verses 32-33, the angel further proclaimed Jesus’ divine identity:

•       "He will be great", not according to worldly standards of greatness, but great in the eyes of God.

•       "He will be called the Son of the Most High", so clearly, Jesus is the Son of God.

•       "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David", which means Jesus is the promised Messiah, the offspring of King David.

•       "He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” This is not a reference to a political restoration of earthly Israel, but an everlasting realm. Jesus’ kingdom is eternal.

So, the birth of Jesus was not a cosmic accident; it was the direct fulfilment of Old Testament promises (2 Sam 7:12-16; Isa 9:6-7). Hundreds of years earlier, God had already promised that a descendant of David would sit upon the throne forever, and now, that word was coming to pass through a newborn babe in Nazareth, the most impossible place in human eyes.

II. Faith Arises from God's Word (Luke 1:34-38)

In verse 34, Mary asked the angel a question. Even though her question sounds very much like Zechariah's earlier question (1:18), they were actually very different. While Zechariah's question came from "I do not believe," Mary's question came from "I do not understand." Zechariah's doubt led to silence, while Mary's honest question led to a deeper revelation.

I'm not saying that Mary was "more spiritual" than Zechariah. I'm just saying that God has different ways of dealing with different people. God's grace is not general; it is deeply personal, relationally nuanced. God's grace addresses our unique needs as individuals.

Then, the angel's response in verse 35 reveals the deep mystery of the Incarnation: "The Holy Spirit will come on you". This is the same Holy Spirit who hovered over creation to bring forth life back in Gen 1:2. The following sentence: "The power of the Most High will overshadow you" shows that God Himself will create, and God Himself will bring it to pass. This clarifies Mary's confusion: God's power overshadows human impossibility.

Then follows a verse rich in theological weight: "So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." Clearly, Jesus' identity as the "Son of God" was not given later in His life; He was the divine Son from the moment of conception. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and this is the foundational mystery of our Christian faith.

Then comes the key statement in verse 37, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary doesn’t receive an explanation for every detail of her future. She receives God’s promise.

And her response is beautiful, verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled.” Faith does not mean that we understand everything. Faith means that we trust the One who knows everything.

Now if we look together at Elizabeth conceiving in her old age and Mary conceiving as a virgin, these two events are entirely impossible from a human perspective. But we are reminded that nothing is impossible with God. And this is the rock-solid foundation of our faith.

In fact, Mary had no idea of what lay ahead of her: Would her fiancé Joseph divorce her? Would she be stoned to death under the law? Would she face public shame and isolation? She did not know. But Mary knew one thing above all: God's word is entirely trustworthy. In other words, Mary did not surrender because she was exceptionally brave, but because she believed that God's word has the power to accomplish what He promised.

In 2026, there are still many geopolitical conflicts around the world. The crisis in Ukraine is now in its fifth year; a sudden U.S. raid in Venezuela has caused chaos in Latin America, and rising tensions in the Middle East have caused the oil crisis to get worse. There is so much uncertainty in the world that makes "submitting to God" becoming very hard. We don't even know what tomorrow will bring. But in today’s passage, especially Mary's willingness to say "may your word to me be fulfilled," shows us that obedience is NOT based on being able to control the future, but on trusting that God will keep His promises. Today, what makes a missionary still work in a war zone? Or a business leader stands firm in their faith during times of political unrest? Or a spouse chooses forgiveness during a marital crisis? It's because they know the One who holds the outcome; because they trust the One who will fulfil His own words.

Mary did obey, but she wasn't blind; she was not stupid. She knew what the risks were. In the past, being pregnant while not married could lead to death. (Deu 22:23-24). So, Mary’s submission was not naive optimism, but a commitment made after counting the cost.

There was a young woman I met in Bible school; she is a last-year student who is almost done with seminary and has to decide whether to go back to her comfortable city job or become a missionary and go to a remote, unreached area. She knows the cost: living hardship, parental disapproval, and an uncertain future. But after prayer, she says similar words as Mary: "I am the Lord's servant; may your word to me be fulfilled." This is not a lack of fear, but choosing to do what is right even though she is afraid. Her obedience is like Mary's. It's not because there is no cost, but because she believes God's word will keep her going.

Also, Mary's obedient submission directly prefigures her Son, Jesus’ prayer years later, in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). So, in a sense, Mary's submission foreshadows Jesus’ obedience unto death.

Since he had finished his job, the angel left Mary. Mary didn't always have angels with her; instead, God spoke to her. So, faith relies not on the visible presence of angels/miracles; it depends on God's word being true over time. Mary had to keep that promise for the next nine months, even though no one saw her; even though she was misunderstood, and she may have been slandered behind her back. This reminds us that obeying God doesn't always lead to immediate comfort. Sometimes, it leads to a long time of waiting.

III. Faith Is Strengthened in Fellowship (Luke 1:39-45)

When Mary heard the angel's message, she didn't stay there to think about it all by herself. Instead, she got up and quickly went to a town in the hill country of Judea to see Elizabeth. Why? There was only one person who could really understand her because Elizabeth had been through an "impossible" pregnancy herself. In other words, Elizabeth was the spiritual friend that God had planned ahead of time for Mary. Back in verse 36, when the angel talked about Elizabeth, it was not a coincidence; it was God's will. God planned for Mary to be strengthened, showing that her journey of obedience was not meant to be a "lonely hero" one, but one that was supported by others.

