How I rejoice in God my Savior! - Message given 12/16/07
Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, we come into your presence this morning celebrating the third Sunday of Advent. We lit the rose candle signifying joy. Lord, in all things help us to maintain our joy. Help us to rejoice in you, to rejoice in the miracle to come, to rejoice in the miracle of the Christ child. I pray that each heart here be open to your word this morning and that my words become truly yours in spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight oh Lord our rock and our redeemer. AMEN
Have you ever gotten into some trouble for something you didn’t do? Or perhaps you’ve gotten into trouble for doing the right thing. Have you had the experience of driving safely within the speed limit when a police car comes up behind you and drive along there for a few miles? Before thirty seconds goes by I’m feeling guilty. It’s weird. I might be well within the speed limit, driving carefully with no wandering about from one side of my lane to the other. I’ve not passed someone illegally, and I didn’t’ run a stop sign. Yet I’m still feeling guilty.
There’s a saying I’ve heard quite a few times around here “No good deed goes unpunished.” Most of the time when we get in trouble, we’re reaping the just reward for our misdeeds. However, occasionally we find ourselves lined up against our friends or acquaintances for standing up for what is right in the face of popular opinion. Those folks back in the 60s who were proponents of civil rights come to mind. Many had crosses burnt in their yards. I’ve known folks who damaged their careers for standing up against injustices in their communities or employer companies.
So how must it have been in the time right before our Savior’s birth? Mary, a young teenager, is told by the angel that she would have the Holy Spirit come over her, that she would be impregnated by God himself. That must have been a little frightening to her. But what about after that? What would be the reaction of the townspeople to an unmarried girl who is in a family way; but swears she never did the deed.
How would we have reacted-I mean how would we have reacted if we didn’t already have the benefit of the Holy Bible and 2000 years of tradition telling us it was true? What if we just heard it for the first time? I suspect we’d be at least a bit incredulous. I suspect most of us wouldn’t have believed it at all. I’d have to put myself in that number.
How does Mary react? I recently watched the movie that came out last year, The Nativity. Although the Scripture is silent on many of the details depicted in the movie, it seems to offer a plausible story line. In the movie the townspeople go about whispering about Mary behind her back. Some shun her and give her the silent treatment. Some hurl insults at her. Ultimately they are so vindictive that Mary leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth almost as an escape from the cruelty. Surely, her treatment by the people gave her little comfort. And what about the enormity of carrying the Savior of the world in her womb? And then to be responsible for caring for the Messiah himself. The weight of all that would be enough to break practically any young teenager. But listen to how Mary responds in this morning’s Scripture lesson.
Luke 1:47-55 NLT
47”How I rejoice in God my Savior! 48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. 49For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. 51His mighty arm does tremendous things! 52He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54And now he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. 55For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children-to be merciful to them forever."
The Word of God, written for the people of God -- Thanks be to God
In the face of adversity, Mary is rejoicing in God her Savior. In the face of probable insults and disgrace in her situation Mary praises God that she, a lowly servant girl, is allowed to carry the Christ child. And not only that, she is already anticipating the day when countless people will call her blessed-not cursed but blessed!
Then Mary moves from being mother to be of the Messiah to prophetess. She predicts mercy for generations to come. The rich and powerful will get their comeuppance. The lowly are exalted. The hungry are satisfied. Mary has gotten past her painful situation and can see the miracle of God’s grace. God will not forget his people or her. Mary in her supreme confidence has uttered the famous words of “The Magnificat”.
How I wish I were like Mary-not pregnant, but with a soul that is totally trusting, reliant and confident in God and his miracles to come. Mary gives us an example of one who will not let adversity tear her down. She shows us how to look for the silver, no, the golden lining.
So here we are. A people who are in trouble. We’ve taken the final exam and gotten too many of the questions wrong. Instead of being shining lights of righteousness, we’re the burnt out bulbs on the Christmas tree. We’re just praying we won’t cause the whole string to go out! What we need is a Savior. We anxiously await his coming.
A few years ago I got to experience a bit of this watchful waiting. My wife Cindi went in for surgery at one of our metro hospitals. While Cindi was in surgery, I was in the waiting room with the families of others who were also going “under the knife”. Each of us were waiting, kind of watching the clock, anticipating the time when the doctor would come and tell how the patient did. While most of them hid it well, there was that undercurrent of concern. Then, after what seemed an eternity, a family’s name would be called, and the doctor would give them (usually) the good news. Their loved one was going to be OK.
But I still waited. If this wasn’t a 100-year thing, it had to be at least going on 50. I’d drunk all the coffee I could, read the paper, finished the crossword puzzle. Still I waited. Time goes so slowly when you’re waiting for something, After at least a junior assistant eternity the doctor came out and called my name. The surgery went OK. Cindi would be all right.
