Luke 1:30-31

THE PROMISED SON

‘And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou … shalt … bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.’

Luke 1:30

In keeping the Feast of the Annunciation we must beware of anything approaching the Mariolatry which is characteristic of the Roman Church, but while we do not offer the Virgin Mary worship we highly reverence her memory. We can never forget that she was ‘highly favoured amongst women’ in that she was chosen to be the channel by which—and the thought is a most stupendous one—the Incarnation of the Son of God was to be effected. We reverence her purity and we admire the beauty of her character. When we think of the greatness conferred upon womanhood in the Incarnation it should lead all men—should it not?—to cultivate habits of chivalry and grace in all their dealings with women. But we shall mistake the significance of this festival unless we observe that the Church centres our attention, not upon Mary, but upon her promised Son. The Collect, the Epistle, the Gospel, the Lessons all point to Him.

I. The promised Son.—The message of the angel revealed to Mary that her Son should be Jesus the Saviour. He was coming to redeem Israel, ‘to save His people from their sins’—and not Israel only, but all the world. This was He, of Whose coming Isaiah prophesied (see portion of Scripture appointed for Epistle) when he said that ‘a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.’ Nor was this all. The angel who appeared to Mary said that her Son should be a King, ‘and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’

II. The work He came to do.—As our Saviour He came to save us from our sins. He was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil. Has His coming made any difference to your life? Has He saved, is He saving you? He is very near to every one of us, for is not His name Immanuel? That is the meaning of the Incarnation—God coming amongst men. We need a deeper realisation of the presence of God. What a stupendous thought—God with us! He claims to have control over our life, for is He not the King? ‘Of His kingdom there shall be no end.’ Has it begun in you?

III. The future glory.—It is astonishing that although nineteen hundred years have passed away there should still be so many who do not recognise His claims over them. May it be ours to know Jesus to be our Saviour! May we realise His presence in our lives as our Immanuel! May we recognise His claims as our King! Then, and then only, shall we pass through this world with an assurance of the future glory.

(SECOND OUTLINE)

A NEW POWER

Is it not obvious that what is wanted is a new power? ‘Set me upon the rock that is higher than I” is the cry of the universal human heart.

I. Where shall the new power be found?—There is evidence enough and to spare that a new power has come on the earth (see text). It is true as we sing in one of our Christmas carols—

Now a new power has come on the earth,

A match for the armies of hell.

The coming of this new power into a man’s life is what we mean by salvation. To be saved is to make this new power our own. It is the great characteristic of the Christian religion which separates it from all other religions, by which men have sought to be at peace with God, that it is the religion of a new power.

II. Thus salvation is a present thing.—If you are to be saved in the future you must be saved here and now.

III. Who can say that he needs not this power?—You are sorely tempted; with God on your side you can overcome. Remember St. Bernard’s Rule of Life: ‘Never despair of the mercy of God; never mistrust the power of God.’ Reckon up your foes. What is there against you? The world, the flesh, and the devil; and each is a mighty enemy. But these mighties never yet made an Almighty, and God is Almighty. God is on your side, and you can prevail if you will.

—Rev. W. S. Swayne.