“IMPOSSIBILITY THINKING!”
Christmas Eve
2016
Luke 1:26-31, 34-37
INTRODUCTION
MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE POWER OF
POSITIVE THINKING POPULARIZED, ALBEIT A LONG TIME
AGO, BY NORMAN VINCENT PEALE. MANY OF US,
PERHAPS, ARE ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THE THEOLOGY OF
ROBERT SCHULLER WHO FOCUSED ON POSITIVE THINKING.
BASED ON THIS VIEW HE IN FACT AUTHORED A BOOK –
WHICH WAS A TAKE OFF FROM OUR LORD’S OWN
BEATTITUDES, TITLED: “THE BE HAPPY ATTITUDES,”
BASED TO BE SURE, ON POSITIVE THINKING. IT ALL
BEGAN ALONG TIME AGO WITH A GUY BY THE NAME OF
NAPOLIAN HILL WHO AUTHORED A BOOK TITLED: “THINK
AND GET RICH.” IN OTHER WORDS, BECOMING WEALTHY
BEGINS IN THE MIND! AGAIN, BASED UPON “POSITIVE
THINKING.”
ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, I AM NOT GOING TO TALK
YOU ABOUT POSITIVE THINKING, BUT ON THE POWER OF
“IMPOSSIBLITY THINKING.” THE ANGEL GABRIEL SAYS TO
MARY, “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.” THERE IS
MUCH TO BE LEARNED FROM THE VIRGIN BIRTH.
I AN IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE
LET’S GET THE SCENE. GOD SENDS AN ANGEL TO
NAZARETH, A LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE OF NO
PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE THEN AND OF NO
PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE NOW. GOD SENDS THIS
ANGEL TO A HUMBLE WOMAN – A WOMAN APPARENTLY
OF NO GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, NO GREAT FAME, A
HUMBLE CONDITION IN LIFE, ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED
TO A HUMBLE MAN.
THE ANGEL SHOWS UP AND BEGINS THE FAVORED!
THE LORD IS WITH YOU.” ONE MODERN TRANSLATION OF
THIS GREETING READS LIKE THIS: UPON ENTERING,
GABRIEL GREETED HER: ‘GOOD MORNING! YOU’RE
BEAUTIFUL WITH GOD’S BEAUTY, BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND
OUT! GOD BE WITH YOU.’ WHAT WOULD OUR REACTION
BE, I WONDER, IF AN ANGEL JUST SHOWED UP AND SAID,
“GOOD MORNING?” WOULD WE BELIEVE IT? WOULD
ANYONE BELIEVE IT?” THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION THAT
SO MANY THINGS ABOUT GOD ARE BEYOND OUR
UNDERSTANDING, BUT NOT BEYOND OUR BELIEF.
SO, WHAT IS HER REACTION? SHE WAS THOROUGHLY
SHAKEN. LITERALLY, IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE,
“SHE’S PERPLEXED.” IT’S A WORD THAT IS USED
NOWHERE ELSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. WE CAN NOW
KNOCK HER OVER WITH A FEATHER. SHE IS IMMEDIATELY
THINKING TO HERSELF: “WHAT’S UP WITH THIS? I LIVE IN
NAZARETH. EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS A GPS TO FIND THIS
PLACE, BUT, THAT’S RIGHT, ANGELS DON’T NEED A GPS!
BUT WHY WOULD AN ANGEL SHOW UP AT MY DOOR?”
THE ANGEL HAS AN ANSWER. HE HAS AN ANSWER, NOT
HIS OWN, BUT AN ANSWER FROM GOD.
MARY, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. GOD HAS A
SURPRISE FOR YOU: YOU WILL BECOME PREGNANT AND GIVE
BIRTH TO A SON AND CALL HIS NAME JESUS.
NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT VIRGINS DON’T HAVE
BABIES. MARY KNEW THIS TOO. HER QUESTION REVEALS
HER INTELIGENCE. INSPITE OF THE FACT THAT THIS
ANGEL SHOWS UP IN THE MOST SUPERNATURAL WAY;
INSPITE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS MOMENT, MARY
DOESN’T JUST NAIVELY ACCEPT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT!
“OH, AWESOME NEWS! THANKS, GABE! SAY HELLO TO
YAWEH FOR ME! SEE YOU IN NINE MONTHS!”
