1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Dr. Robert Jeffress
  4. Episodes
  5. Robert Jeffress - Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (Part 1)
Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (Part 1)

November 25, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (Part 1)
"Pathway to Victory" follows the remarkable story of Mary, a young girl chosen by God to bear the Savior. Amidst cultural scrutiny and doubts, Mary's unwavering faith and willingness to serve God's plan in an extraordinary way captivate audiences. As she navigates the challenges of her virgin pregnancy, encountering skepticism and divine intervention, Mary's journey unfolds with divine purpose and grace. Through her relationship with Elizabeth and the profound announcement of her holy child, Mary's narrative embodies faith, humility, and the power of God's miraculous plan for salvation.
#Revival #Heart #Heart'sDesire #Passion #Jesus #VirginBirth #Messiah #Savior #RobertJeffress

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (Part 1) | November 25, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.356
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:00.824 --> 00:00:06.396
  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
  • 00:00:06.496 --> 00:00:08.665
  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
  • 00:00:08.765 --> 00:00:11.501
  • With dr. robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:11.634 --> 00:00:12.068
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.604 --> 00:00:16.106
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.106 --> 00:00:18.441
  • One day, in the little city of nazareth, an angel appeared to
  • 00:00:18.441 --> 00:00:21.778
  • A young woman named mary.
  • 00:00:21.778 --> 00:00:24.080
  • Why would god choose such an average, ordinary girl to be
  • 00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:27.650
  • The mother of the savior?
  • 00:00:27.650 --> 00:00:29.752
  • Today we'll discover that mary was not a random choice but a
  • 00:00:29.752 --> 00:00:33.490
  • Godly teenage girl who fulfilled god's plan in a remarkable way.
  • 00:00:33.490 --> 00:00:38.728
  • My message is titled "mary, mary, quite extraordinary,"
  • 00:00:38.728 --> 00:00:43.299
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:46.736
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:46.736 --> 00:00:53.977
  • Announcer: now is the time to shine the light of the gospel
  • 00:00:53.977 --> 00:00:56.446
  • Into our homes, towns, and nation.
  • 00:00:56.446 --> 00:00:58.848
  • Through the now is the time matching challenge, your gift to
  • 00:00:58.848 --> 00:01:01.751
  • "pathway to victory" will be doubled up to $1.7 million
  • 00:01:01.751 --> 00:01:05.688
  • Through december 31.
  • 00:01:05.688 --> 00:01:07.257
  • Your gift will have twice the impact in proclaiming god's
  • 00:01:07.257 --> 00:01:10.326
  • Unchanging truth on radio, television, and online.
  • 00:01:10.326 --> 00:01:13.897
  • And when you give, we'll say thanks by sending you the brand
  • 00:01:13.897 --> 00:01:16.799
  • New 2026 pathway to victory daily devotional.
  • 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.370
  • Let's share the hope of the gospel while there's still time.
  • 00:01:20.370 --> 00:01:23.506
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:24.707 --> 00:01:31.948
  • Jeffress: throughout the history of the church,
  • 00:01:31.948 --> 00:01:33.383
  • Christians have gone to one of two extremes when it comes to
  • 00:01:33.383 --> 00:01:37.887
  • Talking about mary the mother of jesus.
  • 00:01:37.887 --> 00:01:41.724
  • There are some christians who exalt mary to a position that,
  • 00:01:41.724 --> 00:01:46.129
  • Quite frankly, is totally unbiblical.
  • 00:01:46.129 --> 00:01:50.366
  • For example, there are some who have taught, through the history
  • 00:01:50.366 --> 00:01:53.670
  • Of the church, that mary is a co-mediator, a go-between
  • 00:01:53.670 --> 00:01:59.409
  • Between god and man, and, yet we know what the word of god says.
  • 00:01:59.409 --> 00:02:05.048
  • 1 timothy 2:5, says, "for there is one mediator, there is one
  • 00:02:05.048 --> 00:02:09.852
  • Go-between, between god and man, and it is the man christ jesus."
  • 00:02:09.852 --> 00:02:16.993
  • Others have taught the immaculate conception of mary,
  • 00:02:16.993 --> 00:02:21.531
  • And when we talk about the immaculate conception, that's
  • 00:02:21.531 --> 00:02:23.766
  • Not referring to jesus.
  • 00:02:23.766 --> 00:02:25.902
  • The doctrine of the immaculate conception refers to mary, that,
  • 00:02:25.902 --> 00:02:29.806
  • Just as jesus was sinless, mary was also sinless.
  • 00:02:29.806 --> 00:02:34.944
  • But, again, there's nothing in scripture.
  • 00:02:34.944 --> 00:02:36.746
  • Mary didn't even believe that about herself.
  • 00:02:36.746 --> 00:02:39.215
  • As we'll see in a moment, she refers to god as her savior.
  • 00:02:39.215 --> 00:02:43.019
  • You don't need a savior unless you're a sinner.
  • 00:02:43.019 --> 00:02:45.922
  • Mary understood that.
  • 00:02:45.922 --> 00:02:47.557
  • Still, others talk about the perpetual virginity of mary.
  • 00:02:47.557 --> 00:02:51.961
  • It's the idea that, not only was mary a virgin when she gave
  • 00:02:51.961 --> 00:02:55.431
  • Birth to christ, but she remained a virgin
  • 00:02:55.431 --> 00:02:58.601
  • Throughout her life.
  • 00:02:58.601 --> 00:03:00.169
  • The only problem with that is, among other passages, matthew
  • 00:03:00.169 --> 00:03:04.707
  • 13:55 and 56, that tell us that jesus had brothers and sisters.
  • 00:03:04.707 --> 00:03:11.114
  • "is not this the carpenter's son?
  • 00:03:11.114 --> 00:03:13.349
  • Is not his mother called mary, and his brothers, james and
  • 00:03:13.349 --> 00:03:17.887
  • Joseph and simon and judas?
  • 00:03:17.887 --> 00:03:21.291
  • And his sisters, are they not also with us?
  • 00:03:21.291 --> 00:03:23.726
  • Where then did this man get all of these things?"
