Stonebrook Church, Ames, Iowa, Sermons

As we continue the story of Jesus’s first coming, we find Gabriel now appearing to Mary. Luke’s account of Gabriel’s conversation with Mary tells us much about who this child will be: the fulfillment of prophecy, and a very unique individual at that. We learn important truths about Jesus’s nature, and we see a right response to God’s revelation: faith even through amazed wonder at seemingly impossible promises.

As we continue the story of Jesus’s first coming, we find Gabriel now appearing to Mary. Luke’s account of Gabriel’s conversation with Mary tells us much about who this child will be: the fulfillment of prophecy, and a very unique individual at that. We learn important truths about Jesus’s nature, and we see a right response to God’s revelation: faith even through amazed wonder at seemingly impossible promises.

As we continue the story of Jesus’s first coming, we find Gabriel now appearing to Mary. Luke’s account of Gabriel’s conversation with Mary tells us much about who this child will be: the fulfillment of prophecy, and a very unique individual at that. We learn important truths about Jesus’s nature, and we see a right response to God’s revelation: faith even through amazed wonder at seemingly impossible promises. 

Let’s read today’s passage together.

Luke 1:26–38 (ESV)

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 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. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And 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 bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke’s purpose

This is a much beloved passage today. If you grew up in a Christian home of any sort, you likely heard this passage read during the advent season or at Christmas time. For some, it can be a powerfully nostalgic passage, stirring up memories of home and childhood, and I wonder if sometime we miss some of the important detail this short passage gives us about who Jesus is.

Luke wrote this gospel not simply as fuel for nostalgia. As part of our annual Christmas traditions, a decoration of sorts to go along with our lights and our trees and our candy and baked goods and songs, he wrote this book to equip the church. Here’s what he says:

Luke 1:1–4 (ESV)

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Specifically, Luke writes a few details about who this Jesus is that would have fought against some budding heresies about Jesus’s nature. Early Gnostic teaching that Jesus wasn’t really human, or that Jesus was merely human, and not divine. Rumors that perhaps Jesus was the physical offspring of Mary and Joseph, and they made up a fantastical story to cover up some pre-marital immorality. Nothing of the sort!

In this passage today we learn things about Jesus that became part of the early creeds the we still read today, and we are told that Jesus is the long awaited fulfillment of a promise to King David. Here’s what Luke teaches us, in his report of Gabriel’s short discussion with Mary:

What is true about Jesus

Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

Born of a virgin

The savior (“You shall call his name Jesus…

We are entering into a season of remembrance of the greatest period of time and the most influential events in human history. This period centers on the person of Jesus Christ and his entrance into our world, when the divine took on humanity. This is his First Coming, or the First Advent. All of history and the foundation of our lives is built upon this Person and these events.

Just prior to Jesus’ death, crucifixion, and resurrection, Jesus had given His disciples marching orders regarding what they should do after he left. In John 21, He reveals Himself one more time to His disciples to strengthen their faith in His resurrection and restore His relationship with them, particularly with Peter, who had denied him. From this chapter we learn how we, too, can be restored after failure and learn that Jesus has a specific plan for each of His disciples.

https://www.stonebrook.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/181125_sermon.mp3

Every person ever born has a relentless and ferocious enemy whose name is death. Ever since Genesis 3, mankind and our world have been under an oppressive curse, the curse of death, which is the judgment from God for our rebellion against him, our Maker. But God in his great mercy and rich love sent his own Son from heaven to take on humanity in order to live the perfect life, offer up himself as a sacrificial exchange, and then rise from the dead to give us life in glory forever and ever. Christ is risen! Behold all things will be made new!

https://www.stonebrook.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/181118_sermon.mp3

Gospel of John: Life in Jesus’ Name

John 20 – Death is Defeated

I am going to mention two numbers. Just two. And for the majority of you in this room—perhaps 2/3 of you or more—these two numbers will provoke some memories.

Those numbers are: 9-11. 9-11 marks September 11, 2001, when two jets were crashed into the World Trade Center. And the buildings collapsed.

I remember many details of that day. I was standing in the lobby with some other people, and we had rolled a TV out there to watch it. I watched the Towers collapse, and with my former engineering mind on, I was unbelieving. I thought, “No, a building like that cannot collapse. What I’m seeing cannot be true.”

There are events in our lives—especially trauma—that can be burned into our brains like that.

Last week we looked at Chapter 19 in John’s Gospel. The account of the Crucifixion. For the followers of Jesus—John, Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalene—that day would have been a 9-11 kind of day. Disbelieving. In a daze. Shocked. Afraid.

“What is happening? Our Messiah—or so we thought—is dying on a cruel cross. He has been taunted and hated and ridiculed. Now he is dead!” Then a courageous Jewish leader named Joseph took Jesus’ bloodied, battered, tortured body down from the cross. He wrapped it in linen cloths with some burial spices, and he placed it in a tomb. That day of horror and dashed dreams was a horrifying day burned onto their minds and hearts. They would never forget that day.

If John’s Gospel ended there, the story may not seem that exceptional. Sure, it was a cruel death, but millions of people have died cruel deaths. And billions of people have died in human history. Just in the United States alone, on the average someone dies every 12 seconds.

But the story is exceptional because of who died. The Word of God. The Creator. The Son of God sent from heaven to earth.

And the story is exceptional because there is another chapter. There is another part of the story. And instead of a 9-11 kind of day, the next chapter is the reverse: it is…. an 11-9 kind of day.

It is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

John 20

We are near the end of a series going through the Gospel of John. Next week is our last Sunday on this. One of Jesus’ 12 disciples named John wrote an account about Jesus. Who he was, what he said, what he accomplished. Gospel = “good news.” It’s the Good News about Jesus, as penned by John.

So turn to the Gospel of John. Chapter 20.

As you are turning there, I will introduce myself. My name is Brad Barrett, one of the pastors here. I am a life-long Iowan. I came here from Sioux City. Only 180 miles northwest of here. Apparently I am not as daring as some of you. Some of you have come to Ames and Iowa State from the other side of the world. 5000 miles 6000 miles.

Let’s go now to this magnificent story. To John 20.

In my opinion— and I dare you to disagree with me—the day of Christ’s death is the darkest day in human history. Without comparison.

And in my opinion, that Resurrection Sunday is the brightest day….the most glorious day…in human history. And that Sunday will be surpassed only by one future event: the Second Coming of Christ. On that day, he will come to earth to rescue his followers and usher them into glory. And to bring wrath and judgment on all who have rejected him.

John 20 (ESV)

Now we pick up the next scene in these extraordinary, history-making hours.

John 20:1–31 (ESV)

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

The first day of the week is the day after the Sabbath, so Sunday. By Jewish reckoning, this would begin at sundown on Saturday and continue u…

Each of the 4 Gospels contains a detailed account of the Gospel. John’s Gospel contains three events that are uniquely declared to have happened “in order to fulfill the scriptures.” We will discuss the reasons John specifically declares this and its significance for our lives today: that we may believe, and have life.