THIS IS NOT HER RESPONSE. SHE HAS HER DOUBTS. WE
TOO, AT TIMES, HAVE OUR DOUBTS! MARY SAYS: BUT
HOW? I’VE NEVER SLEPT WITH A MAN? CAN YOU IMAGINE,
WHAT IS NOW RACING THROUGH THE MIND OF THIS
INTELLIGENT YOUNG WOMAN? THOUGHTS LIKE, “WHAT
DOES THIS DO TO ME? HOW IS JOSEPH GOING TO REACT
TO THIS? WHAT WILL THIS DO TO MY REPUTATION? THEY
ARE GOING TO HAVE FIELD DAY IN THE “CHATTER BOX”
CAFÉ DOWN THE WAY! WHAT DOES THIS DO TO MY LIFE?
WILL I BE STONED TO DEATH FOR ADULTERY?”
GABRIEL GETS IT! THAT IS WHY HE ENCOURAGES HER
TO DOUBT HER DOUBTS! HE SAYS: THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL
COME UPON YOU, THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST HOVER
OVER YOU; THEREFORE, THE CHILD YOU BRING TO BIRTH
WILL BE CALLED HOLY, SON OF GOD. AND THEN GABE
SAYS THIS! IT IS THE STATEMENT THAT DISPELS ALL
DOUBT! IT IS STATEMENT THAT DISPEL OUR DOUBTS TOO:
“MARY, NOTHING, YOU SEE, IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!” SO
MANY OF THE THINGS OF GOD ARE BEYOND OUR
UNDERSTANDING, BUT THEY ARE NOT BEYOND OUR
BELIEF.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT, OUTSIDE OF THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH, THERE IS NOT ONE MODERN, INTELLIGENT PERSON
WHO CARES ABOUT OR WHO BELIEVES IN THE VIRGIN
BIRTH. EVEN AMONG SOME WHO CLAIM TO BE
CHRISTIAN. THEY DON’T DOUBT THEIR DOUBTS. THEY
AFIRM THEIR DOUBTS. THEY TRY TO INTELLECTUALIZE
THE MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE AWAY – NOT THE LEAST OF
WHICH IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH! THE GREAT STORY OF GOD’S
SALVATION PLAN FOR THE WORLD, FOR US – CANNOT BE
INTELLECTUALIZED AWAY! FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, GOD IS
WAY TO SMALL! AT THE HEART OF THE STORY IS THIS
POINT – A PROMISE GIVEN TO THAT GIRL IN THAT
HAMLET. THIS IS NO SMALL POINT IN THE CONFESSION OF
OUR FAITH: “CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! BORN OF
THE VIRGIN MARY!” WITHOUT THIS REALITY WE HAVE NO
CHRISTIANITY! BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS REALITY WE
HAVE NO CHRIST! ALL GOD – ALL MAN, IN THE ONE
PERSON! ALL TRUE!
IF WE STUMBLE ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO WITH ELIZABETH WHO’S BEYOND THE AGE
OF BEARING A CHILD, AND IS NOW SIX MONTHS
PREGNANT? IF WE STUMBLE ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH, ARE
WE GOING TO STUMBLE WHEN ABRAHAM AT AGE 100 IS
TOLD THAT HE BY HIS WIFE, 90, WILL HAVE A SON? ARE
WE GOING TO STUMBLE AT THAT?
AND IF WE ARE TOLD THAT A SEA IS GOING TO BE
PARTED SO THE CHILDREN OF GOD CAN WALK SAFELY TO
THE OTHER SIDE…THAT JONAH IS GOING TO BE MARKING
TIME FOR THREE DAYS IN THE BELLY OF THIS GINORMOUS
FISH, BEFORE THE FISH’S INDIGESTION GETS THE BEST OF
HIM…THAT A BUNCH OF HACK TRUMPET PLAYERS ARE
GOING TO BRING THE MIGHTY WALLS OF JERICHO DOWN
WITH THEIR PLAYING…THAT THE MIGHTY CANANNITES
WILL BE DEFEATED AND GOD WILL LEAD HIS PEOPLE INTO
THE PROMISED LAND…ARE WE GOING TO STUMBLE?
IF WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS CHILD BORN OF THIS
VIRGIN GOES THAT CROSS FOR OUR SINS COMMITTED 2,000
YEARS LATER…ARE WE GOING TO STUMBLE? TO BE SURE,
EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOTHING IS
IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. IT IS BEYOND OUR
UNDERSTANDING – HE IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING –
THE VIRGIN BIRTH IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING –
BUT NOT OUR BELIEF.
