Sermon

Sermon

The Impossible Happens

Luke 1:26-38 (English Standard Version)

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26In the sixth month the angel^(A) Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named^(B) Nazareth, 27^(C) to a virgin betrothed^[a] to a man whose name was Joseph,^(D) of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings,^(E) O favored one,^(F) the Lord is with you!”^[b] 29But^(G) she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for^(H) you have found favor with God. 31And behold,^(I) you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and^(J) you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of^(K) the Most High. And the Lord God^(L) will give to him the throne of^(M) his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob^(N) forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

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

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

Prepared: “Called to Give Witness”

John 1:19-20 (English Standard Version)

The Testimony of John the Baptist
19And this is the(A) testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,(B) “Who are you?” 20(C) He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

Cross references:

1. John 1:19 : John 3:26
2. John 1:19 : John 8:25
3. John 1:20 : John 1:8; John 3:28; Acts 13:25; Luke 3:15
Prepared: “Called to Give Witness”

Prepared: Called to Prepare the Way

Prepared: “Called to Prepare the Way”

Mark 1:2-3 (English Standard Version)

2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'”

Prepared: “The Coming Kingdom”

Mark 11:1-10 (English Standard Version)

Mark 11

The Triumphal Entry

1^(A) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to^(B) Bethphage and Bethany, at^(C) the Mount of Olives, Jesus^[a] sent^(D) two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied,^(E) on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many^(F) spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting,^(G) “Hosanna!^(H) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is^(I) the coming^(J) kingdom of^(K) our father^(L) David!^(M) Hosanna in the highest!”

Footnotes:

1. Mark 11:1 Greek he

Cross references:

1. Mark 11:1 : For Mark 11:1-10, Matt 21:1-9; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-15; Zech 9:9
2. Mark 11:1 : Matt 21:17; Luke 24:50; John 11:18
3. Mark 11:1 : Zech 14:4; Matt 24:3; 26:30; John 8:1; Acts 1:12
4. Mark 11:1 : Mark 14:13
5. Mark 11:2 : Luke 23:53
6. Mark 11:8 : 2 Kgs 9:13
7. Mark 11:9 : Psalm 118:25 (Heb)
8. Mark 11:9 : Matt 23:39; Psalm 118:26
9. Mark 11:10 : Luke 1:32
10. Mark 11:10 : Ezek 37:24, 25
11. Mark 11:10 : Acts 2:29
12. Mark 11:10 : Mark 11:9
13. Mark 11:10 : Luke 2:14; Psalm 148:1