  • 00:03:23.726 --> 00:03:27.096
  • Jesus had brothers and sisters, and there's all evidence that
  • 00:03:27.096 --> 00:03:30.833
  • They came about the old-fashioned way.
  • 00:03:30.833 --> 00:03:34.270
  • Mary and joseph had children.
  • 00:03:34.270 --> 00:03:36.739
  • There is no perpetual virginity of mary.
  • 00:03:36.739 --> 00:03:39.842
  • Now, in response to this unbiblical position about mary,
  • 00:03:39.842 --> 00:03:44.547
  • Many others had gone to another extreme.
  • 00:03:44.547 --> 00:03:47.417
  • Those of us who are protestants have not wanted to lift up mary
  • 00:03:47.417 --> 00:03:52.588
  • And, therefore, put down jesus, so instead of exalting mary,
  • 00:03:52.588 --> 00:03:56.659
  • We've gone to the opposite extreme, and we've ignored mary.
  • 00:03:56.659 --> 00:04:00.530
  • I mean, think about it.
  • 00:04:00.530 --> 00:04:02.031
  • When's the last time you heard a sermon about mary the mother of
  • 00:04:02.031 --> 00:04:03.900
  • Jesus?
  • 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:05.435
  • When's the last time you read a book about mary?
  • 00:04:05.435 --> 00:04:08.471
  • Yeah, we don't talk about her much in the church.
  • 00:04:08.471 --> 00:04:10.873
  • As one person pointed out, the only time mary's ever seen or
  • 00:04:10.873 --> 00:04:13.609
  • Talked about in the church is in her cameo, once-a-year
  • 00:04:13.609 --> 00:04:16.813
  • Appearance in the christmas pageant, and even then, she
  • 00:04:16.813 --> 00:04:20.650
  • Isn't allowed to talk.
  • 00:04:20.650 --> 00:04:22.852
  • So we just don't talk about mary.
  • 00:04:22.852 --> 00:04:25.188
  • We ignore her, and that is just as much an unbiblical position.
  • 00:04:25.188 --> 00:04:30.126
  • When we come to luke's gospel, this great doctor, who's also a
  • 00:04:30.126 --> 00:04:34.630
  • Historian, gives us a proper balance in understanding mary.
  • 00:04:34.630 --> 00:04:39.702
  • He neither deifies her nor does he ignore her.
  • 00:04:39.702 --> 00:04:42.638
  • Instead, luke paints mary as somebody whose character should
  • 00:04:42.638 --> 00:04:47.410
  • Be admired and whose faith ought to be imitated, and that's what
  • 00:04:47.410 --> 00:04:52.248
  • We're going to see today as we talk about this extraordinary
  • 00:04:52.248 --> 00:04:56.319
  • Girl that god used in an extraordinary way, named mary.
  • 00:04:56.319 --> 00:05:01.157
  • Take your bibles and turn to luke chapter 1, as we continue
  • 00:05:01.157 --> 00:05:04.961
  • Our study of the gospel of luke.
  • 00:05:04.961 --> 00:05:07.296
  • Now, last time, when we were in luke, remember, gabriel
  • 00:05:07.296 --> 00:05:11.434
  • The angel came with an exciting birth announcement to an old man
  • 00:05:11.434 --> 00:05:16.606
  • And his very mature wife.
  • 00:05:16.606 --> 00:05:20.543
  • Their names, remember, zacharias and elizabeth.
  • 00:05:20.543 --> 00:05:23.913
  • Gabriel appeared to zacharias in the temple and
  • 00:05:23.913 --> 00:05:26.215
  • Said, "you and your wife are going to have a child, and this
  • 00:05:26.215 --> 00:05:30.586
  • Child is going to be the messenger who precedes
  • 00:05:30.586 --> 00:05:33.489
  • The messiah, the messenger that had been prophesied
  • 00:05:33.489 --> 00:05:36.359
  • For hundreds of years."
  • 00:05:36.359 --> 00:05:38.561
  • Now, when we come to verse 26, of luke 1, we find gabriel
  • 00:05:38.561 --> 00:05:42.131
  • Coming to earth again with another birth announcement, but
  • 00:05:42.131 --> 00:05:46.035
  • This time, he's not coming to an elderly priest who's in the
  • 00:05:46.035 --> 00:05:49.405
  • Temple burning incense on the altar.
  • 00:05:49.405 --> 00:05:52.475
  • Instead, this birth announcement is made to a starry-eyed teenage
  • 00:05:52.475 --> 00:05:56.913
  • Girl who's preparing for the most exciting event in her life.
  • 00:05:56.913 --> 00:06:02.552
  • Look at verse 26, with me: "now in the sixth month--"
  • 00:06:02.552 --> 00:06:06.389
  • We have to stop there.
  • 00:06:06.389 --> 00:06:07.890
  • What do you mean, "sixth month"?
  • 00:06:07.890 --> 00:06:09.358
  • Well, remember, this is elizabeth's story.
  • 00:06:09.358 --> 00:06:11.327
  • "elizabeth, the mother of john the baptist, it was in the sixth
  • 00:06:11.327 --> 00:06:16.332
  • Month of her pregnancy that the angel gabriel was sent from god
  • 00:06:16.332 --> 00:06:22.004
  • To a city in galilee, called nazareth."
  • 00:06:22.004 --> 00:06:28.611
  • Where does gabriel come to make this announcement?
  • 00:06:28.611 --> 00:06:30.947
  • If he were going to announce the birth of the son of god, the one
  • 00:06:30.947 --> 00:06:34.550
  • Who would be the ruler over all the world, you would think,
  • 00:06:34.550 --> 00:06:36.786
  • "well, maybe he would come to rome."
  • 00:06:36.786 --> 00:06:38.955
  • I mean, after all, rome was the center of power in the world.
  • 00:06:38.955 --> 00:06:41.657
  • He doesn't come to rome.
