You're Never Alone |12.24.24| Shadows And Light pt.5
You’re Never Alone - Luke 1:26-38
Light in the Shadows | Message #5 | December 2024
New Life Lutheran Church, 12-24-24
Pastor Drew Williams
Some of you know my kids, Emmy, Ollie, and Lucy. Emmy just turned 6, and it’s wild to think about how, just a few years ago, I was holding her in my arms, smaller than Lucy is now, and feeling completely overwhelmed by what being a parent actually meant.
I was excited to be a dad, but I quickly realized that excitement didn’t prepare me for reality. Even with Megan by my side, I often felt alone. Whether it was the baby crying and me not knowing why, disagreements over how to care for her, or just feeling completely out of my depth, I felt like I was in over my head.
As we read the Scripture today, I want you to think about that feeling of being overwhelmed and unsure—because, in many ways, that’s how Mary must have felt when God called her. But she didn’t face it alone. God reached out to her and gave her the strength to do what He called her to. Let’s read Luke 1:26-38 together…
[Luke 1:26-38]
[SLIDE 2] Luke 1:26-27
Our passage starts with the messenger Gabriel travelling to a town called Nazareth in a county called Galilee.
You have most likely heard the names Nazareth and Bethlehen because of Jesus and countless Christmas pageants performed by preschool students. So we don’t always realize that these were tiny towns on the fringe of Jewish society that no one else probably knew about.
Nazareth was in the north, and archeologists tell us that it probably had a population of around 500 at this time. Tiny town. Tiny, insignificant people.
In fact, the person that Gabriel is giving the message to isn’t even named at first. She’s called “a virgin,” which just means a young woman probably between 12-16 years old.
Her husband-to-be had something going for him, since he could trace his family line back to David, that famous king of Israel. But nothing is said about the virgin’s family, so we’ve got to assume she’s probably from a poor, common family, the type of people who don’t get written about in history.
But to see just how crazy this setup is, I want us to back up and remember the context of the story that came right before this.
[SLIDE 3] Luke 1:5
If we back up a few verses, we hear about Zechariah and Elizabeth, who are both from the priestly line of Aaron, were righteous and followed Jewish laws faithfully, and were likely respected in their community.
They lived in Jerusalem and Zechariah served at the temple.
You couldn’t have picked two BETTER candidates for God to partner with for his plan—except they hadn’t been blessed with children... yet.
But then we immediately zoom over 60 miles to the north to an unknown town, to an unnamed young girl who has NOTHING noteworthy or mentionable about her...
[SLIDE 4] Luke 1:28
The angel greets her, “Greetings, Favored One! The Lord is with you!”
Notice, he doesn’t use her name but gives her a title—“Favored One.” And “The Lord is with you” isn’t just a casual greeting. In the Old Testament, it’s a phrase reserved for those chosen by God for a special purpose, like Isaac… or when Jacob’s name was changed to Israel.
So the fact that the angel says “The Lord is with you” is supposed to tip us off that God is up to something big here.
Many of us are so used to this story that we don’t think twice about Mary as the mother of Jesus. But to the first readers of this story, they’re asking, “What makes this young girl so favored? She’s not from a notable family, she’s from a poor area of the country, and she’s barely old enough to have gotten acne!”
[SLIDE 5] Luke 1:29
Honestly, that’s exactly what Mary seems to be thinking herself, because we see that “Mary was much perplexed / greatly troubled at the angel’s words.” She’s confused. “What? God hasn’t favored me. I’m a nobody.”
Don’t we do that? We often think titles are earned—like “president,” “manager,” or “coach.” Special names seem to follow special accomplishments: the successful businesswoman has “the Magic Touch,” the star athlete is “the Golden Boy.” Show us what makes you special, THEN you get the name.
Mary is confused because she doesn’t know what she has done to earn the title “Favored One.” And when she looks at her life, it doesn’t look like God has favored her much, so it doesn’t seem right. Do they have the wrong person?
But the angel calls her Favored One because that’s how God sees her.
