THE WONDER OF MARY

INTRODUCTION

“Wonder” = that which arouses awe, astonishment, admiration, amazement. Did you consider the snow storm a wonder? Fast, large... “wow, no school 2 days”

The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, List by Greek Antipater of Sidon, 2^nd Century:

1. The Egyptian Pyramids over 4,000 years old - Time of Moses
2. The Colossus of Rhodes Harbor - ships sailed between huge legs, 105 feet high 250 years before Christ, destroyed by earthquake
3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon built by Nebuchadnezzar 6th Cent. BC along the Euphrates river - Time of Captivity, time of Daniel
4. The Tomb of Mausolus in Asia Minor - 4^th century B.C.
5. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt - 400 ft high ruin by 15^th cent.
6. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, 30 ft high covered in gold
7. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mentioned in Acts

The 7 Wonders of the Modern World

1. Control of diseases - plagues, polio, measles/mumps/chicken pox, not cancer
2. Electric power
3. Space exploration, ability to do so, an inventions that came
4. Communication and information processing - radio, TV, computers
5. Organ transplants and artificial organs
6. Super materials and micro technology - cell phones
7. Lasers and optical technology - use of light - surgery, scanners, to weapons./li>

QUOTE: “I Wonder as I wander out under the sky” #139 v. 1 Folk carol

To you, is Christmas a wonder? As we look at the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, I believe we can say from the visit of the angel and through the rest of her life Mary lived in wonder - awe, astonishment, amazement.

1. Pondering her Position Luke 1:29. Read: Luke 1:26-38

• Mary is chosen by God to be the birth mother the Son of God, the One who will be given the throne of David - The Messiah.


• “perplexed” = deeply distressed. “pondered” = inner reasoning, mind is working overtime trying to figure it all out.


• She probably had more questions than answers: How can she be the favored one? Why would God choose her? Is this real? How could she a virgin have a child?


• Yet, her perplexity and pondering must have been limited in time. She only asks one question. After her question is answered, and told about Elizabeth’s pregnancy as she is in her 6^th month - old cousin Elizabeth - Then the angel Gabriel declares: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary accepts the fact, her fate, and expresses her faith v. 38


• Mary began a lifelong journey of wonder


• First stop is to visit vs. 39-56. A few days journey - Mary in northern Palestine - “Nazareth,” Elizabeth “hill country, to a city in Judah”


• Mary recites marvelous praise “Magnificat” - from first word in Latin.


• Her song is a song of wonder...


• Outline:
  1. What God did for Mary. vs. 46-49
  2. What God did for us - all His people, us included. vs. 50-53
  3. What God did for Israel. vs. 54-55
  
  
• An unplanned pregnancy to unwed woman - yet she was filled with wonder - she is chosen, the Messiah was coming at last, God had shown mercy to her and His people - Israel, in fact to all people - us also.


• Mary lived in wonder, in the midst of her crisis, she saw the mighty power of God in her humbled position.
ILLUS: What has you perplexed? What are you pondering? What can’t you figure out? Can you live in wonder through it? This is the time of year we really miss our loved one who have gone on before us - many of us are still perplexed, pondering about why God took them home. For some life has changed - job loss, illnesses, broken relationships, financial hardships, etc.


• Can you, like Mary, see God at work in the crises of your life? Can you wonder, marvel that God is at work in the unusual, unexpected, the unplanned, the undesired, unintended, the uninitiated, the undeniable???

2. Pondering her Privilege Luke 2:19. READ: Luke 2:16-20

• “pondering them in her heart,” now added “treasured all these things”


• The writer, Luke, in such simple descriptions describes such wonder of the birth and announcement of Jesus in 2:1-18. Then v. 19 - simple statement of fact about Mary. What was going through her mind?


• On one level, Mary had the excitement of being a new mother, holding her first child, for the first time. All mother’s know that wonder.


• Yet, on another level, this child was holy, the Son of the Most High God, conceived miraculously, announced to Mary and Joseph by an angel.


• On another level, this child was heir to David’s throne - they were a poor family, this child was born in a stable in a feed trough, and yet their child will someday sit on David’s throne...All mothers and father’s should want the very best for their child - but theirs was promised.


• On another level, some lowly peasant shepherds come with a story of an angel announcement vs. 10-12, and a choir “Glory to God...”


• The adventure of wonder at Jesus’ birth. The chapter goes on. At 8 days Jesus is circumcised, several days later they are purified at the Temple in Jerusalem. Simeon and Anna speak their great words of prophecy. v. 33


• vs. 39-40. The wonder continued: after 12 years the visit to the temple. vs. 41-51. “and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”


• The events, the memories so valuable, she didn’t want to forget, but review them over and over again - thumb through the photos of her mind.


• Relive the memories, and recall their meaning. She knew there was more going on than her story - God was at work. Salvation unfolding.

CONCLUSION

• Can you, like Mary, live in wonder? Do you wonder at gift of salvation for you?
QUOTE: "The Wonder of Wonders" by George Beverly Shea


• Can you, like Mary, see God at work in the world around you? You are a part, an important part, you get to treasure a lot of events, but greater things are being done for the glory of God than what we can first see.


• We know a bit about evangelism and missions around the world - can you see how God is working to win souls in our world right now?


• We know a bit about Bible prophecy - can you see how God is working in our world right now to bring the culmination of history?


• We know a bit about what God is doing at FBC Colfax - can you see how God is a work in our church, communities right now?

Like Mary can we live in wonder?

SONG: “Mary, Did you Know?” by Mark Lowry

He is the great I AM: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”