  • 00:06:41.657 --> 00:06:43.559
  • Or if he was comin' to make the announcement about the messiah,
  • 00:06:43.559 --> 00:06:45.761
  • The son of god prophesied in the scripture, since it's a
  • 00:06:45.761 --> 00:06:48.731
  • Religious figure, maybe he would come to the temple in jerusalem?
  • 00:06:48.731 --> 00:06:53.436
  • But he doesn't make the announcement there either.
  • 00:06:53.436 --> 00:06:55.705
  • Instead, he goes to this city--no, not city, a town
  • 00:06:55.705 --> 00:07:00.743
  • Called nazareth.
  • 00:07:00.743 --> 00:07:02.778
  • Now, remember, nazareth was 80 miles to the north of jerusalem.
  • 00:07:02.778 --> 00:07:06.282
  • It was in the northern region known as galilee.
  • 00:07:06.282 --> 00:07:10.653
  • And remember nathanael, when he heard about the lord jesus and
  • 00:07:10.653 --> 00:07:15.224
  • That he came from nazareth, said, john 1:46, "can any good
  • 00:07:15.224 --> 00:07:20.329
  • Thing come out of nazareth?"
  • 00:07:20.329 --> 00:07:22.765
  • Nazareth was a town that was absolutely despised by the
  • 00:07:22.765 --> 00:07:26.636
  • People living in the south.
  • 00:07:26.636 --> 00:07:28.671
  • Why was it despised?
  • 00:07:28.671 --> 00:07:30.406
  • Not so much because of its smallness but because of its
  • 00:07:30.406 --> 00:07:34.944
  • Corruption.
  • 00:07:34.944 --> 00:07:36.779
  • Nazareth was an outpost for roman troops.
  • 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:40.049
  • When they were changing assignments, they would spend a
  • 00:07:40.049 --> 00:07:42.919
  • Night or two in this town of nazareth, and you can imagine
  • 00:07:42.919 --> 00:07:47.590
  • What kind of town it was with these roman soldiers.
  • 00:07:47.590 --> 00:07:51.160
  • It was known for drunkenness.
  • 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:52.828
  • It was certainly known for immorality.
  • 00:07:52.828 --> 00:07:54.964
  • People would--these soldiers sleep with prostitutes
  • 00:07:54.964 --> 00:07:58.334
  • When they had a night or two off from duty.
  • 00:07:58.334 --> 00:08:01.270
  • And by the way, that is exactly why the rumor got started about
  • 00:08:01.270 --> 00:08:05.074
  • Mary, that her pregnancy was not a result of god.
  • 00:08:05.074 --> 00:08:09.145
  • It was the result of a one-night stand with a roman soldier.
  • 00:08:09.145 --> 00:08:13.549
  • In fact, they had already a name for him named panthera.
  • 00:08:13.549 --> 00:08:16.919
  • That's what the enemies of jesus said.
  • 00:08:16.919 --> 00:08:19.255
  • Mary had slept with this roman soldier named panthera.
  • 00:08:19.255 --> 00:08:23.292
  • And that's why in john 8:41, the jewish leaders
  • 00:08:23.292 --> 00:08:27.063
  • Made this attack on jesus.
  • 00:08:27.063 --> 00:08:28.931
  • They said, "well, we were not born of fornication.
  • 00:08:28.931 --> 00:08:32.435
  • We have one father, even god."
  • 00:08:32.435 --> 00:08:37.173
  • Now, it was this--to this corrupt town of nazareth that
  • 00:08:37.173 --> 00:08:40.309
  • Gabriel made his visit, and i think there's a reason the
  • 00:08:40.309 --> 00:08:44.213
  • Announcement was made there.
  • 00:08:44.213 --> 00:08:46.048
  • It was in keeping with the theme of luke.
  • 00:08:46.048 --> 00:08:47.516
  • Remember, luke 19:10, says, "for the son of man came to seek and
  • 00:08:47.516 --> 00:08:51.854
  • To save those who are lost."
  • 00:08:51.854 --> 00:08:55.157
  • Jesus's announcement was made in the middle of a moral cesspool
  • 00:08:55.157 --> 00:08:59.829
  • Because that's the kind of people jesus came to save,
  • 00:08:59.829 --> 00:09:02.331
  • Not the righteous but the unrighteous.
  • 00:09:02.331 --> 00:09:05.368
  • Look at verse 27: "gabriel came to a virgin engaged to a man
  • 00:09:05.368 --> 00:09:10.640
  • Whose name was joseph, of the descendants of david, and the
  • 00:09:10.640 --> 00:09:14.644
  • Virgin's name was mary."
  • 00:09:14.644 --> 00:09:17.647
  • Twice, we have the word "virgin" there.
  • 00:09:17.647 --> 00:09:20.883
  • The word "virgin," the greek word is "parthenos," and it
  • 00:09:20.883 --> 00:09:24.353
  • Means only one thing.
  • 00:09:24.353 --> 00:09:26.055
  • "parthenos" means "someone who has never had a sexual
  • 00:09:26.055 --> 00:09:29.725
  • Relationship before."
  • 00:09:29.725 --> 00:09:32.828
  • Gabriel appeared to this virgin named mary.
  • 00:09:32.828 --> 00:09:35.398
  • Now, when we think about mary, again, going back to our
  • 00:09:35.398 --> 00:09:37.533
  • Christmas pageant, we usually cast a young-adult woman, maybe
  • 00:09:37.533 --> 00:09:41.804
  • In her 20s or early 30s, to play the part of mary, but that's
  • 00:09:41.804 --> 00:09:45.708
  • Really wrong.
  • 00:09:45.708 --> 00:09:47.043
  • According to jewish culture, mary was probably 12
  • 00:09:47.043 --> 00:09:49.612
  • Or 13 years of age.
  • 00:09:49.612 --> 00:09:52.548
  • Joseph would've been probably 17 or 18, at this point
  • 00:09:52.548 --> 00:09:57.053
  • In their story.
  • 00:09:57.053 --> 00:09:58.688
  • And notice, also, luke says that "mary was engaged."
  • 00:09:58.688 --> 00:10:02.825
  • Now, that's the new american standard translation, "engaged."