This whole greeting turns our attention away from a “what” to a “whom.” It’s not about what Mary has done; it’s about who has favored her. It’s meant to turn our attention to the Lord-who-is-with-you. That God is the one who raised her up from a position of lowliness and has chosen to partner with her.
But Mary still needs a little time to come around. She’s confused and unsure what is coming next from this messenger, which is why the angel says…
[SLIDE 6] Luke 1:30
“Don’t be afraid, Mary…” NOW he addresses her by her name, letting her know that he does, in fact, have the right person.
“You, Mary, have found favor with God…” or, another way to say it is, “you have been favored with grace.” The angel is trying to make it clear that Mary isn’t earning God’s favor. No, she’s receiving God’s blessing just because of his own goodness.
Mary didn’t DO anything special for God to choose her. God chose her out of his grace.
[SLIDE 7] Luke 1:31
Then the angel delivers the bombshell: “You’re going to be pregnant and give birth to a son, and you’ll name him Jesus, which means Yahweh Saves.”
I wonder what Mary was thinking. Was she recalling the prophecies of her people? Could she fathom how the Son of God, a king in the line of David, could come from a peasant girl like her?
She wasn’t from a royal family—how could she, at the bottom of society, fulfill this role? Not to mention, she knew where babies came from…
[SLIDE 8] Luke 1:34
“But how will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Mary isn’t doubting the message about God’s plan for the Messiah, and she’s not doubting God’s ability to save his people, but it seems like she is doubting herself.
And you can understand, right? Mary is young, unmarried, and powerless. If she continues down this path, who is going to be there for her? Who is going to support her? Who might disown her?
[SLIDE 9] blank
The next steps for Mary seem like they could be really…lonely. And it reminds me of a story I heard recently about a young woman who lives here in our community. We’ll change her name to Tania for the purposes of this story. Let me read this to you…
Tania couldn’t believe it. They had been careful, but somehow, she was pregnant. Feeling lost, she called an abortion clinic and set an appointment.
She felt people EXPECTED her to have an abortion because, as she said, “I’m young and not married.”
That’s when Tania saw an online ad for mothers facing unplanned pregnancies and called the number. She told the nurse she didn’t want to be pregnant and already had an abortion appointment.
The nurse listened, answered her questions, and invited her in for free tests and help.
Tania had some doubts about abortion, and the risks that come with it, especially after hearing her friends’ painful stories—one had even suffered an emotional breakdown on her due date.
At the women’s clinic, Tania agreed to an ultrasound. The sonographer offered a second one to be sure the pregnancy was viable. Afterward, a nurse met with her. Tania was crying, and all she could say was, “It’s so real now.”
I want to tell you more about Tania, but first we need to get back to Mary. Remember, Mary asked the angel, “How can this be?” She wasn’t doubting God, but she was doubting her own involvement in this plan. After all, she is a virgin, so, how…?
[SLIDE 10] Luke 1:35
Gabriel’s answer shifts her focus from what she can’t do to what God can: “God will make it happen.”
Gabriel tells Mary the Holy Spirit will “overshadow” her, showing that it’s all about God’s action, not hers. The same word is later used by Jesus when he promises the Holy Spirit will “overshadow” his followers with power to be his witnesses—and at Pentecost.
Gabriel is telling Mary to put her attention on God, who is able – God, who is WITH HER.
[SLIDE 11] Luke 1:36
Then Gabriel gives Mary a miraculous sign to prove that he is from God: her relative Elizabeth, though old, is pregnant. Mary couldn’t have known this any other way—Elizabeth had been in seclusion, and they lived far apart. No Facebook post, no email confetti—only God’s miraculous message revealed it.
[SLIDE 12] Luke 1:37
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Boom. Mic drop.
Gabriel, an angel messenger from God has just shown up in front of this young peasant girl, probably scaring the bejeezus out of her, and given her a message that God was coming to rescue and save his people, and SHE was going to play a central role in the plan.
