Christmas Peace
The Story of Mary
Mary is a good example in lots of ways. She wasn’t very old, and she wasn’t rich, educated, or influential. But she was a thoughtful young lady who knew her Lord, knew His Word, and knew His voice well enough to recognise it when God spoke to her.
Outline
- Okay on the inside
- Peace in the Bible: Shalom
- Inner calm
- Mary's Christmas: troubles on the outside, quiet on the inside
- What is quiet on the inside?
- Her pregnancy (Luke 1:26-38)
- The nativity (Luke 2:1-7, 16-21)
- A troubling prophecy (Luke 2:22-40)
- Lifelong uncertainty
- What is quiet on the inside?
- Learning peace from Mary
- "I am the Lord's servant" (Luke 1:38)
- "He has been mindful" (Luke 1:48)
- She praises God because He has been mindful of her - He has paid attention (46-47)
- She thinks about the specific things God has done for her (48-49)
- She reflects on God's nature: He is good, merciful, just, and kind (50-53)
- She celebrates God's faithfulness, keeping His promise to send the Messiah (54-55)
- She got ready and hurried to... Elizabeth (Luke 1:39)
- Jesus is our Prince of Peace
- Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came into this world to bring peace. Peace on Earth - yes. But also peace in your heart and mine. May all of us know His peace, and be instruments of His peace, this Christmas.