And You Shall Call His Name Jesus

Luke 1:26-38 - Riley Boggs

Recently I watched a YouTube video titled, “1 Christian vs 20 Atheists”. The group that puts these videos together do all sorts of things like this. I’ve seen ones like 1 Democrat vs 20 Republicans and vise versa. The premise is that the one person sits in the middle of a circle of the 20 others, they make a statement, and then someone comes to the middle to talk with them about why they disagree. It’s an interesting format. And so, when I saw the “1 Christian vs 20 Atheists” title, I was intrigued.

I clicked on the video and realized that the 1 Christian was a guy named Jordan 

Peterson. I thought, well that’s odd, because I didn’t think he was a Christian. If you don’t know who Jordan Peterson is, he is a psychologist, author, and a great thinker. He’s very popular in certain circles, because he pushes back against post-modern thoughts and movements. And I knew he was sympathetic to the Christian worldview, but I had never heard his profess to be a Christian himself. So I thought that was odd, but okay, I’m interested, I’ll watch it.

As I begin to watch, I soon realized that the exact thing I was a bit worried about started to take place. Atheist after atheist would come to the center to discuss one of his statements, and each one kept pushing him to the same point. Eventually, one of the professing atheists ask him, “What makes someone a Christian?”. Jordan Peterson says, “That’s a good question! Yeah, well, probably the deepest answer to that is willingness to shoulder your cross voluntarily and trudge uphill regardless of circumstances.” Another atheist notices what was just said and comes to the middle. The debate gets a little heated and eventually the atheist blurts out “Either you’re a Christian or you’re not!” All the atheists start to laugh, and Dr. Peterson tries to get out of the situation. 

Actually, the debate gets so bad that the original title “1 Christian vs 20 Atheists” got changed to “Jordan Peterson vs 20 Atheists”. But do you see what happened? Do you see the issue with what Dr. Peterson did? He tried to have Christianity without Christ. He wanted the benefit of Christian ideals without Christ. But that is nonsensical. So much so that even those who don’t think God exists know that such a thing makes no sense, and they cornered him because of it. It gets so bad one point that the atheists begin to use the Bible to show that Jordan Peterson isn’t actually a Christian. The debate was so bad I had to listen to a John Piper sermon to cleanse my brain from what just happened.

But here’s the point of me telling you this. You cannot have Christianity without Christ, and even further, you cannot have Christianity without a true Christ. There are some who claim to be Christians but the Jesus that they profess to follow isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. Their Jesus is this inclusive teacher who looks past sin and unrepentance so that people can feel accepted. And just like Jordan Peterson, they find themselves in a Christless Christianity, which is no Christianity at all.

What we believe and say about Jesus matters. It matters because everything we believe, our entire faith, rest upon Him. If we get Jesus wrong, we get it all wrong. Some teachers say, “Feel free to answer, there are no wrong answers.” Well, that isn’t when discussing Jesus. There are certainly wrong answers and there are certainly right answers. And it’s our job, as followers of Christ, to get it right. To proclaim Jesus for who He is, nothing more, nothing less.

How do we do that? We search the Bible. We look at the Scriptures to see who He is and who He isn’t, so that we might worship Him in spirit and truth. So that we might proclaim to the world, to our neighbor, to our children, the real Jesus. The Jesus who saves, who keeps, and who is coming back. And in our text this morning, we get a glimpse of who this Jesus is from the angel Gabriel. The same angel that we saw last week visit Zecheriah in the temple to tell him that his wife, Elizabeth, was going to become pregnant with a son, who will be called John. This same angel visits Mary. 

Now, this Mary is from the city of Nazareth and is a virgin who is betrothed to a man named Joseph. It’s important for us to understand that this betrothal is a bit different than anything we have today. In our culture we have engagement and then marriage. And at that marriage, there is both a legal and a physical consummation that makes the marriage official. In this time, though, the legal part took place when the engagement takes place. We know this in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph says that he is going to have divorce Mary, thinking that she had gotten pregnant with another man and become pregnant. He learns that this isn’t the case, obviously, but we do see that a divorce was required to leave Mary. So this betrothal is more than our modern engagement practice, but also, they had not truly been married yet. 

