The Long-Expected Saviour

Date: 1/2/2026

Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-33

Listen Below:

Luke 1:26-33

45:25

The Long-Expected Saviour

Jesus Christ Exceeds All Expectations

Luke 1:26–33

Here, in Luke 1, we have the revealing of the long-awaited one – the Messiah. Ever since Genesis 3:15, he is the one Eve had hoped for, the one Abraham longed to see (John 8:56), the one David pointed towards (2 Samuel 7:12–14), the one Isaiah prophesied of (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7), and the one the prophets wrote about with wonder (1 Peter 1:10–12). Angels themselves longed to look into these things. This one, the angel Gabriel prophesies to Mary, was imminently to be born.

But how would he shape up? History teaches us that great expectations can sometimes lead to great disappointment. Will this Messiah disappoint, or will he meet – and exceed – every possible righteous expectation?

As we look at Luke 1:26–28, we see how carefully God prepares us. The angel Gabriel is sent by God on a vital mission, to Galilee – a place long associated with promised light and glory (Isaiah 9:1–2). He is sent to a virgin, recalling Isaiah 7:14, and to one connected to the house of David, fulfilling Isaiah 11:1. Expectation is building.

Mary is understandably troubled (Luke 1:29). When angels appear, people are overwhelmed by their own unworthiness and wonder why they are being visited. Yet she is reassured: she is favoured by God (Luke 1:30). And through her, God will do something utterly unique.

In the following verses – Luke 1:31–33 – we have a description of what this Messiah will be like. Let us delve into this description.

1. Great

The Messiah will be great (Luke 1:32). Not merely good, but the greatest. He will be the perfect man – sinless, pure, delighting fully in God as humanity was meant to (Isaiah 11:5). He will be the greatest teacher, speaking with divine authority (Matthew 7:28–29). Compared to him, all human greatness fades. He is glorious, wonderful, powerful, perfect. If you are searching for someone truly great to follow, Jesus Christ is that one.

2. The Son of the Most High

This Messiah is no ordinary saviour. He is the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32) – truly God, equal with the Father. Jesus Christ, born to Mary, is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:3). In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:15, 19). No wonder the Lord Jesus Christ exceeds all expectations. He is worthy of worship, adoration, and wholehearted devotion.

3. He Will Sit on David’s Throne

Jesus is the promised King who sits on David’s throne forever (Luke 1:32–33; 2 Samuel 7:13–14). His kingdom is marked by justice, truth, victory, and peace (Isaiah 9:7). But his victory goes far deeper than political triumph. He brings victory over sin (Romans 6:12–14) and peace with God. Through his death and resurrection, he rules in our hearts and promises eternal peace that no earthly king could ever offer.

4. He Shall Reign Over the House of Jacob

Jesus is also the head of God’s family (Luke 1:33). He saves his people from their sins, cleansing them through his sacrifice (Romans 11:26–27). By his Spirit, he reigns in our hearts, steadily banishing ungodliness and shaping us into his likeness (Micah 5:11ff). Through him, we are welcomed into the family of God.

5. Saviour

Jesus is called Saviour because that is what he came to be. He saves completely – to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). He saves from sin, death, and judgment, offering eternal life and unshakeable peace. God did not send someone else to do this work; he came himself.

For all people alive today, in Charlesworth, Glossop, and further afield, this message remains wonderfully relevant. This long-awaited Messiah has come. He has met every righteous hope and exceeded every expectation. And for all eternity, the confession of his people, saved by grace through faith, will be the same:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 5:12)