Good News

Have you heard the news?

Did you hear what's just happened?

I can't believe it.

Oh, you haven't heard?

You didn't see what's been on the front of social media

and the front of the newspapers?

Our ears tend to prick up at these types of things.

Maybe you were actually wondering

if I actually had some news to share.

It's one of the things that I think social media does really well.

It's constantly bombard us with new information.

If you keep pulling down or hitting refresh

on Facebook or Insta or Twitter,

it just continues to provide us with new things

for our eyes to look at

because our brains really like it.

They've figured out how much we like it

and how addicted we can be

to just getting new information in.

How would you feel if I shared the front page

of the news from 2005?

Would you care?

What if I, you know, it's that feeling of

showing someone a picture of a meme

that they've already seen.

It's just kind of like,

hmm, yeah, it's a good one.

But I wonder if there's some pieces of news.

I wonder if there's some pieces of information

that are still life-changing.

Some things that just stop us in our tracks.

You know, when an old friend

who you've been meeting with,

you've just been spending hours with them

for years and years and years,

when this old friend says to you,

I really still like catching up with you.

It's actually really wonderful.

You know, that's news you still want to hear.

When a family member tells you again

for the 400th time how much they love you.

Some of this news that we hear,

we may have heard before,

but some news can still impact our hearts.

It's Christmas time.

We've gathered late at night to celebrate,

to hear the old, old news

of Jesus coming as a baby.

I wonder what kind of news it is for you.

Is it news that we've just heard before

and it's not exciting

and we're actually looking for something

more interesting, more exciting for Christmas?

Or is there still something relevant for us

about this old news

that can still impact our hearts this year?

Tonight we're looking at how Mary,

the mother of Jesus,

responded to the news of Jesus.

And the challenge for us will be

to be amazed and transformed

at this old news.

Not like it's the first time we've heard it,

but because it is still meaningful for us.

So as we do this tonight,

let me pray for us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask that you would help us

to encounter this news of Jesus' birth

afresh tonight

and that it would be life-changing again for us, Lord.

We ask this in your Son's name.

Amen.

We're going to see two things tonight.

First of all, we're going to see Mary's response to the news

and then we're going to consider

how we need to respond to this old news.

We come to Mary

and her response to hearing from God.

She is a young lady,

around the age of 15,

pledged to be married to a man by the name of Joseph.

And an angel appears to her with a message from God.

This is the freshest of news that you could get.

And she says,

please have your Bibles open,

have your notes open with me.

We're going to start in verse 28,

where we see the angel says,

greetings,

you who are highly favoured.

The Lord is with you.

Now, I'm not sure how you would respond

if you had an angel appear,

let alone describe you as highly favoured.

God,

at the start of this message,

is saying that,

Mary,

you are highly favoured.

I'm going to show my grace to you,

unmerited favour.

This is amazing,

that God would show His grace,

His unmerited favour to anyone,

let alone a 15-year-old girl

who could not have done anything to deserve it.

Mary responds to this announcement,

verse 29,

Mary was greatly troubled at His words,

and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

She doesn't immediately respond with joy.

She doesn't say,

wow,

I've been greatly favoured by God,

I've got to go and tell everybody.

She's troubled.

She has an emotional response.

She's trying to understand

what this message is

that the angelic being has brought to her.

Why am I highly favoured by God?

Why has God shown His grace to me?

Why would the Lord show His favour to me?

But it's not about her being special.

It's about God being gracious.

The God who chooses to love and show His grace,

even to unlikely people.

The angel continues in verse 30,

Do not be afraid, Mary,

you have found favour with God.

You will conceive and give birth to a son,

and you are to call Him Jesus.

He will be great,

and He will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

and He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever.

His kingdom will never end.

If she was confused and troubled

about being favoured by God,

imagine her now.

You're saying that I'm not only favoured by God,

but that before I,

and that's even before I get married,

I'm going to be pregnant with a baby,

and that that baby is going to be the long-expected Emmanuel,

God with us,

who's going to rule forever.

It's no wonder Mary responds to this amazing news

with surprise and with questions.

Verse 34,

Now, this is not a sign of doubt.

She's trying to understand God's good news to her.

But even before she can get to the theological implications

of the descendant of David coming,

of God's Son Himself, Jesus coming,

before she can get to those implications,

she's asking very practical questions.

God, how is this going to work?

I'm not married yet.

How am I supposed to have a baby?

She doesn't dismiss the good news because it's crazy,

but she's asking God,

help me understand your plan.

God, how is this going to work?

And the angel clarifies,

the Holy Spirit will come on you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

And the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Even Elizabeth, your relative,

is going to have a child in her old age.

Mary is given an explanation and a piece of proof.

Elizabeth, her very old relative,

will also have a miraculous birth.

I think this is actually a really wonderful piece of news

and a piece of proof for Mary.

I think it's really wonderful.

God has placed her in a situation

which no one will understand.

So she's going to be pregnant.

Her fiancé is not going to understand it.

Her parents aren't going to understand it.

The society around her is all going to be questioning

why this young, unmarried woman is pregnant.

How can this be?

Sure, you've said it's from God.