So the angel comes to this Mary and says to her, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.” Another way of reading this would be, “Greetings, O one who has received grace.” The idea is that Mary has had grace poured upon her, and we are about to see why. The angel then tells her that he is going to have a son, whose name will be Jesus. That name, Jesus, means, “Yahweh is salvation.” He then goes on to tell her more about who the Jesus will be, which we will look at more in a minute. But after all this, Mary responds to the angel and asks, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 

If you remember last week, when Zechariah is told that Elizabeth is going to conceive, he also asks a question. For Zecheriah, the angel says that he didn’t believe and is made so that he cannot talk until his son, John, is born. But for Mary, who also asks a question, this isn’t the case. What’s the difference in their questions? Look back at verse 18. Zechariah asks, “How can this be?” While Mary, in verse 34, asks, “How will this be?” Zechariah didn’t think it was possible. Mary, on the other hand, simply wanted to know how it was going to take place. The first, a question from unbelief. The second, a question from faith that the Lord will make a way, and He does.

The angel then tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and that is how she will become pregnant. He then tells her about her relative Elizabeth becoming pregnant as well, noting that, nothing is impossible with God. And to this, Mary says, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”, and the angel leaves. 

This is an amazing story for many different reasons, but the reasons I want to put before you today are what this text tells us about who Jesus is. The first one that I want you to see is this.

1.) Jesus is from the line of David

When you are reading through the Bible and you come to a name that is being mentioned, especially for the first time, what can you expect? You expect the text to tell you something about who their parents are, which tribe they are from, or of what line of people they are from. It happens all the time throughout Scripture. And so, when we come to verse 27 in our text today, we see that very thing happen. We read that the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, who is of the house of David. That might seem like just another example of what you’ve read many times before. But, if you are a good Bible reader, that phrase , “of the house of David” means a lot to you. Why is that?

For our middle Scripture reading this morning I had 2 Samuel 7:1-17 read for us. That text is the key to understanding the importance of this detail. David was the King of Israel at one time. In fact, he was a great king, though, like all of us, he had his shortcomings. But David did seek God, and he wanted to do something for Him. We heard from that text that David wanted to build the Lord a place to dwell that, to David, would be much better than the tabernacle, which was just a tent, that the Lord was dwelling in. David’s house was grand, and he wanted the same for the Lord. Before this happens, however, God responds. He doesn’t want a house built for Him. He’s never asked this of David.

Rather than David doing something for God, God says that He is going to do something for David. He tells him that He is going to give David a house and a kingdom that lasts forever. Now the question is, how is this true? Israel would not continue to be the thriving kingdom that there were at this time. Actually, the Israelites would go into exile, leaving no throne to reign on. So how is this true? We know that the Lord always keeps His promises, but if He has promised a house and a kingdom that is going to last forever, and yet it is gone, how is this true? Here’s how.

This promise, this covenant, with David was one that was partially going to be fulfilled by his actual son Solomon. However, this promise is going to be ultimately and completely by someone who is of the line of David, but who is far different than an ordinary son. The prophets knew this to be the case, and they were constantly putting it before the Israelites. They knew that this promise to David was far greater than they understood. That is because the one who is going to fulfill this promise, is the one who is going to redeem them once and for all. It is going to be the Messiah Himself. 

The question is not if, it is when. No one knows. Everyone is waiting. And then, we hear these words, “of the house of David”. Could this be Him? Let’s keep reading. The angel says, in verse 32, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” This is Him, and His name is Jesus. He is of the line of David; the promises are going to made true in and through Him. The Messiah is here!

Both Mary, Jesus’ birth mother, and Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive father, are both descendants of David which we will see that laid out in more detailed genealogy in chapter 3 of Luke’s Gospel. But for now, I want you to see the importance of this. Gabriel explicitly tells Mary and Luke intentionally includes the details, so that we might see and know that Jesus is of the line of David. The wait is over; the son of David is here. However, He is no ordinary son. Why?

2.) Jesus is Mary’s real son, and Son of God

As I mentioned earlier, we must proclaim Jesus like the Bible proclaims Jesus. We don’t say anything more or anything less than what the Bible says. This becomes increasingly evident when we come up to these 2 truths. The first being that Mary really did become pregnant with a real baby. Mary didn’t have the birth apps to track Jesus’ size in her womb, but she could have. It was a real pregnancy. 

Now you might be thinking, why is Riley saying that? Isn’t that pretty obvious? On one hand, yes, it is. On the other hand, when you read the other details in this text you realize that this is no ordinary pregnancy. Mary is going to become pregnant unlike any other woman has, or will, become pregnant in all of history. Though she is a virgin, the angel says, she will conceive in her womb and bear a son. It seems impossible, because under typical circumstances it would be impossible. But, these are not typical circumstances, and nothing is impossible with God.

