Transcript

A Humble Vessel-Part One

One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 4:7. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves."

The term "earthen vessels" was used back then to refer to what we would commonly call today a "garbage can." Garbage cans are important. Every home contains several of them. But there is nothing inherently valuable in a garbage can. They are contaminated with the worst junk and germs, and if you are like me, they get the least cleaning of probably anything we own. The Bible says we are an "earthen vessel."

Yet in a sense the illustration breaks down because there is oftentimes nothing valuable in a garbage can. Yet the verse says we have something very valuable in us. You see, when we give our lives to Jesus Christ by faith, He through the Holy Spirit, actually comes to take up residence within us. Our bodies (the earthen vessels) the Scriptures declare actually become a temple for the Holy Spirit. God indwells believers.

And what's God's goal in all of that according to 2 Corinthians 4:7? That we would die to self. That life would not be about "ourselves," but rather the One that lives in us that saved us and now glorifies Himself through us.

This is not about thinking about ourselves more (the self-esteem movement). We are an earthen vessel! And this is not even thing about ourselves less because we are an earthen vessel ("I'm am only a dirty garbage can!"). This is thinking less about ourselves, because it is no longer about ourselves because our new identity is Christ and Him living His life through us. It is the only thing that gives us true satisfaction and enables us to be the true worshipper that He seeks. Or as Paul said in 4:7, "So that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves."

As we get ready for the baptisms, I'd like to take some time to illustrate this very principle. And it's impossible to find a better illustration than the one we have before us in Luke 1. If anybody was ever an earthen vessel for Jesus Christ it was His biological mother, Mary.

So here is the question and it is based on the two interpretative stands that the professing church has taken over the centuries. Is this about us making a big deal about Mary or is this about Mary making a big deal about God?

Review. The elderly man with the barren wife named Elizabeth is visited by the angel Gabriel. Zacharias is told that his wife will conceive and give birth to a baby named, "John." John (also known as "John the Baptist") will be a forerunner to the Lord, Jesus Christ.

I believe this whole story is to symbolize God's mercy to a barren nation. All humans are under a curse because of their sin. Yet God in His mercy performed a miracle nobody expected and gave a barren nation the birthing of a Savior to remove the curse.

Then last week we learned about the actual arrival of the Savior Himself. The same angel this time made the announcement to a 14 year old virgin. The girl's name was Mary. And according to Matthew 1:21, "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." The long-awaited Messiah will arrive. God's promise will be fulfilled.

Today we'll look at some key thoughts regarding Mary's response in light of her being a vessel for the Lord.

So Mary when she receives the news (verse 39) she makes a bee-line for Elizabeth's home. She was told by the angel (verse 36) that Elizabeth is pregnant and no-doubt swirling through Mary's head was thoughts of confusion, excitement, fear and wonder.

Then in verse 42 upon meeting, Elizabeth says, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

Let's understand the nature of these two blessings. No doubt the fruit of her womb is blessed! After all, growing inside her was the embryonic form of God Himself. The Second Person of the Holy Trinity was like any other baby upon conception developing as a human being. Mary was in the most visible way a vessel for God Himself.

And Elizabeth also says that Mary is blessed too. Is that because Mary is great as Jesus is great? Of course not! It's only saying that Mary is blessed because of how God chose her to the mother of Jesus. We are never blessed in the sense of some inherent value we have to God. Remember, earthen vessel! On the contrary, we deserve nothing from God and therefore are blessed when He chooses to use us to accomplish His divine purposes. I think it's safe to say that He chose to use Mary!

And in a sense, if we are in Christ, God chose us to be a vessel for Jesus and God chose us to make His name great through our lives and ministry.

This is not about Mary! Like us, she is only a vessel. Even Jesus made the point crystal clear when someone in the crowds yelled, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed" (Lk. 11:27). To which our Lord said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it" (Lk. 11:28).

Consider Mary's response when she originally heard the news. I wasn't like, "Of course you chose me because I'm better than the others." It definitely was nothing along the lines of, "I'm without sin and a co-redeemer with Christ." Rather she said in verse 38, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." Or verse 48, "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave." Total humility. Full submission to God. Worlds away from claiming any divine privilege. Earthen vessel!

You see, this biblical passage is not setting Mary up as someone to be worshipped. Remember I told you last week that everything about the Christmas narrative was to ensure that Jesus does not get lost in the story - a young virgin, lowly shepherds, a nowheresville town, birth in a manger, etc. This story is focusing on Christ as the One that we should worship. It's not about revering Mary, but it's about having a heart like Mary that reveres Christ.

Look at what Elizabeth says of Mary in verse 45. "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

What an incredible heart. She believed and accepted God's Word. Let's remember that Mary was only a young teenager. She was engaged to Joseph. Her divine conception would give the appearance that she committed sexual relationships outside of marriage. Joseph would probably leave her. The town would shun her. And she could be executed. Yet she heard God's Word and despite the cost trusted the Lord, praised Him and by faith believed obedience to it was in her best interest.

Think about that for a minute. Despite the cost, she believed and accepted God's Word. In reference to Mary, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it" (Lk. 11:28). Is there anything you have heard or read from God's Word, the Bible and you refuse to submit to it because of the apparent sacrifice it will take? Mary called herself a "bondslave" in verses 38 and 48. Can you call yourself that - a bondslave to God? Faith in all that God says. We are earthen vessels so that His glory might be seen through us.