[SLIDE 13] blank
I mean, this isn’t small news, right? This is BIG news! With BIG implications. EVERYTHING about Mary’s life is about to change, starting with the fact that she is about to become an unwed pregnant girl.
And in those days, in that society, there was going to be a LOT of suspicion around her. Probably a lot of shame heaped on her. Who knows what Joseph is going to say? Who knows what her family would do?
Would she be disowned, thrown out? She was a young, unmarried woman, there was no protection for her in society. She couldn’t own her own house. She couldn’t get a job, unless she sold herself as an indentured servant.
But her life was on the brink of getting established! She was betrothed to Joseph. He was a good man! Could she risk all that? She was about to start her life with Joseph, and once they had a few kids, Mary’s life would be secure. She would have a husband, a family, people to care for and to take care of her. Would all of that get taken away from her?
Mary was a young woman with a lot to lose, and this angel’s message, while it was GOOD news for humanity, might have sounded a bit too risky to be good news for Mary. God was asking her to partner with him, but it would involve letting go of everything that Mary had in mind for her life.
How would you have responded? If God was asking you to partner with him, asking you to take a central role in his plan, BUT…it would involve some big risks, some sacrifice, and maybe even letting go of your own plans for your life…?
But notice that God doesn’t force Mary into this plan. He invites her.
And Mary responds in an incredible way, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
“I’m in. I accept.”
Even at the risk of personal loss, Mary accepts God’s invitation, trusting Him and setting aside her own plans to submit to His.
Are we willing to do the same? God’s presence invites us into His mission of restoration—a bigger story that impacts our families, our neighbors, and the world.
And it connects with the story of Tania:
Tania came in for a third ultrasound. She was happy to hear the heartbeat again. She said she had decided to have her baby, all thanks to the help and resources of the women’s clinic.
She was also open to a spiritual conversation. She said she was a Christian, but not close to the Lord. Her nurse offered to pray with her, and Tania prayed to come closer to Jesus again.
A young woman was given support so that she didn’t feel alone anymore, and that gave her the strength to make the decision to give her baby life.
This story comes from our friends at Hope Life Center, a Christian-centered women’s clinic in our community. They provide free pregnancy tests and medical services to help pregnant women know they AREN’T alone and don’t HAVE to choose abortion.
[SLIDE 14] Hope Life Center
And because of the life-saving services of Hope Life Center, 148 babies were born this year that wouldn’t have otherwise. 148 boys and girls from THIS Sauk Valley community who are now getting to start LIFE.
I’m so grateful that Hope Life Center is here in our community, and we’re proud to partner with them, and so we’re going to do something that we haven’t done in a LONG time here at New Life: we’re going to pass offering plates around to take a special offering.
And before the plates come out, I want to make it clear that 100% of what we receive in this special offering is going to Hope Life Center to support their mission—helping women in our area get free pregnancy tests, scans, and the love and support they need.
[SLIDE 15] Offering
That means, if you're a regular member of our church and want to give your tithes and offerings to support our ongoing ministry, thank you! You can still do that online or by dropping it in the wooden giving boxes at the back of the room, where it will go to the General Fund.
But when we pass the offering plates, I’m asking EVERYONE to pray right now: How is God inviting you to join His mission? How is He calling you to be radically generous in helping moms and babies this year?
Even if you didn’t bring cash tonight, you can still give through our secure online platform by visiting nllutheran.com/give or scanning the QR code on the giving envelope in front of you. Just be sure to select the “Christmas” offering when you give.
Remember, 100% of what we receive for this special offering is going directly to ensure that no mother in our community feels desperate and alone, and to help more babies receive the gift of life.
This offering is going to bring the light of Jesus into dark situations, reminding real people like you and me that God is WITH US. He’s always stepping into our world so we can experience his true, full, abundant life.
God reaches out to us, even when it seems like we have done nothing to deserve it, because he chose us before we were ever born. He created us to partner with Him in revealing His kingdom here on earth. We GET to take part in God’s work! So tonight, let’s say yes to His invitation and continue spreading that good news.