II FAITH IN THE IMPOSSIBLE
I WONDER IF WE REALIZE WHY GOD CHOSE MARY OF
ALL THE WOMEN IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME? HE
COULD HAVE CHOSEN ROYALTY OR A WOMAN OF
WEALTH! HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN A WOMAN WELL
SCHOOLED AND WELL GROOMED FOR SUCH NOBLE TASK –
TO BEAR IN HER WOMB THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND.
CERTAINLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS TYPE OF WOMAN
THAT WE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN. IF WE WOULD HAVE
SOMEONE SING IN HEAVEN, WE’D CHOOSE THE BEST
VOICE – SOMEBODY WHO HAS PERFORMED AT CARNAGIE
HALL OR ON ANY OF THE GREAT STAGES OR OPERA
HOUSES ON THE GLOBE, RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE OUR
WAY, BUT NOT HIS! GOD WOULD CHOOSE SOMEBODY
WHO HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CARRY A TUNE, AND
HAVE HIM OR HER SING. WHY? BECAUSE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
THE GOD WE WORSHIP IS THE GOD OF IMPOSSIBILITY
AND WHAT MATTERS TO HIM MOST IS NOT BEAUTY OR
INTELLECT, OR STATUS, OR SCHOOLING, OR SAVVY OR
WEALTH OR POWER! NOPE! WHAT MATTERS MOST TO
HIM IS FAITH! AND THAT, YOU SEE, IS WHY HE CHOOSES
THIS YOUNG GIRL FROM NAZARETH! SHE HAS A
BEAUTIFUL HEART! SHE HAS AMAZING FAITH! LISTEN TO
WHAT SHE SAYS: “YES, I SEE IT A BIT MORE CLEARLY
NOW: I’M THE LORD’S MAID, READY TO SERVE. LET IT BE
WITH ME JUST AS YOU SAY.” THEN AND ONLY THEN DID
GABE GO BACK TO HEAVEN.
THIS GREAT GIFT GIVEN TO US THROUGH MARY CAN
ONLY BE REECEIVED, AND APPREHENDED AND ADORED
AND LOVED AND SERVED IN FAITH! I HAVE SHARED THIS
MANY TIMES BEFORE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I SHARE IT
AGAIN TONIGHT. THERE ARE 18 INCHES! 18 INCHES
BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE HEART. THEY ARE THE
MOST PROFOUND AND IMPORTANT 18 INCHES IN OUR
SPIRITUAL LIFE. FOR MARY, THE ANNOUNCEMENT MOVED
FROM HER HEAD TO HER HEART…ALL THROUGH THE
POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT.
SO IT IS, AND SO IT MUST BE FOR US TONIGHT. WE
MAKE OUR WAY TO THAT CRADLE. AND THERE WE SEE
OUR WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. WE SEE THE
ONE WHO WILL DIE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE; THE ONE WHO
IS CONDEMNED THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN; THE ONE
WHO BRINGS SOBRIETY TO THE ALCOHOLIC; WHO IN LOVE
STRAIGHTENS BRUISED REEDS AND IGNITES SMOLDERING
WICKS; WHO BRINGS RESTORATION TO OUR BROKENNESS;
WHO REDEEMS OUR LIFE FROM THE PIT AND CROWNS US
WITH LOVE AND MERCY. WE BEHOLD OUR HOPE! FOR
THIS IS THE GIFT GIVEN TO US THROUGH MARY. HE
CANNOT – WILL NOT – MUST NOT BE INTELLECTUALIZED
AWAY.
IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN TONIGHT IS JUST ANOTHER
HOLIDAY…AND ANOTHER EXCUSE TO HAVE ANOTHER
DRINK…AND TO SLEEP ANOTHER WEARY NIGHT AWAY.
YOU SEE, WHAT MARY TEACHES ME IS THIS: NOT THE
POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING, BUT THE POWER OF
IMPOSSIBILITY THINKING! FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
WITH GOD. OH, SO MUCH ABOUT GOD IS BEYOND OUR
UNDERSTANDING, BUT NOT BEYOND OUR BELIEF. HOW
PROFOUND AND IMPORTANT THOSE 18 INCHES BETWEEN
THE HEAD AND THE HEART ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE.
AMEN.