Announcement!

Take a stroll down memory lane and try to remember. What is the greatest thing you’ve ever announced to anyone? I bet you remember the whole event! Whether it was a surprise, or it was in tragedy, it was an event etched in your memory. Imagine you are going about your business and all of sudden something amazing happens, but you are alone. You think, “That was wonderful! But who will believe me?” We may have kept some things secret because we didn’t want people to judge us and condemn us. This happened to a young lady who was told something great, but she had a problem, if she told people they would think she was crazy and she could be punished for it--losing her reputation, her future, and possible her life! She heard the angel say, “ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 2:26-33.” First, she saw an angel, a being from Heaven talking to her in a positive light. In the Old Testament, angels only came to bring forth judgment. Mary is scared and rightly so, what is going on? The angel, named Gabriel told Mary, “Fear not.” God doesn’t want us to fear Him but respect Him. He had something special for Mary to do. Mary fulfilled the prophecy needed, she was from the lineage of David, she was also a descendant of Rahab, and of Ruth; two famous women for totally different reason and she would be the next.

This young woman we know as Mary won the eternal lottery.  She didn’t get money for every week of her life, but she did get blessings and even in sorrow she still received blessings. This young woman was engaged and was told by some unexpected visitors (sometimes those people can be unpleasant) but this one was different. This visitor told the woman she would become pregnant by the Creator of the Universe. “Umm...excuse me? Is this really happening?” She didn’t say it, nor did she think it (she was scared and listening carefully), unlike her cousin’s husband Zachariah who laughed and thought the news he received was a joke, but God showed Him!

We see Mary was wise beyond her years, had to be. We don’t know her age, but that’s okay, it doesn’t matter. What matters is what happened. She could’ve refused, she could’ve said, pick someone else, I’m not the woman for the job. God wouldn’t force her. She was willingly and ready to help her people. She even gave praise to God and to the child she would have. For some time, I just glossed over her words, but take time and savor them and think about how her words echoed throughout time, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  Luke 1:46-55.” Mary knew this was special, that she would be the mother of the Messiah to save the people, and herself from their sins. The announcement she heard would change the world forever. She even knew this when she said, “From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” She had a big job to do and a responsibility to God to keep following Him and listening to His instructions. Mary even knew that the child she carried would be not only the Messiah but her Messiah, and she said that when she said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” The announcement was only known by herself for some time. How would you even break the news? What would you say? So many people before had said that they were the Messiah but here she had definitive proof and yet very few would probably believe. She needed help and God always provides for His children (especially the Son of God!)

Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem for the census to be counted for taxes, which was about 70 miles, not far in a car but on a donkey and on your feet, it sure felt like forever and Mary pregnant, so I imagine it wasn’t a fun ride for her. They get into Bethlehem and it is flooded with people there for the census, so much so there is nowhere for them to stay. No one had compassion on them, a young man with his heavily pregnant wife, except one innkeeper who let them stay in the stable where the animals were. “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7.” She gave birth in high unsanitary conditions but had no fear because God knew what He was doing. The Prince of Peace was not born in a palace, but the Savior was born in a stable! She laid him in a manger, a feeding trough was the only place she could find off the ground. Her and Joseph did what they could with what they were given. No one noticed that the Messiah had come into the world, born of a virgin in Bethlehem. So, God made it known.

The second announcement came the same night with thunderous appeal. It is recounted in Scripture, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:8-18.” Talk about a news flash! The shepherds got to see the angels in the night sky praising God and announcing the Savior. The shepherds were the first people to see the Savior of the World. Talk about some humility to walk in and see the Messiah cuddled up to Mary and the excitement in the air of knowing that things will change soon. The announcements weren’t over.

Jesus was born but like all children, he grew up and went through the same changes every person does but without sin. Talk about rejoicing over good teenage years! No rebellion there! But Jesus grew up and was a carpenter by trade. He worked and studied and talked with the scholars and religious people about the Word of God and even of Himself, but no one would really pay any attention except to know that he was a bright young man. Well, 30 years after his miraculous birth, Jesus grew up and was  ready to fulfill prophecy but He was introduced by his cousin, John the Baptist, as recounted in Mark,  “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;” I bet he was a sight to see! Regardless, he had an important job to do for God and for mankind, paving the way for the Messiah, “And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mark 1:1-11.” Definitive proof from Heaven came that day to show that Jesus was fulfilling Jewish prophecy and preparing to become the Savior of the whole world. The people around heard the announcement of God proclaiming, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God was pleased in creation and He is pleased in Jesus Christ. This was good news for everyone and as Jesus announced that He was the Messiah, the Son of the Most High God, it was repulsive to some and refreshing to others. Just as the Proverbs says, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25.” Many found peace and eternal life through their belief in Christ from the lowliest sinner to the most prideful person. Jesus found them and showed them the love of God while walking on this Earth and the next announcement showed His perfect love for us.

Jesus repulsed some people by His statements of love and salvation through Him. Many turned their backs and walked away because He preached about love, forgiveness and God more than giving miracles and money. He did what He came to do. Yet the people either loved Him or hated Him but it was all meant to be. That’s how it was supposed to go, so when the people finally had enough they nailed Him to a cross with the governor making a bold proclamation, “And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. John 19:14-22.” The blessed child in the wooden feeding trough, who worked and toiled as a carpenter for many years now hung from a rugged wood cross in agony and pain with a note over him that announced to all who could read; “Jesus of Nazareth The King of the Jews,” in three languages. The people were mad at this and wanted it changed but the governor refused saying, I have written what I have written. Jesus died later that day. No fanfare, no place to lay him until a rich man who believed in Jesus spoke up and offered a tomb. There the body was carried and there it laid. Everyone was in disbelief, shock and angry. Who was this Jesus? He announced He was the King of the Jews, The Messiah, the Lord of Lords, the Son of God and look at him now, in a tomb, so sad. People were announcing with joy the death of Jesus, they were criticizing, they were upset, and they were in disbelief.

Three days later as the women who cared for Jesus carried spices up to the tomb, they were preparing themselves to see the man they knew and loved. But something was fixing to happen. “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” Talk about earth shattering news! The angel continued, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:1-10.” What an announcement the women had to tell! They ran as fast as they could to tell the disciples their good news that Jesus Christ was no longer dead, and He arose like He said He would! He truly is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace!

All this happened many years ago, but we can celebrate it every day because Jesus showed us His love from coming down in the form of a human, living a life with all its trials with no sin, and then dying on a cruel cross of shame and reproach only to rise again the third day through the power of God! Amen! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life. John 3:16.” What a Savior! Jesus did the work of salvation for us and went back to Heaven. But there is one last announcement, are you ready for it?

Jesus will come back one day to get those who believe in Him from this cruel Earth. They will not die but be changed, and those that are dead will have glorified bodies. There will be a great announcement, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.” There will be a shout and off we go. There will be no hesitation, no waiting, no excuses, you will either be ready, or you won’t. People weren’t ready for the Messiah when He was born, when He died and when He rose again and sadly many won’t be ready for His return but will you?

What announcement will you make to the world? Are you following Christ or just fallen behind?

Jesus was born in a manger! Jesus is the Son of God! Jesus did miracles! Jesus healed the blind, caused the lame to walk and raised the dead! Jesus was friend with sinners! Jesus died on the cross for the salvation of the world! Jesus arose the third day, defeating sin & death! Jesus is coming soon! All these are important, and I hope you can announce these in your life in words or deeds!