I grew up with a Catholic mother and a Jewish father in a highly irreligious home. Nevertheless, we really celebrated Christmas. Don’t get me wrong—we didn’t celebrate Christmas in any biblical sense. We didn’t celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ or the great promises of God fulfilled by His birth. No, we celebrated Christmas American-style: lots of decorations, lots of my mom’s Dolly Parton Christmas album, and a ton of presents.

Each Christmas morning, my sister and I would get up early and play a game we called “Who’s it for?” while our parents and older brother were still sleeping. “Who’s it for?” My sister and I would work together to sort all the presents into individual piles—one pile per family member—by asking each other who each present was for. She’d pick up a present, I’d ask, “Who’s it for?” She’d answer, “Tony,” and I’d place it in my brother’s pile. “Who’s it for?”

When it comes to Christmas, that question is one of the most important of all: “Who’s it for?” Who is Christmas for? After God converted me to faith in Jesus Christ during high school, I discovered that Christmas is more about gift-giving than I ever knew. Christmas is about the gift of a King and a Kingdom.

The angel announces the gift to Mary in Luke 1:31–33: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Christmas is about the gift of God’s Son and His Kingdom.

But the question remains: “Who’s it for?” Who are God’s Son and His Kingdom for? It’s not for everyone. Who’s it for?

When Mary sang in response to the gift of carrying God’s Son into the world, she answered that question. Luke 1:51–52 says, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; [52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.”

“Who’s it for?” The answer is the big idea of our passage this morning: The Son of God’s Kingdom is for the humble. The Son of God’s Kingdom—the true gift of Christmas—is for the humble.

Who are the humble? What does it mean to be humble? According to our passage, the humble who receive the Son of God’s Kingdom are characterized by three things:

1. Faith (1:26–38)

2. Joy (1:39–45)

3. Praise (1:46–56)

FAITH

Our passage begins with another pregnancy announcement. In last week’s passage, an angel—God’s messenger—appeared to an old priest named Zechariah and promised that his godly, aged, barren wife Elizabeth would conceive and give birth to a son who would prepare God’s people for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our passage this morning picks things up six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy and turns our attention from Elizabeth to Mary. And if you thought Elizabeth’s conception was amazing, Mary’s is truly miraculous. If you’re a student of the Bible, you’ve heard of old, barren women getting pregnant—but you’ve never heard of a virgin conceiving. To drive home and foreshadow the significance of the virginal conception of Christ, Luke calls Mary a virgin twice in verse 27 before even telling us her name. Elizabeth’s pregnancy was amazing, but Mary’s was one of a kind.

Who will this virgin’s son be? Let’s pick up the narrative in Luke 1:30–33: “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’”

Who will Mary’s child be?

First, He will be the son of a virgin, just as God promised in Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Second, Mary’s child’s name will be Jesus, which means “the Lord saves.” Mary’s child came to save the humble from their sins.

Third, we learn that Mary’s Son will be great. The angel told Zechariah that his son would be great before the Lord, but the angel simply says that Mary’s Son will be great, full stop—because He is the Lord in the flesh.

Fourth, Mary’s Son will be called the Son of the Most High, removing any doubt about Jesus Christ’s full divinity.

Finally, Mary’s Son will be an eternal King who sits on the throne of David forever. In 2 Samuel 7:12–13, God promised David, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Mary’s Son will be the Son of David and the Son of God, whose Kingdom is forever.

Understandably, unmarried Mary has a question about how she will conceive and bear a son. Luke 1:34 says, “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’”

The angel’s response is astonishing. Luke 1:35, 37: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you… For nothing will be impossible with God.”

That means Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man—truly human and truly divine.

But here’s a question: why did Mary receive an answer, while Zechariah received a rebuke? Zechariah asked, “How will I know this?” and was rebuked. Mary asked, “How will this be?” and was answered. Why the difference?

New Testament scholar David Garland notes that Zechariah’s question could be translated, “On what basis?” In other words, Zechariah demanded proof. Mary, by contrast, assumed God’s promise would happen—she simply asked how. Zechariah questioned God’s faithfulness; Mary trusted it.

That faith is on display in Luke 1:38: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” That’s the faith of the humble: I am your servant; You are my Master; and the greatest freedom is trusting Your word.

J.C. Ryle writes, “Let us be willing to go anywhere, and do anything, and be anything… so long as God’s will is clear and the path of duty is plain.”

God’s Son’s Kingdom is for the humble—and the humble are characterized by faith.

JOY

As soon as the angel departed, Mary traveled from Nazareth to Elizabeth’s home in the hill country, because Elizabeth was her cousin. What happened next is astonishing. Luke 1:41–44 tells us that Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

The word “Lord” in Luke’s birth narrative always refers to God Himself. Mary’s Son is God Almighty—yet His Kingdom is for the lowly.

Put yourself in Elizabeth’s shoes. You might expect jealousy. Elizabeth waited decades to conceive. Mary didn’t try at all—and yet Mary carries the Lord Himself. But there’s no jealousy here—only joy. Elizabeth rejoices because joy comes from being in the presence of Jesus the Messiah.

Nothing else can give lasting joy because nothing else is Messianic enough. Joy rooted in circumstances is unstable. But joy rooted in Christ is full and lasting. Jesus said, “That my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Christ is in us—therefore our joy is full. Joy is our birthright in God’s Kingdom.

That’s why the humble can rejoice in blessings given to others. As Thomas Brooks wrote, “It is enough that Christ is… He who has Him lacks nothing.”

PRAISE

After all this, Mary magnifies the Lord. Her song—the Magnificat—teaches us that praise is not a personality type; it is a response. Praise flows from grace received.

Notice the repeated word for in Luke 1:46–49. Mary praises God because of what He has done. Praise flows naturally from humility.

Second, praise grows as we immerse ourselves in Scripture. Mary’s song echoes the songs of Moses, Hannah, and David. When you lack words, borrow God’s words. Let Scripture shape your praise.

CONCLUSION

There was once a man who found treasure in a field and sold everything to buy it. God’s Son’s Kingdom is like that. Turn from everything that keeps you from it and receive it with empty hands of faith.

LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is the family meal for Christians, where we remember Christ’s death and are strengthened by His grace. If you are not yet a Christian, we love that you are here, but please do not take communion.

Scripture teaches that only those who have repented of their sins and are resting in Christ should participate (1 Corinthians 11:28–29). If you are participating, please hold the elements. The bread is in the bottom cup, the wine in the top. Gluten-free options are in the center.

If you are not participating, there is no shame. Use this time to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Let us know on your connect card so we can follow up with you.