Faces around the manger
Christmas 2023
Havasu Christian Church
December 3, 2023
Mary
We’ve all seen them. Nativity scenes. Some of them only have 3 characters. Others have everything from people, to farm animals, to exotically dressed men, drummers and even camels.
For the next three Sundays and for Christmas eve, we’ll be looking at the actual faces around the Manger. What people were really there? What do we know about them?
The first of those faces belongs to Mary, the mother of Jesus! Mary is a pretty obvious person to start with! Without a woman to give birth, none of us would be here! What do we know about Mary?
- Mary was willing to be used by God.
Luke 1:26–38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- She listened to Gabrael, but she is perplexed.
- By his greeting. “Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you!”
- She isn’t sure what to make of this!
- God has been virtually silent for the last 400 years, and now an angel is talking to her? Really?
- She’s not a Priest, or a Rabbi, or even someone who’s influential!
- She hears the news that she will bear the Son of God…. The descendant of David.
- Her question is one of practicality!
- She knows where babies come from.
- She is a woman of integrity.
- She’s never had sex and isn’t going to until she is married.
- She is given an explanation.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
- She is given proof!
“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
- She knew the risks.
- To her marriage
- To her reputation
- To her life!
- She accepted what God had in store for her.
“Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”
- She gave birth to the Son of God.
Luke 2:4–7 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- In less than ideal circumstances.
- Traveled a long distance, about 90 miles, most likely on foot.
- She did this 8 ½ to 9 months pregnant.
- She laid her Son in a manger.
- Not the most inviting of birthing spots.
- She raised the Son of God!
- Raising any kid is difficult.
- They don’t have an owners’ manual tattooed on their behind.
- Every kid is different.
- Jesus is VERY different!
- She didn’t have to worry about Jesus lying to her, or stealing, being lazy at school, or being a bad kid.
- But I’m sure He was picked on.
- Then, there’s the whole incident when Jesus is 12 years old.
- 90 miles from home in Jerusalem…
- They leave to go home.
- Jesus turns up missing
- They search for 3 days
- They find him and He is perplexed that they didn’t know where to find him!
- Mary suffered along with Jesus as He died!
- She was right there, at the foot of the cross!
- I cannot imagine the pain that she suffered.
- Jesus makes sure she will be taken care of by someone He truly trusts!
John 19:25–27 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
- I have no doubt that Mary saw Jesus after His resurrection!
- I have no doubt that her Son became her Lord!
Conclusion: What do we learn from Mary, this first “face at the Manger?”
- We should follow her example of willingness to be used by God, even when she knew she would suffer for it!
- What are we willing to suffer for Jesus?
- Someone might not appreciate it when we tell them that Jesus has a claim on their life.
- Our reputation might suffer.
- Our finances might suffer.
- Someone might even get angry at us!
- They might possibly even try to hurt us!
- No one will ever be able to make you suffer like Mary did!
- Mary raised the Son of God. We can at least be an example of Godliness to our Children, grandchildren, and those around us!
- If we “can’t be bothered to live for Jesus, how can we expect anyone else around us to follow Him?
- They will not follow where we do not lead.
- Know that even when we suffer for Jesus, He will care for us like He did for Mary!