So dear brothers and sisters, the Gospel is not about being an individual. A person's faith does not grow on an isolated island by itself; it grows in a group of believers. Just like Mary needed Elizabeth, we all need each other very much.

Especially in this age of AI, Mary's quick trip to the hill country should serve as a wake-up call to us: faith needs real fellowship, not algorithmic companionship. If a believer is feeling lonely late at night, they can easily open an AI chat window. But what they really need is an "Elizabeth", a real person who can hug them, cry with them, and rejoice with them. So, there are no "optional extras" in the church like small groups, fellowships, and spiritual mentors. These things are the necessity for our living faith.

Then we see in verse 41 that the baby in Elizabeth's womb, John the Baptist, jumped for joy as soon as he heard Mary come in. This was not just a natural reaction; it was the Holy Spirit at work. Before he was even born, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit (1:15). His first act of worship was to jump in front of Jesus. So, the glory of our Lord Jesus was not only announced by angels, but also seen by a child who was not yet born. God's revelation goes beyond our understanding and language; even an unborn baby testifies to Christ!

Then, Elizabeth, who was full of the Holy Spirit, made three deep statements in verses 42–45 that revealed some important truths about their fellowship:

·       First, verse 42 says, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" That was NOT worship of Mary; it was praise for God's grace. Mary was blessed not because she was deserving, but because God had chosen her. For her blessing was to be united with Christ and to be able to have a baby while still being a virgin.

·       Second, verse 43: "Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Here, Elizabeth called the baby in Mary's womb "my Lord," which shows that she knew Jesus was divine. Elizabeth knew this not because Mary told her, but because the Holy Spirit told her directly.

·       Third, verse 45: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!" This is the most important part of the passage: "Blessed is she who has believed." Mary's biggest blessing was not just being pregnant; it was her faith, or trust in God's word. That is to say, Mary was called "blessed" because she believed God's word, not just because she gave birth to Jesus. All people who believe what the Lord has said will be accomplished will receive this blessing.

In the past few years, extreme weather events have been happening more and more often around the world. The World Meteorological Organisation recently warned that a "super El Niño" that could be the strongest in 70 years is coming together. This has put many countries on high alert from the West Coast of the Americas to East Africa, and from the Panama Canal to the flood defences in Asia. What does it mean to believe that "what the Lord has said will be accomplished" in a time when climate change makes things even less certain? It doesn't mean Christians should ignore scientific warnings or forget to take care of the environment. It means that our hope is not based on the wishful thinking that "the weather will get better," but on the sure knowledge that God's word will come true.

That means a Christian volunteer working in an earthquake-hit part of Nepal can help with relief efforts and rebuilding while still boldly proclaiming, "Even if the fiercest storm breaks, Christ remains in control." This is NOT escaping reality; This is putting our hope in the most real thing possible: that God will always be faithful.

Mary and Elizabeth met, and it was a meeting of two "impossibilities": Elizabeth was old and had never been pregnant before, and Mary was young and had never been married. They supported each other, made each other stronger, and shared their joy. This was not silly small talk between two women; it was a key moment in God's plan to save the world.

Thirty years later, the two infants in their wombs- John the Baptist and Jesus- would start the New Covenant era. This shows us that God often accomplishes His greatest purposes through small, devoted groups, not always huge gatherings, but two believers encouraging each other in faith. Mary and Elizabeth's meeting is the model of church fellowship: two people who have been saved by God share God's works, strengthen each other's faith, and praise God together.

Likewise, God never meant for us to go through the journey of faith by ourselves. Instead, He gave us Christian community so that our faith would grow. So, Christian fellowship should help us believe God’s promises when our own faith feels weak. Sometimes God strengthens our faith through another believer’s encouragement.

Conclusion: 

Friends, what Is God Saying to You Today?

Perhaps your current situation may make you feel "unqualified to be used by God." You may feel ordinary, unnoticed or inadequate. But God tells you today, "Do not be afraid; you have found favour with God." Not because you are good enough, but because He is good enough; Not because you deserve it, but because God gives it to you for free. God doesn't just look for vessels in "famous cities." He also looks for people in "Nazareth," which means right now, where you are. And God sees us and can work through our ordinary lives.

Or, you might be facing an "impossibility" like a broken marriage you can't fix; an addiction you can't break; a person you cannot forgive, or a promise you just can't believe. But God tells you today, just like the angel told Mary: "No word from God will ever fail." You only have to trust God’s word; you don't have to draw strength from yourself. Your "impossibility" is not the end of God's power, but the starting point for His glory.

Or perhaps, like Mary, you ask, "How will this be?" because you can't see how God will make it happen. Mary's answer points the way: "I am the Lord's servant; may your word to me be fulfilled." You can bring your doubts and questions honestly before God, but in the end, you should choose to submit. God says to you as He did to Mary: "Blessed is she who has believed." The blessed one is not the "perfect" one, or the "strong" one, or the one with "no doubts," but the one who believes. Do you believe? May the Lord help us all.

Three Questions

1.     Do you rely on yourself to stay in control when you feel stuck, or do you turn to God? This week, what is one thing you can give Him over?

2.     How do you stay on the right path when making choices based on God's will causes confusion or stress?

3.     Do you have spiritual friends with whom you can let down your guard and share your weak spots? How can you get to know people like that?