I can't tell you how many people I have counseled as a pastor who come to me for "biblical counseling" and then refuse to do what the Bible says when I share with them God's solution to their problem. Why? Because they want me to sprinkle "pixie dust" on their problems and following the Word of God in some degree often requires sacrifice. And to put it as bluntly as I can, they do not have the faith to believe the sacrifice will lead to greater joy so they choose their sin over Christ.

Then in verses 39-56 Mary praises the Lord. Commonly this is called, "The Magnificat," a term that is derived from the translation of the Latin word, "exalt." Sometimes it is called, Mary's Song" - a fitting title because this is Mary's song of praise. She heard the Word of God. She believed the Word of God. She submitted to the Word of God regardless of the consequences and she now praises God for the Word of God. This song of praise is saturated with Old Testament Scripture (Mary knew her Bible) and especially has many similarities to Hannah's Song in 1 Samuel 2.

Let's take a look at a few of these verses. I am specifically looking for verses in line with our theme - a humble vessel that desires God's greatness to be seen through our lives.

Look right away at verse 46. "My soul exalts the Lord." The worship that pleases God is always first and foremost internal. Remember what Jesus said? "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me" (Mt. 15:8). What happens here corporately on Sunday is important, but it is really only the icing on the cake from a heart that has been worshipping God throughout the week. Like Mary, a soul that is exalting the Lord. We worship God in our daily living through obedience to the word, prayer and praise to His name. We do that individually and with our families and in our small groups and then we come together on Sunday publicly as an extension of our private worship.

When Mary said her soul is exalting the Lord, the word exalt is in the continuous tense. Praise is never meant to be compartmentalized or segmented. It's meant to be a reflexive response to all that is happening in our lives. We shouldn't need holy hardware in a church or emotionally driven music and high-tech lighting as they do in some churches to induce it. It's God driven, the overflow of a God-conscience life filled with the Holy Spirit moving in obedience to Christ. Worship is a natural overflow.

Consider Niagara Falls. Can you imagine complimenting the Falls, but the Falls responding, "I am only a cliff. The water just falls over me. What am I supposed to do? Building a dam would take a lot of work. I just take the water that comes to me and allow it to overflow."

Seeing the beautiful fall colors. Gratitude for our food and clothing. Appreciation for our families. Adoration for God's character. Amazement at saving grace. Confession of wrongdoing. Meditation of the Word. Personal self-examination. Holy conduct. It's rejoicing in God (as Mary says in verse 47). All of life is all about worshipping God and bringing Him glory. Where does it start? Verse 46, in the soul. Verse 47, in the spirit (synonymous words).

Look at what Mary also says in verse 47. She rejoices in "God [her] Savior."

So the Catholic Church teaches that Mary was free from the stain of original sin - the so-called "Immaculate Conception." Though it was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854, the Word of God speaks to the contrary.

God came to the earth in Christ for one primary purpose. Matthew 1:21 again. "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." The forerunner, John the Baptist, when first seeing Jesus said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" We are all born in sin. We all sin on a daily basis. We all fall short of God's standard. Therefore the only hope we have of heaven is that God would take away our sin and that is what He did through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Despite the teaching of the Catholic Church, Mary was a sinner no different than the rest of us. There is only one Savior. Isaiah 45:21, "There is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me." That makes the rest of us sinners in need of a Savior. Mary was a sinner like the rest of us.

You say, "How do you know that!" Well, she admitted that herself. The verse says she was rejoicing in God her Savior. Jesus came to be a Savior for sinners. Mary knew she was a sinner. Mary, like every human being was rejoicing that God sent a Savior.

Saved from what? Saved from the consequences of our sin which is God's judgment for all of eternity according to the Bible.

You see, it's easy to identify the things that are wrong with our lives. We all do it. Despite the fact that thousands of body parts are working well, all we can think about are the three that are not cooperating. It kind of summarizes our life. Despite all the good, it is so easy to see the negative.

But my Christian friends, even if everything were negative, you have the salvation of your soul through the shed blood of your Savior which has totally removed your sin which subsequently has totally removed God's wrath which promises you an eternal place in the center of God's unending love. That alone is enough to continually worship God. Mary was going through a lot. But, those were some of the first words off her lips! "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." All worship focuses on God as Savior!

As we approach the Christmas season, it is so sad how we let Jesus Christ get lost in all the tinsel. There is so much emphasis and joy over the house decorations and gift exchanges and holiday parties. And these things are wonderful. I'll be engaged in all of them. But we have a tendency to take something God gave us and miss God's entire purpose. It's just as some children are taught that Christmas is all about Santa Claus. Some have tried to make this story all about Mary.

God intentionally blurred the background of story so the spotlight would always be on Jesus. And not a just cute little baby to be admired in a manger, but rather God in the flesh, Immanuel, to be worshipped as our Savior.

With the baptisms we'll call it quits for now, but let's not miss the emphasis of our passage. We are all "earthen vessels." It's not about me. That's never the pathway to glorify God or to receive the greatest blessings. It's not about Mary either.

It's about what we learned this morning from Mary. It's about being thankful God would first indwell and then use someone like me to make His name great. That is the heart of a true worshipper. That is the reason for which we were created and then recreated, born and born again in Christ.