  • 00:10:02.825 --> 00:10:07.396
  • The king james says, "she was betrothed."
  • 00:10:07.396 --> 00:10:10.800
  • Let me quickly explain to you three steps in
  • 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:13.936
  • The jewish marriage process.
  • 00:10:13.936 --> 00:10:16.372
  • There were three steps.
  • 00:10:16.372 --> 00:10:17.707
  • Jot the down.
  • 00:10:17.707 --> 00:10:19.041
  • First of all, there was the selection.
  • 00:10:19.041 --> 00:10:21.544
  • The selection.
  • 00:10:21.544 --> 00:10:22.878
  • Now, unlike today when young adults will go to internet
  • 00:10:22.878 --> 00:10:27.383
  • Dating sites to find god's chosen person for them.
  • 00:10:27.383 --> 00:10:31.520
  • That's fine.
  • 00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:32.855
  • God can use anything to accomplish his purpose.
  • 00:10:32.855 --> 00:10:35.858
  • But there were no internet dating sites back then.
  • 00:10:35.858 --> 00:10:38.828
  • And so to select a mate,
  • 00:10:38.828 --> 00:10:40.663
  • You'd rely on your parents.
  • 00:10:40.663 --> 00:10:43.199
  • Most marriages were arranged marriages.
  • 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:46.736
  • The parent picked out the mate for his or her child.
  • 00:10:46.736 --> 00:10:51.440
  • Now, i can hear all the teenagers saying together,
  • 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:54.376
  • Collectively, "yuck."
  • 00:10:54.376 --> 00:10:57.713
  • That is unthinkable today, but that's exactly the way it was
  • 00:10:57.713 --> 00:11:01.350
  • Done in the jewish culture, and when the parents of a boy would
  • 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:06.622
  • Find a girl they felt like was suitable and both sets of
  • 00:11:06.622 --> 00:11:10.159
  • Parents agree, that was the selection that was made, and
  • 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:14.430
  • When they came of age, 13, 14, 15, that led to the second step,
  • 00:11:14.430 --> 00:11:20.169
  • And that is the "betrothal period."
  • 00:11:20.169 --> 00:11:22.438
  • Now, the betrothal period probably best corresponds to
  • 00:11:22.438 --> 00:11:26.108
  • What we call engagement, but betrothal was much more serious
  • 00:11:26.108 --> 00:11:30.846
  • Than an engagement.
  • 00:11:30.846 --> 00:11:32.181
  • We don't live in the 1st century,
  • 00:11:32.181 --> 00:11:33.549
  • So it's not the same thing.
  • 00:11:33.549 --> 00:11:35.284
  • In the betrothal process, actually, commitments were made,
  • 00:11:35.284 --> 00:11:40.222
  • Vows were exchanged.
  • 00:11:40.222 --> 00:11:42.691
  • It was everything that a marriage was except there was
  • 00:11:42.691 --> 00:11:45.795
  • No sexual relationship.
  • 00:11:45.795 --> 00:11:48.397
  • It was a very serious commitment.
  • 00:11:48.397 --> 00:11:50.733
  • The final stage, after about a year, was the marriage
  • 00:11:50.733 --> 00:11:53.269
  • Ceremony itself.
  • 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:55.437
  • Now, mary and joseph were in this betrothal period, and it's
  • 00:11:55.437 --> 00:11:59.742
  • At that point that gabriel comes to mary with this
  • 00:11:59.742 --> 00:12:03.078
  • Remarkable announcement.
  • 00:12:03.078 --> 00:12:04.446
  • Look at verse 28, "and coming in, gabriel said to her, 'hail,
  • 00:12:04.446 --> 00:12:09.351
  • Favored one.
  • 00:12:09.351 --> 00:12:11.287
  • The lord is with you."
  • 00:12:11.287 --> 00:12:13.088
  • The latin translation says, "hail, one who is full of
  • 00:12:13.088 --> 00:12:16.992
  • Grace."
  • 00:12:16.992 --> 00:12:18.494
  • And that translation has led to a lot of confusion: "mary's full
  • 00:12:18.494 --> 00:12:21.564
  • Of grace.
  • 00:12:21.564 --> 00:12:23.032
  • She's running over with grace, therefore, that means she is
  • 00:12:23.032 --> 00:12:26.202
  • The dispenser of grace to other people."
  • 00:12:26.202 --> 00:12:27.803
  • No, it's simply saying, "god has had grace on you.
  • 00:12:27.803 --> 00:12:31.440
  • He has favored you.
  • 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.108
  • He has chosen you for a special purpose.
  • 00:12:33.108 --> 00:12:36.212
  • You are the recipient of god's grace."
  • 00:12:36.212 --> 00:12:38.647
  • Now, just like zacharias, mary was very troubled when she saw
  • 00:12:38.647 --> 00:12:43.552
  • This angel suddenly appear before her.
  • 00:12:43.552 --> 00:12:46.488
  • Verse 29, says that "she was greatly troubled, wondering what
  • 00:12:46.488 --> 00:12:51.227
  • Kind of announcement the angel was about to make."
  • 00:12:51.227 --> 00:12:54.029
  • Remember, just like in zacharias's case, an angel
  • 00:12:54.029 --> 00:12:57.933
  • Appearing was not usually good news.
  • 00:12:57.933 --> 00:13:00.469
  • Angels didn't come to bring good news.
  • 00:13:00.469 --> 00:13:03.105
  • They usually came to bring news of god's judgment, and so mary
  • 00:13:03.105 --> 00:13:05.374
  • Was very frightened.
  • 00:13:05.374 --> 00:13:07.209
  • She wondered what gabriel was about to say.
  • 00:13:07.209 --> 00:13:09.678
  • But notice what he said in verse 30: "you have found favor
  • 00:13:09.678 --> 00:13:13.616
  • With god.
  • 00:13:13.616 --> 00:13:15.017
  • Do not be afraid."
  • 00:13:15.017 --> 00:13:17.353
  • Now, there's no inference again.
