A Never-Ending Kingdom of Peace

A Never-Ending Kingdom of Peace

(Luke 1:26-38)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Atonement”

Series Title:  “The Kindest Gesture the World Has Ever Known”

December 17^th, 2023

Something to think about:

When we lose our grip on the future, we lose our grip on the importance of life.  And when we lose our grip on the importance of life, we lose our reason for hope.  And when we lose our reason for hope there is no peace.  And when there is no peace, desperation sets in.  And, when desperation sets in, we do irrational things that all too often result in devastating outcomes.

Up to the time of Jesus’ birth, hope was present, but hope was difficult.  For nearly 400+ years the people of GOD had waited in silence for a word to come from Him.  Not since the time of Malachi and other prophets of generations past had they heard from GOD.  And what they heard from them kept them in anticipation for a coming Messiah/Anointed One who would ascend the throne of their ancestor David and set them free from the oppression they had experienced under various rulers and empires through the ages.  And like David, they were looking for a shepherd to guide them into the future.  And at just the right time in human history, this Anointed One would come, but not in the way anyone was expecting, and He would establish a kingdom like no other the world had ever known.

Let’s take a closer look:

Turn in your Bible to:  Luke 1:26-38

Here’s the point…

Key Point:  “GOD sent Jesus to establish His eternal Kingdom of Peace.”

How did GOD’s kingdom come into the world… 

• The Kingdom came, literally, through a    named  .

Luke 1:26-28 (NLT)  ²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.  ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,^* favored woman!  The Lord is with you!^*” …

… ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen?  I am a virgin.”

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.  ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age!  People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.  ³⁷ For the word of God will never fail.^*”

• The Kingdom came through the line of    .

Luke 1:30-32 (NLT)  ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!  ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

• The Kingdom came as an eternal  of  .

Luke 1:33 (NLT)  And he will reign over Israel^* forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Something to take home:

It’s interesting that the Gospel writer, Matthew, came to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus.  Before meeting Jesus, he was a tax collector, making money hand over fist.  He was despised by all the people for collaborating with the Romans, and so he absorbed himself in his world of money and success.  Then one day, Jesus passed by, looked at Matthew, and simply said, “Follow Me,” and for one brief moment, he has a dilemma.  A split-second image of all his gold and his silver and his house and his possessions.  Then he looked at Jesus and realized he had to make a choice; he couldn’t have both.  But there was no comparison.  He recognized instantly that he was looking at the True Treasure and true riches, and he left everything.  He made a sacrifice that turned out to be no sacrifice at all.  Instead, Matthew chose the Kingdom of GOD and peace which never ends.  What kingdom have you chosen?

Key Point:  “GOD sent Jesus to establish His eternal Kingdom of Peace.”

^* 1:28a Or Rejoice.

^* 1:28b Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women.

^* 1:37 Some manuscripts read For nothing is impossible with God.

^* 1:33 Greek over the house of Jacob.