Tuesday August 13
“He Will Be Great…”
Luke 1:26-33
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; 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 of His kingdom there will be no end."
In Luke 1 we are looking at what is often called, “The Annunciation”. This is the announcement that the angel Gabriel made to the virgin Mary in the city of Nazareth that changed the world! First the angel told Mary she would have a miraculous and divine conception and give birth to a Son and would call His name JESUS. Yesterday we talked about how Jesus came to save us from our sins, from our self, and from this “present evil world”.
Today, we want to look at the angel’s statement, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest” (v. 32). Here we are reminded not only of His saving Name, but of His wonderful character! In every aspect of His eternal being Jesus is the greatest! He is of course the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time).
Jesus is great in His origin. Jesus is from everlasting to everlasting! Jesus is “called the Son of the Highest”. As a Child He was born, but as a Son He was given. This reminds us of the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
In Hebrews 1:1-4 we read: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Being the Son of the Highest, He is higher than angels, or than any created one. Yet He who belonged to the Highest descended to the lowest for us, becoming obedient unto death.
Jesus is great in His love. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He so loved us that He gave Himself for us. Being the Son of the Highest His love was of the highest possible order. 1 John 4:9-10, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” His love was consistent with the greatness of His character and was stronger than death.
Jesus is also great in His power. It was His power that created the universe! Colossians 1:15-18, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” While on earth, Jesus had the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, still the storm, miraculously feed the hungry, cast out demons and forgive sins! There is nothing impossible with Him (v. 37). Jesus said, "All authority (power) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Today, Jesus has the power to save and forgive you of all your sins if you by faith call on His name!
God bless!
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