  • 00:13:17.353 --> 00:13:19.088
  • The fact that she found favor with god, that she was sinless,
  • 00:13:19.088 --> 00:13:22.491
  • It was simply that god had chosen era for a special
  • 00:13:22.491 --> 00:13:26.262
  • Purpose.
  • 00:13:26.262 --> 00:13:28.163
  • Gabriel begins to unveil what that purpose is, beginning on
  • 00:13:28.163 --> 00:13:31.000
  • Verse 31, "and behold, you will conceive in your womb, and you
  • 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:36.805
  • Shall bear a son, and you shall call his name jesus."
  • 00:13:36.805 --> 00:13:42.578
  • The word, name "jesus," means "jehovah is salvation."
  • 00:13:42.578 --> 00:13:49.051
  • I'm sure mary wondered a lot of things at this point, but "who
  • 00:13:49.051 --> 00:13:52.588
  • Will this baby be, who i'm to call jesus?"
  • 00:13:52.588 --> 00:13:59.094
  • Well, gabriel follows with a fivefold description of this
  • 00:13:59.094 --> 00:14:02.998
  • Baby that was more exacting than any sonogram could've ever been
  • 00:14:02.998 --> 00:14:06.201
  • Because once gabriel had finished, she had no doubt who
  • 00:14:06.201 --> 00:14:10.205
  • This baby was.
  • 00:14:10.205 --> 00:14:11.740
  • Notice this fivefold description, beginning in verse
  • 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:13.809
  • 32: number one, "he will be great," gabriel said.
  • 00:14:13.809 --> 00:14:17.980
  • "your son is gonna be great."
  • 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.115
  • Now, every mother thinks her son is great, but this is gonna be
  • 00:14:20.115 --> 00:14:23.686
  • Beyond that.
  • 00:14:23.686 --> 00:14:25.621
  • There's something special about him.
  • 00:14:25.621 --> 00:14:27.523
  • Then he goes, number two, to say, "he will be the son of the
  • 00:14:27.523 --> 00:14:30.793
  • Most high."
  • 00:14:30.793 --> 00:14:32.928
  • The son of the most high.
  • 00:14:32.928 --> 00:14:34.396
  • We know who the most high is--god.
  • 00:14:34.396 --> 00:14:35.931
  • "he will be the son of the most high."
  • 00:14:35.931 --> 00:14:37.800
  • Now, in our culture, we think the son of a great person is
  • 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:41.236
  • Somewhat lesser than the person himself.
  • 00:14:41.236 --> 00:14:44.073
  • The son is lesser than the father.
  • 00:14:44.073 --> 00:14:46.175
  • Not true in jewish culture.
  • 00:14:46.175 --> 00:14:48.310
  • The son of a great man was equal to the great man himself.
  • 00:14:48.310 --> 00:14:52.448
  • This is a reference in psalm 2:7, to the messiah.
  • 00:14:52.448 --> 00:14:56.285
  • Number three, "he will have the throne of david."
  • 00:14:56.285 --> 00:15:00.222
  • This is an obvious reference to 2 samuel 7:16, in which god said
  • 00:15:00.222 --> 00:15:05.094
  • To david, "david, one of your descendants will be the messiah,
  • 00:15:05.094 --> 00:15:08.998
  • Who will sit on your throne."
  • 00:15:08.998 --> 00:15:11.133
  • Verse 33, number four, "he will rule over the house
  • 00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:14.336
  • Of jacob forever."
  • 00:15:14.336 --> 00:15:16.572
  • That's the operative word, "forever."
  • 00:15:16.572 --> 00:15:19.375
  • Israel's history was littered with kings.
  • 00:15:19.375 --> 00:15:21.810
  • Kings came, and kings went, but this king would reign forever.
  • 00:15:21.810 --> 00:15:27.049
  • And then, climactically, number five, "his kingdom
  • 00:15:27.049 --> 00:15:30.119
  • Will have no end."
  • 00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:32.921
  • This was a reference not just to the duration of his kingdom,
  • 00:15:32.921 --> 00:15:36.291
  • "forever," but to the extent of his kingdom.
  • 00:15:36.291 --> 00:15:39.061
  • "this child of yours, mary, is going to rule over the entirety
  • 00:15:39.061 --> 00:15:43.766
  • Of god's creation.
  • 00:15:43.766 --> 00:15:46.035
  • Now, that was the announcement.
  • 00:15:46.035 --> 00:15:47.770
  • Mary was getting the picture who this baby was going to be.
  • 00:15:47.770 --> 00:15:50.806
  • And so, in verse 34, she responds with a logical
  • 00:15:50.806 --> 00:15:54.276
  • Question: "and mary said to gabriel, 'how can this be,
  • 00:15:54.276 --> 00:16:00.115
  • Since i'm a virgin?'"
  • 00:16:00.115 --> 00:16:03.185
  • We almost wince when we hear that;
  • 00:16:03.185 --> 00:16:05.254
  • Oh, mary, don't ask that.
  • 00:16:05.254 --> 00:16:08.057
  • Gabriel does not like questions.
  • 00:16:08.057 --> 00:16:11.994
  • Just read up a few verses; see what he did to zacharias.
  • 00:16:11.994 --> 00:16:17.900
  • He struck him dumb, he couldn't speak for eight or nine months.
  • 00:16:17.900 --> 00:16:22.071
  • Don't do that, don't ask that.
  • 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:24.540
  • But mary's question was not asked out of unbelief.
  • 00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:27.709
  • It was a logical question.
  • 00:16:27.709 --> 00:16:29.611
  • She said, "now, gabriel, you do know i'm a virgin?
  • 00:16:29.611 --> 00:16:31.447
  • I've never had sex before.
  • 00:16:31.447 --> 00:16:32.881
  • How am i going to give birth?"
  • 00:16:32.881 --> 00:16:34.516
  • Look at how he answers in verse 35: "and the angel answered and
  • 00:16:34.516 --> 00:16:38.053
  • Said to her, 'the holy spirit will come upon you, and the
  • 00:16:38.053 --> 00:16:42.391
  • Power of the most high will overshadow you, and for that
  • 00:16:42.391 --> 00:16:46.261
  • Reason, the holy offspring shall be called the son of god."