I'm not sure we believe you.

And yet God directs her to Elizabeth.

She also is going to have a miraculous birth.

People also wouldn't have been able to believe

that she was pregnant,

and yet she was six months pregnant.

God puts this into her hands

because Elizabeth will understand.

She's the only person who would.

And the angel calls on her to trust God's word.

No word from God will fail.

And Mary responds, wise beyond her years.

Verse 38,

I am the Lord's servant.

May your word to me be fulfilled.

I just think her response is wonderful.

God, I'm going to trust you.

I've got questions,

but I'm not going to be afraid.

I am your servant,

and I'm going to trust you.

After this, Mary goes to visit her relative.

And when she's there,

she responds to all that God is doing,

and she sings a song called the Magnificat,

where she praises and gives glory to God.

She rejoices.

She says,

My soul glorifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

She is rejoicing.

She is praising God.

And Mary, just in these very short verses,

has gone on this wonderful journey.

She started at the good news,

troubled.

She was troubled,

unsure of this news.

She questions the angel,

and then she places her trust in God's word,

and finally rejoices with praise.

I remember where I was when I first heard the news about 9-11.

I remember I was sitting in high school.

It was year 11,

and a mate of mine was listening on the radio,

and he was giving me live updates of what was happening.

I remember hearing for the first time the full implications of COVID.

Last year,

I was camping.

I was out in the middle of nowhere in a tent.

I got a call from Steve,

saying,

things have gotten serious.

Even church is going to have to lock down.

We have some parts of news that just shape our lives,

and that are very memorable.

Do you remember the first time that the news of Jesus interrupted your life?

How much has it shaped your life since then?

Or maybe this is the first time that you're actually considering this news

of the Son of God coming,

that God would show unmerited favor and grace

on unworthy people like Mary and like you and me,

that God became a person to bring salvation,

that this news was life-changing for Mary,

but also for us.

This is news that we can't ignore.

And just like hearing about COVID that impacts everybody,

we can't pretend that the news of Jesus isn't for us.

We can't just say it's for someone else.

This message is for all people.

God sent His Son, Jesus,

for all people to be able to know and follow Him,

because one day we will stand before Him.

Now, you may have responded to this like Mary,

being troubled at the news.

And I think this is a good and rational response.

We should be troubled at this news.

Someone I know is dying of cancer at the moment.

And they don't want to talk about death.

They don't want to face the reality.

They don't want to use that big D word of death.

They're just placing their trust and their hope in doctors.

The doctors are going to fix it.

I don't have to think about my future.

The doctors have got it sorted.

But that would be like, you know,

thinking that COVID is not going to impact our lives,

or being on the Titanic that's going down,

and ignoring the calls to jump into a lifeboat.

Each of us need to consider our future

and what this news means for us.

We should be troubled by this news.

Troubled that we are in so desperate need,

God would have to come Himself.

We need God to favour us.

And the wonderful good news of the Bible

is that He does.

He has chosen to show His grace and His favour.

If this is news to you,

come and talk to me.

If you're still considering this,

talk to the person next to you.

Talk to the person that you're with.

Because I believe that

we can respond to this news like Mary.

We can place our trust in Jesus.

In God.

And that is the way,

just like Mary,

to have joy.

To rejoice at what God is doing.

Joy even in a broken world.

But what if this is old news?

What if this is a message

we've all heard before?

What if, you know,

it doesn't actually seem that exciting anymore?

It doesn't have that same, you know,

hit of adrenaline or a dopamine rush

when I'm flicking through Twitter

that I get.

It doesn't seem to be

life-changing joy anymore.

I think Mary's response

to hearing the good news

is helpful for us

as we consider the old news.

I think it is helpful for us

to consider what it is

to be troubled by this news.

To question God

and then to trust in Him

and finally to rejoice.

Starting with troubled.

Mary, when she heard this message

from the angel,

she was troubled.

He said to her

that she was greatly favoured.

If you're feeling like

the news of Christmas

isn't that new

or interesting anymore,

I want to encourage you

to sit in this.

Because God says to us

the same thing.

Sure, we haven't had

an angel visit us

and say,

hey, you're highly favoured.

We have God saying that

to us in His Word.

Ephesians 1, 7 says,

In Him we have redemption

through His blood,

the forgiveness of sins

in accordance with the riches

of God's grace.

God shows His grace,

His unmerited favour

to each of us.

And this should trouble us.

This should disturb us.

It's news that should shake us

out of a mundane faith

because it's easy

to get used to Christmas

that Jesus became a baby.

It's easy to get used

to this news

and just go through

a process of coming to church

week in and week out

and forget how amazing

and radical

and troubling this news is.

Sometimes though,

God will creep up on us

and remind us

of this great truth.

Particularly when we've been

doing the wrong thing.

When we've been sinning.

When we've hurt someone else.

And we realise,

oh, I am despicable.

I am sinful.

And yet,

Ephesians 1 verse 7,

Ephesians 1:7

God has shown

His immeasurable riches

in His grace to me.

I don't deserve anything good

from God

and yet He chooses

to love me.

