INTRODUCTION:
I thought the other day there have not been any great Christian Christmas songs written for many
years. Then I heard the writer and composer of that song sing it and I believe it will last as one
of the great Christian Christmas songs.
1. She Knew She was . . Chosen by the Lord.
2. Mary Knew She was. .Cultivated by the Lord.
3. Mary Knew She was . . Cherished by the Lord.
A. She was . . Suspect about the Choice. Luke 1:34-
34 And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 And 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 offspring shall be called the Son of God.
B. She was . . Submissive to the Choice. Lk 1:38
C. She was . . Stimulated by the Choice. Luke 1:46-49
38 And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your
word." And the angel departed from her.
1. Greatest event in history and the male stronger sex has nothing to do with it.
(H.P. Liddon p 53 Gr. Sermons)
46 And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my
Savior. 48 "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this
time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 "For the Mighty One has done great things
for me; and holy is His name. (NAS)
ILLUSTRATION
Some of our people went to Gloretta this past summer. The heard a man named Richard Owens
Roberts speak on the subject of Revival. He made a point about being obedient to God's will with
this story.
He told of being a guest in a church and a couple came by and told him he had an awful sermon.
He should be ashamed of the things he said and they doubted if God had ever called him to
preach. They certainly hoped he never preached again in their church.
A little while latter, a couple came by and said the sermon was the most helpful they ever heard.
It answered several questions they had been wondering about and they knew he was sent of God
to their church and they looked forward to hearing him in the future.
APPLICATION:
Richard ask to whom should I pay attention? Then he answered neither one. He should pay
attention to God.
Mary heard a variety of opinions about the babe in her womb. She knew she was chosen of God.
2. Mary Knew She was. .Cultivated by the Lord.
A. Cultivated through . . Testimony. Luke 2:15-19, 2:35
1. The testimony of her Aunt. Luke 1:41-45
41 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said,
"Blessed among women {are} you, and blessed {is} the fruit of your womb! 43 "And how has it {happened} to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 "For behold, when
the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 "And blessed {is} she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been
spoken to her by the Lord."
2. The testimony of the Shepherds. Luke 2:15-19
15 And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the
shepherds {began} saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this
thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came in haste
and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 And when
they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
1. Why to the shepherds perhaps they kept watch over the Temple flock.
(Sheep for the temple sacrifice?)
3. The testimony of Simeon. Luke 2:33-35
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this {Child} is appointed
for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed -- 35 and a sword will
pierce even your own soul-- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
1. Note the Fall and Rise.
B. Cultivated through . . Treasure. Matt 2:11
11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down
and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and
frankincense and myrrh. (NAS)
C. Cultivated through Travels. Lk 2:4-7, Matt 2: 13-14, Lk2:48-51
1. Travels to Bethlehem. Luke 2:4-7
4 And 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 And it
came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And
she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
2. Travels to Egypt. Matt 2:13-14
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared^ to Joseph in a dream,
saying, "Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell
you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 And he arose and took the
Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt;
3. Travels to Jerusalem. Luke 2:48-51
48 And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have
You treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you."
49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had
to be in My father's {house?"} 50 And they did not understand the statement which He had
made to them. 51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in
subjection to them; and His mother treasured all {these} things in her heart.
ILLUSTRATION:
What God chooses, He cleanses.
What God cleanses, He molds.
What God molds, He fills.
What God fills, He uses. -- J. Sidlow Baxter
APPLICATION
Mary knew she was cultivated by the Lord.
3. Mary Knew She was. .Cherished by the Lord.
A. Cherished in the . . Consideration she received.
John 2:1-5
1 And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was
there; 2 and Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the wedding. 3 And when the wine
gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her,
"Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the
servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
B. Cherished in the . . Care she received. John 19:25-27
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His
mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus
therefore 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!"
And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
C. Cherished in the . . Courting she received. Acts 1:14
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with {the}
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus , and with His brothers. (NAS)
ILLUSTRATION
Did you know the cross gives indirect proff to the virgin birth? Yes; Mary was at the foot of
the cross and no one doubts she loved her Son Jesus. If Jesus is not the virgin born Son of God
Mary would have cried out take Him down I know He was not born of a virgin, I know He had
an earthly father. She did not because she could not. He was the virgin born Son of God and
Mary Knew it.
But what did Mary Know?
1. She Knew She was . . Chosen of God.
2. Mary Knew She was. .Cultivated by the Lord.
3. Mary Knew She was . . Cherished by the Lord.