  • 00:16:46.261 --> 00:16:52.601
  • There's no need to try to speculate how god brought about
  • 00:16:52.601 --> 00:16:56.605
  • This miracle, the virgin birth.
  • 00:16:56.605 --> 00:16:58.207
  • There's no explanation given except that god did it.
  • 00:16:58.207 --> 00:17:01.743
  • Notice the three-in-one here in verse 35: "the holy spirit
  • 00:17:01.743 --> 00:17:06.615
  • Will come upon you."
  • 00:17:06.615 --> 00:17:08.050
  • It was the holy spirit who gave life to this child.
  • 00:17:08.050 --> 00:17:11.653
  • "the power of the most high" a reference to god the father,
  • 00:17:11.653 --> 00:17:14.223
  • "will protect you.
  • 00:17:14.223 --> 00:17:15.757
  • That is, he will overshadow you, and for that reason,
  • 00:17:15.757 --> 00:17:18.760
  • The holy offspring will be called the son of god."
  • 00:17:18.760 --> 00:17:23.132
  • Why was a virgin birth necessary?
  • 00:17:23.132 --> 00:17:26.368
  • Is it really important whether or not jesus was born
  • 00:17:26.368 --> 00:17:28.871
  • Of a virgin?
  • 00:17:28.871 --> 00:17:30.205
  • Some say, "yeah, that's just a little extra mythology tacked
  • 00:17:30.205 --> 00:17:32.674
  • On to the jesus story."
  • 00:17:32.674 --> 00:17:34.510
  • No, let me show you why a virgin birth was absolutely necessary.
  • 00:17:34.510 --> 00:17:37.913
  • If somebody ever asked you, you can give them
  • 00:17:37.913 --> 00:17:39.615
  • These four reasons.
  • 00:17:39.615 --> 00:17:41.049
  • Number one, the virgin birth protects christ's deity.
  • 00:17:41.049 --> 00:17:45.721
  • Had jesus been born of a human father, if joseph had been the
  • 00:17:45.721 --> 00:17:49.224
  • Biological father of jesus, jesus would've inherited the
  • 00:17:49.224 --> 00:17:53.495
  • Curse and the corruption of adam's sin.
  • 00:17:53.495 --> 00:17:56.465
  • Remember, the sin nature and the guilt came though the father,
  • 00:17:56.465 --> 00:18:00.369
  • Roman's 5:11, "just as through one man, adam, sin entered
  • 00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:04.039
  • The world, and death spread to all men."
  • 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:06.441
  • So the virgin birth protects christ's deity.
  • 00:18:06.441 --> 00:18:09.878
  • He could not have been god had he been born of joseph.
  • 00:18:09.878 --> 00:18:14.149
  • Number two, the virgin birth preserves christ's humanity.
  • 00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:20.289
  • Some people say, "well, why did we have to go through
  • 00:18:20.289 --> 00:18:22.891
  • This whole bethlehem thing?
  • 00:18:22.891 --> 00:18:24.359
  • I mean, why not just put god on earth in the form of young adult
  • 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:28.330
  • Male, let him go to calvary, and pay for our sins,
  • 00:18:28.330 --> 00:18:30.933
  • And do it that way?"
  • 00:18:30.933 --> 00:18:32.401
  • No, had he escaped the birth process, had he not really been
  • 00:18:32.401 --> 00:18:37.806
  • Totally human as well as totally divine, then we could not have
  • 00:18:37.806 --> 00:18:41.977
  • A high priest who understood us.
  • 00:18:41.977 --> 00:18:44.413
  • You know, hebrews 4, verses 15 and 16, talkin' about jesus,
  • 00:18:44.413 --> 00:18:47.649
  • Says, "for we do not have a high priest who could not sympathize
  • 00:18:47.649 --> 00:18:52.387
  • With our weaknesses, but one who was tested in all point as were,
  • 00:18:52.387 --> 00:18:56.625
  • And, yet without sin.
  • 00:18:56.625 --> 00:18:59.461
  • "therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
  • 00:18:59.461 --> 00:19:04.666
  • Might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
  • 00:19:04.666 --> 00:19:10.005
  • The fact that jesus was born just like you and i are born, he
  • 00:19:10.005 --> 00:19:13.809
  • Lived the same kind of existence we did, means he understands
  • 00:19:13.809 --> 00:19:17.546
  • Everything you and i are going through.
  • 00:19:17.546 --> 00:19:20.115
  • There is no heartache, there is no disappointment we experience
  • 00:19:20.115 --> 00:19:24.653
  • That he has not experienced.
  • 00:19:24.653 --> 00:19:26.722
  • And his humanity is preserved through a virgin birth.
  • 00:19:26.722 --> 00:19:30.425
  • Number three, the virgin birth solves the problem
  • 00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:34.129
  • Of jeconiah's curse.
  • 00:19:34.129 --> 00:19:36.732
  • It solves the problem of jeconiah's curse.
  • 00:19:36.732 --> 00:19:39.101
  • Now, stay with me for the next three minutes.
  • 00:19:39.101 --> 00:19:41.603
  • I've talked about this before at christmastime, but i wanna be
  • 00:19:41.603 --> 00:19:44.539
  • Sure you understand this.
  • 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.775
  • Hold your place here and turn over to matthew chapter 1.
  • 00:19:46.775 --> 00:19:49.945
  • For jesus to be the messiah, he had to be a descendant of david.
  • 00:19:49.945 --> 00:19:53.882
  • 2 samuel 7:16, says, "the messiah will be a descendant of
  • 00:19:53.882 --> 00:19:57.853
  • David," and that's why matthew, which was written to the jews,
  • 00:19:57.853 --> 00:20:01.790
  • Showed that jesus was, in fact, the messiah because
  • 00:20:01.790 --> 00:20:04.826
  • He met the qualification.
  • 00:20:04.826 --> 00:20:06.428
  • He was a descendant of david.