Be reminded

of this truth from Ephesians 1,

this word from Mary,

God has poured out

His unmerited grace on us.

One of my favourite TV shows

of the past years

is a TV show called

Ted Lasso.

Not sure if you've seen it.

One of the characters

in this show

attempted to ruin

this main character,

Ted Lasso's life.

But when they realised

what they've done,

they came and apologised to Ted.

And He just says,

I forgive you.

The other person

cannot believe it

and they are brought

to tears.

God has shown

His amazing grace,

His amazing favour

to us.

He says

far more than forgiveness.

He doesn't just forgive us,

but He chooses

to show His riches

to us.

His love

that He would bring us

into His family.

He says,

you are more precious

to me.

God has shown

His amazing favour

that He would

choose you

and me,

sinful enemies of God.

That He would shine

His face on us.

We should be troubled

by this.

We should be stirred

deep inside,

reminded that we

do not deserve it

and it should remind us

of how great

and wonderful

our God is

and our need

and our dependence

on Him.

Secondly,

I think this news

for us is really helpful

because it reminds us

that it is good

to question God.

We can keep bringing

our questions to Him.

James chapter 1

James 1 · chapter mention

reminds us

that if any of us

lack wisdom

to ask God

and He gives generously

to all

without reproach.

Asking questions

is not a sign

of a lack of faith.

We can take

our questions to Him.

He's bigger than

our questions.

He is sovereign.

We can be asking

questions like,

God,

how am I ever

going to stop

sinning like this?

God,

how will my family,

my friends

ever come to know

and love you,

Lord?

God,

I'm really worried

about what's happening

at the moment.

I'm really worried

about case numbers

in Sydney.

I'm really worried

about COVID.

God,

I'm suffering

right now.

God is big enough

for these questions.

Now,

God may speak

directly or even

through an angel,

but as the angel

said to Mary,

God's word

doesn't fail.

We have His word

and He promises

that He is sovereign.

He is in control

today and tomorrow

and He is with us.

So let me encourage you

to be troubled

by this good news.

Be encouraged

to take

your questions

to Him

and then

each day

respond to the good news

of the gospel

by choosing

to trust in Him.

Trust that what God

has said about our tomorrow,

that He is sovereign

for tomorrow,

that He has a plan.

Trust in that.

Trust that His way

and His plans

are better than anything

that we could come up with.

And then finally,

to rejoice

with Mary

at this news.

Rejoice

that God

would save

of people

like us.

If you're feeling

not excited

by this news,

this good news

of Jesus,

be troubled,

take your questions

to God,

trust in Him

and then we can rejoice.

We can rejoice

because we don't need

to worry about tomorrow.

God has it sorted.

Lamentations 3

says,

When we daily

remind ourselves

of God's mercies,

they are new.

His gospel

is new to us.

Then the old news

doesn't actually seem

old anymore.

It is new.

It is amazing.

It is life-giving.

I have been

married to my wife

Alyssa now

for almost 15 years.

And I remember

the first time

that we said

I love you

to each other.

I reminded her

of this the other day

and it turns out

she can't remember it.

I am very glad

I can still remember it though.

And I said it,

it was on a train

between our houses.

We lived about

an hour apart

and I said it to her

on the train

and there was

a very short pause

where my heart

was in my mouth

and then she responded

with those

three little words.

But I remember

thinking

what is she going

to say?

Do I get off

the train now

at whatever stop

this is?

Is she going

to run away

or is she going

to say I love you

back?

And it was wonderful

news when she did

say it back to me.

But since that time

let's say

that she has

either said

those words

or texted me

those words

every second day.

That would be

over two and a half

thousand times

that I've heard that.

It is not news

to me anymore

that she loves me.

I'm pretty sure

I've gotten used

to that idea.

But why haven't

I said to her

stop telling me.

I don't need

that information.

It's not news

to me anymore.

I'm actually really

bored by that piece

of information.

Can't you tell me

something new

and exciting?

It's probably

not the wisest

thing to say

to her.

And yet

every day

when she says

those words

it's new.

After we've had

an argument

or if there's

been pain

and conflict

and I hear

those words

it reminds me

that we're okay.

That we're on

the same side

that we're on

the same team

that we're going

in the same

direction.

Those words

have meaning

because of

the relationship.

How much

more so

with God

when we hear

the news

again

that God

loves us

enough

that he

sent

Jesus.

We need

to hear it

again

after we've

sinned.

After we feel

distant from

him

because it

reminds us

of how great

his love

for you

is

for me

is.

I need

to hear it.

We need

to hear it

when we're

lost

or lonely

or when we're

far from

home.

We need

to hear

this good

news

of the

gospel

of Jesus

coming

when I'm

questioning

God

when we're

wondering

about the

season of

life in

because it

reminds us

of the good

news that

he is

sovereign

he is in

control of

all things

and then we

can rejoice.

Let me

pray.

Heavenly

Father

we thank

you for

this good

news.

Lord I

ask that

it would

be news

to us

again

today.

That it

would not

just be

information

but it

would be

news that

leads to

our lives

being

transformed

to trust

in you

to rejoice

with you

and all of

your goodness

to us

Lord.

Amen.