World-Rocking News
Luke 1:26-38

 Some information, messages or news tend to carry huge implications to our lives. They can really affect our lives.  The visit to the Dr. as you wait the test results to find out you have a terminal disease.  A shooting at the school where your kids attends.  Sudden death of a loved one in a car accident.  These things are shocking, disturbing to your ears.

A young girl was planning a wedding; she was so excited, but one day she had an unexpected visitor who brought to her some disturbing news.  She may need to put the wedding on hold.
Can you imagine if you have been planning something for a while, and someone shows up and says to you.  You have to put your plans on hold; your plans will be delayed, there is something you have to do first.  This truly would make you uncomfortable.
This young girl was Mary.  God sent his angel Gabriel to deliver the news to her.  Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent Gabriel to Mary.

Gabriel’s greeting:  Greetings you favored one, (you who are highly favored) The Lord is with you.  Mary had no idea what the angel meant.  She was perplexed, puzzled, troubled by this greeting.

The angel then explains to her the greeting and the reason he came. (v.30)  Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God.  This is great news.  God looks at you with favor, grace.  You will be with a child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob, his kingdom will never end.

Mary I am here to tell you that you will be the mother of the Son of God, the savior of the world, the King of kings.

Mary’s response to this shocking news.(v.34)  I am not even married yet.  How can this be possible since I am a virgin?  Isa.7:14 A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.
Leave the impossible to God. (v.34-37)
God will take care of the details.  This child will not have a male DNA.  God’s Spirit will come upon you and his power will overshadow (envelop) take residence in you.  So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth is going to be a mother in her old age, for nothing is impossible with God.

The effect of this news!   It could have impacted Mary in many ways:
Her relationship with Joseph (How is he going to react?)
What a pregnancy before marriage would mean for Mary!
     – Considered a prostitute.
     – Shame and ridicule (damage your family name).
     – Death, Joseph could legally have Mary stoned to death if he so chose.

The angel said to Mary, you are highly favored by God, but this doesn’t mean the road will be easy. You are highly favored may mean that you have to be willing to go against family, traditions, culture and society and even your own reputation in order to do what God wants.
Noah found favor in the eye of the LORD (Gn.6:8). He still had to build the ark and go against people in his culture.  God asked Mary to be the mother of the Savior, but this carried lots of implications.  God’s grace is not cheap; it demands us to change things in our lives, to go against our own ideals and comfort.

Mary’s attitude.
She placed herself at the Lord’s disposal.  “I am the Lord’s slave; May it be to me as you have said”  (Whatever comes my way I will do).  Mary surrendered her agenda to God.
Mary chose to trust God even when she didn’t understand how things will unfold in her life.  Mary was agreeing to God’s will and going against culture expectations.  Sometimes when you say yes to God, you have to say no to your family, to society or to the culture.  This is what Mary did.
May knew the implications of her saying yes to God.  Joseph could leave her, and she chose to trust God.  She could be killed or at least disowned by her family, but she chose to trust God in the midst of it all.
Mary trusted God even when her world was about to be rocked.
She was highly favored in being chosen by God to bear God’s son.
We are highly favored that God sent us a savior; even when we didn’t deserve his gift, his grace; God gave it to us any ways.
Thank God for his amazing grace.