  • 00:20:06.428 --> 00:20:08.230
  • That's why you have that long genealogy, those "begets"
  • 00:20:08.230 --> 00:20:12.067
  • That put us to sleep in our bible reading.
  • 00:20:12.067 --> 00:20:14.036
  • That's why it's in there in matthew chapter 1, to show
  • 00:20:14.036 --> 00:20:16.938
  • Jesus's connection to david.
  • 00:20:16.938 --> 00:20:18.840
  • And so, as you read through that genealogy, you find you've got
  • 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:22.110
  • David, but underneath david, before joseph and before jesus,
  • 00:20:22.110 --> 00:20:27.949
  • You find a man named jeconiah.
  • 00:20:27.949 --> 00:20:30.852
  • He was also known as jehoiachin.
  • 00:20:30.852 --> 00:20:34.222
  • He was the last king of judah before babylon.
  • 00:20:34.222 --> 00:20:39.728
  • Then nebuchadnezzar came and took israel captive
  • 00:20:39.728 --> 00:20:42.431
  • For 70 years.
  • 00:20:42.431 --> 00:20:43.865
  • He was the last king of judah.
  • 00:20:43.865 --> 00:20:46.768
  • Now, this isn't gonna cost you anything extra, but i thought
  • 00:20:46.768 --> 00:20:49.338
  • You'd be interested in this.
  • 00:20:49.338 --> 00:20:51.273
  • I was reading this week about jehoiachin.
  • 00:20:51.273 --> 00:20:54.343
  • Did you know there's not any secular reference to jehoiachin?
  • 00:20:54.343 --> 00:21:02.617
  • Jeffress: mary was willing to do whatever it cost to serve
  • 00:21:06.822 --> 00:21:09.858
  • The living god, and her passion provides a model for us all.
  • 00:21:09.858 --> 00:21:14.629
  • Well, there's something exciting happening right now
  • 00:21:14.629 --> 00:21:17.199
  • At "pathway to victory" that i wanna tell you about,
  • 00:21:17.199 --> 00:21:19.935
  • The now is the time matching challenge.
  • 00:21:19.935 --> 00:21:22.904
  • Dedicated friends have come together with $1.7 million
  • 00:21:22.904 --> 00:21:27.609
  • To establish the largest match in our ministry's history
  • 00:21:27.609 --> 00:21:31.413
  • So that your gift between now and december 31 will have
  • 00:21:31.413 --> 00:21:35.150
  • Twice the impact.
  • 00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:37.185
  • This year alone we expanded the broadcast into new territories
  • 00:21:37.185 --> 00:21:41.089
  • In places like miami, odessa, st. louis, wichita, and dallas.
  • 00:21:41.089 --> 00:21:46.361
  • Our ministry on youtube has skyrocketed
  • 00:21:46.361 --> 00:21:49.097
  • To over 250,000 new subscribers in 2025.
  • 00:21:49.097 --> 00:21:54.703
  • "camino a la victoria," the spanish edition of "pathway to
  • 00:21:54.703 --> 00:21:58.473
  • Victory," has touched the lives of over 100,000 spanish speakers
  • 00:21:58.473 --> 00:22:03.645
  • In america, mexico, cuba, and beyond.
  • 00:22:03.645 --> 00:22:06.715
  • And our broadcasts are now airing in iran, israel, russia,
  • 00:22:06.715 --> 00:22:10.719
  • Ukraine, india, canada, and many other nations as well.
  • 00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:14.956
  • With your support through this challenge, the reach of the
  • 00:22:14.956 --> 00:22:18.026
  • Gospel will truly be unprecedented in 2026.
  • 00:22:18.026 --> 00:22:22.864
  • I invite you to be a part of this exciting opportunity.
  • 00:22:22.864 --> 00:22:26.668
  • Give today, and watch your impact be doubled.
  • 00:22:26.668 --> 00:22:30.705
  • Now please stay right there.
  • 00:22:30.705 --> 00:22:32.274
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:22:32.274 --> 00:22:36.545
  • Announcer: you want to grow closer to god.
  • 00:22:36.611 --> 00:22:38.747
  • You want your faith to be vibrant and real.
  • 00:22:38.747 --> 00:22:41.550
  • What if you could live every day abiding in christ, connected to
  • 00:22:41.550 --> 00:22:45.554
  • The vine that gives you life?
  • 00:22:45.554 --> 00:22:48.123
  • Discover what it means to truly abide with the brand new 2026
  • 00:22:48.123 --> 00:22:53.094
  • Pathway to victory daily devotional.
  • 00:22:53.094 --> 00:22:55.564
  • This beautiful tan leather devotional accented with brown
  • 00:22:55.564 --> 00:22:58.800
  • And gold foil features 260 biblical insights from dr.
  • 00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:03.071
  • Robert jeffress, now with larger print for easier reading.
  • 00:23:03.071 --> 00:23:07.209
  • Jeffress: jesus said, "i am the vine.
  • 00:23:07.275 --> 00:23:09.478
  • You are the branches.
  • 00:23:09.478 --> 00:23:11.012
  • The one who remains in me and i in him bears much fruit."
  • 00:23:11.012 --> 00:23:15.450
  • Abiding means staying connected to christ through his word, and
  • 00:23:15.450 --> 00:23:19.287
  • That daily connection produces real, lasting fruit in
  • 00:23:19.287 --> 00:23:23.391
  • Your life.
  • 00:23:23.391 --> 00:23:24.759
  • Announcer: start the year understanding who god is and
  • 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:27.329
  • What he desires from you.
  • 00:23:27.329 --> 00:23:29.164
  • In spring, grow your roots and become more like christ in
  • 00:23:29.164 --> 00:23:32.634
  • Humility, obedience, and servanthood.
  • 00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:35.403
  • In summer, return to the basics of god's instruction manual
  • 00:23:35.403 --> 00:23:39.040
  • For living.
  • 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:40.408
  • And end the year strongly planted in god's truth.