But Mary wants to know how this is going to happen. She knows that it will happen, but she wants to know how. The angel tells her that, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” In other words, the Spirit of the Living God is simply going to cause this to take place within you. A truly miraculous event, unlike anything before. This baby will have not have a true earthly father in the same way that He has a true earthy mother. Yes, He will be raised all the same by both Mary and Joseph, but Jesus’ true father is God Himself.

We see the angel point that out rather clearly 2 different times in this text. First, in verse 32 he says that Jesus, “will be called the Son of the Most High.” Then again, in verse 35 he will be called, “holy – the Son of God.” This baby is Mary’s real son, and He is also the Son of God. He is the second person of the Triune Godhead. He is the eternal Son, equal with the Father and the Spirit. He is God, and when He is placed in Mary’s womb by the Spirit, He will be God in the flesh.

If you will, quickly turn with me to Isaiah 7. I want you to see how everything is being put into place so clearly for us to see. Look at Isaiah 7: 10-14. We read, “10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” That’s rather obvious, right? The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. In other words, Mary will conceive, and He shall be God.

Now flip over to Isaiah 9. Starting in verse 2, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Again, it’s put right before us with the phrase, “and his name shall be called Mighty God”, the same phrase wording used in our text today. And again with the throne of David.

The Lord, through the angel’s words to Mary, and through the inspiration of His Word, is showing us, so very clearly, that Jesus is the real human son of Mary and the eternal Son of God. The last thing I want you to see in our passage this morning is this. 

3.) Jesus does not have a sinful nature

We talked about the fall of man last week, and how the effects of the fall are felt by every single person in the world. They are felt externally in what we see happening, and they are felt internally in how we think, feel, and what we desire. Because of the fall, none of us are born innocent. None of us faultless. Rather the Bible says that we are conceived in iniquity, guilty before a Holy God, and in desperate need for saving. And that is because we are of Adam, the one who fell and plunged all of humanity into this sinful state, by nature of being a human. None of us are Holy. 

We know all of this and then we read how Jesus is described in verse 35. Gabriel says that He will be called holy. And the reason that He is going to be called Holy, is because He will truly be Holy. Some of you might be thinking, “How is that the case? You just told me that every human, which Jesus is, born is sinful by nature of being human.” While that is true, there is one thing we cannot forget. Jesus is both fully man and fully God, and in that, He is able to be something different than everyone before Him. He can be fully man and truly Holy.

In fact, I think the angel uses a certain language when talking about the Spirit to tell Mary how this might be the case. He says that the Spirit will, “come upon you and overshadow you.” Does that remind you of any other place in Scripture? I think it is call back to the Creation story, where we read that the Spirit if God hovered over the face of the waters. It’s a subtle thing, but I think we are to realize that another act of creation is taking place. Not in the sense that the eternal Son of God is being created, but in that something new is taking place. Something that has never happened before is happening. God is going to be clothed in humanity. 

And this is how Jesus might be both fully human and completely sinless. He has no sinful nature like us. He is not born with a proclivity to sin. He does not need to be redeemed, because He Himself is the redeemer. And it is through atoning work; we can be made what? We can be made new creations. 

You see all of this, everything we’ve seen this morning about who Jesus is, is necessary for Him to be the Savior. That is the reminder I want to leave you with. Simply that…

4.) Jesus is our Savior

Think of each thing we’ve seen about Jesus this morning. First, He is of the line of David. Second, He is Mary’s real son, fully human. Third, He is the Son of God. Fourth, He is truly Holy, without sin. If you add of all of these together, what do you have? You have the Savior of the world. Anything removed, and He is no longer the Savior. If He is not of the line of David, then His kingdom and reign is not eternal, but temporary. Not only that, but the prophecies of this reality remain unfulfilled. If He is not Mary’s real son, He is not a true man. And if He is not a true man, He cannot be tempted like we are tempted, and even more important He cannot take our place on the cross. Only a real man can be our representative. If He is not God, He cannot overcome sin and death. As just a man, the wrath of God would have dealt the final blow. If He is not sinless, He cannot save. He is just like the rest of us; helpless, looking for the one who can save us. 

But the good news is, Jesus is all of these things. And it is because of who He is, He is truly our Savior. Fully God, fully man, the sinless Savior of the world, who reigns as the eternal King, and who has brought us into His glorious kingdom. Thanks be to Christ for this wonderful truth. It is the reason that we gather, the reason that we live, the reason that we sing, and it is the reason that we will come to the table here in just a moment.