Christmas Experience, Part 1: “A Visit With Mary”

Is Christmas some man-made holiday, a time for reckless spending, frivolous parties, fanciful decorations, “holiday” trees, winter recesses, and the secular bag of tricks used to seduce us every year at this time? May I quote Scrooge, “Bah Humbug”

No, the true Christ-followers must stand up and be counted, not with a frown and anger, but with a smile and joy, stand up for the truth of the Holy day, and the “reason for the season.”

In this series, we want to go back to the beginning, and want to talk about the real Christmas Experience. Today we want to begin in City of Nazareth, with the Virgin Mary.

Can you imagine the search that went on for centuries before God decided that is was the right time, the right place, the right circumstances, the right person, to birth the Messiah?

Look at our text, Luke 1:26-28 – “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” NAB/KJV – “Hail Mary”

I love the way THE MESSAGE handles verse 28, “Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”

This should be the desire of every true believer this Christmas, that we could be addressed with like this; “You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God is with you.”

Mary is about to experience something that has never happened to anyone before, and will never happen again. She is going to give birth to the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord of Hosts. According to Isaiah 9:6 – this child is called, “Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.” (Isa. 7:14) “Emmanuel….GOD WITH US!”

This “overshadowing” experience Mary is about to encounter will change her and the world forever. Here’s the good news: the same Holy Spirit can “overshadow” everyone of us today and transform our lives, marriages, families, businesses, and it can begin now. Listen as Luke describes what happens to her.

First, OVERSHADOWED BY GOD’S POWER. Luke 1:31-35

Gabriel put it this way, the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Now note the dialog that goes on between Mary and Gabriel, Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (MES) “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.” 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.”

The word “overshadowed” from the Greek, refers to “the Holy

Spirit exerting energy upon the womb of Mary, and impregnating it. It is an idea drawn from the OT, as that of a cloud (Shekinah glory) symbolizing the immediate presence and power of God.” She is literally “overshadowed” by the presence and power of Jehovah God.

Can you believe that? Well, that’s exactly how the first Adam came into being, as God formed Adam from the dust and breathe life into that clump of dust. The first Adam was overshadowed in birth, and the second Adam, Jesus Christ, was overshadowed in birth in Mary’s womb

Listen to me, that first Christmas story is one of super- natural power and the manifestation of God’s glory. Is it any wonder why the ACLU (and others) want the CHRIST out of Christmas? They know what we are saying; “Jesus is God!”

Mary acknowledges this power in Vs. 1:49 -“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; (55) “It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.”

Will YOU let that Christmas power “overshadow” your life, marriage, family, business, your ministry, this Christmas? Can you hear Gabriel speaking to Mary and US, “ Nothing is impossible with God.” There is nothing that can’t be done by God when His “overshadowing” power of touches our lives! Mary experienced that power, & WE can too. How about YOU?

Secondly, OVERSHADOWED BY GOD’S PURPOSE/PLAN.   Luke 1:35- “The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; & for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”

God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives. God overshadowed Mary with a divine purpose and plan in mind. Prophecy had to be fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah:

-Garden of Eden – Gen. 3:15 -“Seed of woman shall bruise the serpent.” -Isa. 7:14 (MES) “So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us).

-I John 3:8- “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (MES) The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.”

-Heb. 2:14 -Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death.”

Mary’s life had a Divine purpose and plan. Jesus came, not just to be a Carpenter (plumber, teacher, stock broker, banker, lawyer, policeman, fireman & neither did YOU) but to fulfill a Divine purpose & plan of saving mankind from death & Hell.

Do you think God passed you and me by when He made His plans for this generation? You are here this Christmas for more than your job, family, education. As Mary experienced that “overshadowing” of God’s Purpose and plan, WE CAN TO!

Vs. 1:37 – (AMP) “Nothing is ever impossible, and no work from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”

Thirdly, OVERSHADOWED BY GOD’S PERSON. Luke 1:31-33

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “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; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

This child will be the “great one” (not even Mark Levin). “Mary, your baby will rule the Nations. He is the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God.”

Now something happens to Mary, that we can experience today. Listen to Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (NLT) Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Do you get it? The Virgin Mary, “blessed among all women, the mother of our Lord” makes it clear Who is to be worshipped, adored, and  served. When she experiences the overshadowing presence and power of the Holy Spirit, (MES) “Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” She realizes that she must decrease and He must increase. “It’s not about me; it’s about HIM!”

You can pray to her, venerate her, hail her, honor her, but Mary’s experience, that first Christmas, shows her heart, Vs. 1:48-“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. Later at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee, she shows her try colors, (John 2) “His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” The mother serves and submits to the Son.

The Greek word for “overshadowed” has with it the meaning and sense of “obscuring another object as one is overshadowed by a greater one.”

Elizabeth cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” But Mary’s response is this: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” I like it from The Message: (46-48) “I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened—I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!”

That’s what the Christmas Experience can do for US today.

Our visit with Mary will hopefully convince YOU that you can be saved, forgiven, and live a life of purposeful fulfillment when you make Jesus your Savior and LORD!

We can enjoy the favor and blessings accorded Mary. I can prove it to you.

Mark 3:31 (997) – “His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” Answering them, He *said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

I want Mary’s Christmas experience. I want to be overshadowed by….

-God’s Power and Presence…

-God’s Purpose and Plan...

-God’s Person, Jesus Christ...

DO YOU????

I want YOU to experience Christmas as Mary did, because YOU are being OVERSHADOWED BY JESUS!