  • 00:23:40.408 --> 00:23:43.745
  • When you request the devotional, your gift will be doubled in
  • 00:23:43.745 --> 00:23:46.748
  • Impact because of the now is the time matching challenge,
  • 00:23:46.748 --> 00:23:50.085
  • Equipping us to reach our nation and world with the hope of
  • 00:23:50.085 --> 00:23:53.255
  • Our savior.
  • 00:23:53.255 --> 00:23:55.357
  • Are you ready to experience a deeper walk with god in 2026?
  • 00:23:55.357 --> 00:23:59.895
  • Request the 2026 pathway to victory daily devotional today.
  • 00:23:59.895 --> 00:24:04.032
  • Jeffress: to anyone else, mary might've appeared to be
  • 00:24:08.169 --> 00:24:10.839
  • An ordinary girl, betrothed as was the custom of her day.
  • 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:15.510
  • But while she blended into the background for
  • 00:24:15.510 --> 00:24:17.746
  • Most people, god deliberately chose mary to serve his
  • 00:24:17.746 --> 00:24:21.983
  • Sovereign plan and to do so in an extraordinary way.
  • 00:24:21.983 --> 00:24:26.855
  • Our study of her story isn't finished.
  • 00:24:26.855 --> 00:24:29.257
  • God would continue to use this remarkable woman in a way
  • 00:24:29.257 --> 00:24:32.861
  • That would bring glory to god while blessing the entire world.
  • 00:24:32.861 --> 00:24:37.132
  • And next time we'll look at mary's cousin elizabeth
  • 00:24:37.132 --> 00:24:40.135
  • And her response to the surprise
  • 00:24:40.135 --> 00:24:42.070
  • Announcement of mary's pregnancy.
  • 00:24:42.070 --> 00:24:44.773
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:24:44.773 --> 00:24:47.442
  • On "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:47.442 --> 00:24:49.911
  • Jeffress: now, wait a minute.
  • 00:24:49.978 --> 00:24:51.479
  • How did elizabeth know that her cousin mary was going to be
  • 00:24:51.479 --> 00:24:54.950
  • The mother of the messiah?
  • 00:24:54.950 --> 00:24:57.852
  • All mary had said, when she came through the door, was "hello."
  • 00:24:57.852 --> 00:25:01.122
  • She was filled with the holy spirit,
  • 00:25:01.122 --> 00:25:04.292
  • Controlled by the holy spirit.
  • 00:25:04.292 --> 00:25:05.760
  • What we call "intuition" is many times the holy spirit of god.
  • 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:09.364
  • Announcer: set your dvr, and join us next time for part two
  • 00:25:09.431 --> 00:25:12.667
  • Of the message, "mary, mary, quite extraordinary,"
  • 00:25:12.667 --> 00:25:16.204
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:16.204 --> 00:25:19.007
  • Jeffress: each of us will leave a legacy.
  • 00:25:22.510 --> 00:25:25.246
  • What will your legacy be?
  • 00:25:25.246 --> 00:25:27.716
  • Your legacy giving can further
  • 00:25:27.716 --> 00:25:29.918
  • The gospel and be an example
  • 00:25:29.918 --> 00:25:31.786
  • To your children about
  • 00:25:31.786 --> 00:25:33.455
  • What matters most in life.
  • 00:25:33.455 --> 00:25:35.590
  • The world my daughters and grandchildren are growing up in
  • 00:25:35.590 --> 00:25:38.827
  • Is vastly different than the one you and i grew up in.
  • 00:25:38.827 --> 00:25:42.497
  • The gospel of jesus christ is our only answer, and naming
  • 00:25:42.497 --> 00:25:47.569
  • "pathway to victory" as a beneficiary in your will
  • 00:25:47.569 --> 00:25:51.239
  • Helps guarantee that there will be a trusted ministry
  • 00:25:51.239 --> 00:25:54.676
  • That will continue to be salt and light.
  • 00:25:54.676 --> 00:25:57.746
  • Like the ripples that emanate from a rock thrown into a pond,
  • 00:25:57.746 --> 00:26:02.050
  • Your influence for christ can keep going on and on
  • 00:26:02.050 --> 00:26:05.920
  • After you die, with a gift in your will.
  • 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:09.190
  • What will your legacy be?
  • 00:26:09.190 --> 00:26:11.793
  • "only one life, will soon be past.
  • 00:26:11.793 --> 00:26:14.963
  • Only what's done for christ will last."
  • 00:26:14.963 --> 00:26:19.000
  • Announcer: experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:21.803 --> 00:26:24.105
  • Pathway to victory family june 13-20, 2026.
  • 00:26:24.105 --> 00:26:29.077
  • Sail through the calm waters of the legendary inside passage
  • 00:26:29.077 --> 00:26:32.480
  • With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.949
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:26:34.949 --> 00:26:37.185
  • Be inspired by award-winning musician michael o'brien's
  • 00:26:37.185 --> 00:26:40.088
  • Powerful worship; share laughter with dennis swanberg,
  • 00:26:40.088 --> 00:26:43.458
  • America's minister of encouragement;
  • 00:26:43.458 --> 00:26:45.760
  • All while exploring frontier towns like juneau,
  • 00:26:45.760 --> 00:26:48.663
  • Skagway, and ketchikan.
  • 00:26:48.663 --> 00:26:50.665
  • Jeffress: there's something powerful about connecting with
  • 00:26:50.665 --> 00:26:52.934
  • God and fellow believers in the majesty
  • 00:26:52.934 --> 00:26:55.937
  • Of his untamed wilderness.
  • 00:26:55.937 --> 00:26:58.106
  • From the majestic glaciers to soaring eagles,
  • 00:26:58.106 --> 00:27:01.242
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your
  • 00:27:01.242 --> 00:27:03.845
  • Faith in powerful ways.
  • 00:27:03.845 --> 00:27:06.014
  • Announcer: join us for a spiritual journey through some
  • 00:27:06.014 --> 00:27:08.183
  • Of creation's most spectacular displays.
  • 00:27:08.183 --> 00:27:11.319
  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast.
  • 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.822
  • Secure your alaska adventure now.
  • 00:27:13.822 --> 00:27:16.091
  • Call ... or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:16.091 --> 00:27:16.091