In Mary’s time the world was waiting for a Messiah. They were having a rough time both with their own sins and shortcomings and those of others who were oppressing them. It seemed the world was spinning out of control. The prophets had foretold a Savior; but when would he come?
In our time, 2008, the world still needs a Messiah. We’re having a rough time both with our own sins and shortcomings and, for some of us, those of others who are oppressing us and others. It seems the world is spinning out of control. Only at this time we know there definitely is a Savior who is coming and has already come.
We can rejoice, even in our adversity, because we already know that Jesus is here for us. It’s a miracle, a miracle of salvation. Rejoice in God your Savior! In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN
MAY WE PRAY? Almighty and gracious God, we thank you that you have sent us Jesus so we can live in hope for a better life than we’ve ever had before. We thank you for that precious gift, your child, our Savior. We thank you for the grace in which you bring us into a closer life with you. But we thank you even more for a Savior who still lives and the promise He gives that we will live also both now and for all eternity. In Jesus’ name AMEN.
Have you ever gotten into some trouble for something you didn’t do? Or perhaps you’ve gotten into trouble for doing the right thing. Have you had the experience of driving safely within the speed limit when a police car comes up behind you and drive along there for a few miles? Before thirty seconds goes by I’m feeling guilty. It’s weird. I might be well within the speed limit, driving carefully with no wandering about from one side of my lane to the other. I’ve not passed someone illegally, and I didn’t’ run a stop sign. Yet I’m still feeling guilty.
There’s a saying I’ve heard quite a few times around here “No good deed goes unpunished.” Most of the time when we get in trouble, we’re reaping the just reward for our misdeeds. However, occasionally we find ourselves lined up against our friends or acquaintances for standing up for what is right in the face of popular opinion. Those folks back in the 60s who were proponents of civil rights come to mind. Many had crosses burnt in their yards. I’ve known folks who damaged their careers for standing up against injustices in their communities or employer companies.
So how must it have been in the time right before our Savior’s birth? Mary, a young teenager, is told by the angel that she would have the Holy Spirit come over her, that she would be impregnated by God himself. That must have been a little frightening to her. But what about after that? What would be the reaction of the townspeople to an unmarried girl who is in a family way; but swears she never did the deed.
How would we have reacted-I mean how would we have reacted if we didn’t already have the benefit of the Holy Bible and 2000 years of tradition telling us it was true? What if we just heard it for the first time? I suspect we’d be at least a bit incredulous. I suspect most of us wouldn’t have believed it at all. I’d have to put myself in that number.
How does Mary react? I recently watched the movie that came out last year, The Nativity. Although the Scripture is silent on many of the details depicted in the movie, it seems to offer a plausible story line. In the movie the townspeople go about whispering about Mary behind her back. Some shun her and give her the silent treatment. Some hurl insults at her. Ultimately they are so vindictive that Mary leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth almost as an escape from the cruelty. Surely, her treatment by the people gave her little comfort. And what about the enormity of carrying the Savior of the world in her womb? And then to be responsible for caring for the Messiah himself. The weight of all that would be enough to break practically any young teenager. But listen to how Mary responds in this morning’s Scripture lesson.
Luke 1:47-55 NLT
47”How I rejoice in God my Savior! 48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. 49For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. 51His mighty arm does tremendous things! 52He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54And now he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. 55For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children-to be merciful to them forever."
The Word of God, written for the people of God -- Thanks be to God
In the face of adversity, Mary is rejoicing in God her Savior. In the face of probable insults and disgrace in her situation Mary praises God that she, a lowly servant girl, is allowed to carry the Christ child. And not only that, she is already anticipating the day when countless people will call her blessed-not cursed but blessed!
Then Mary moves from being mother to be of the Messiah to prophetess. She predicts mercy for generations to come. The rich and powerful will get their comeuppance. The lowly are exalted. The hungry are satisfied. Mary has gotten past her painful situation and can see the miracle of God’s grace. God will not forget his people or her. Mary in her supreme confidence has uttered the famous words of “The Magnificat”.
How I wish I were like Mary-not pregnant, but with a soul that is totally trusting, reliant and confident in God and his miracles to come. Mary gives us an example of one who will not let adversity tear her down. She shows us how to look for the silver, no, the golden lining.
So here we are. A people who are in trouble. We’ve taken the final exam and gotten too many of the questions wrong. Instead of being shining lights of righteousness, we’re the burnt out bulbs on the Christmas tree. We’re just praying we won’t cause the whole string to go out! What we need is a Savior. We anxiously await his coming.
A few years ago I got to experience a bit of this watchful waiting. My wife Cindi went in for surgery at one of our metro hospitals. While Cindi was in surgery, I was in the waiting room with the families of others who were also going “under the knife”. Each of us were waiting, kind of watching the clock, anticipating the time when the doctor would come and tell how the patient did. While most of them hid it well, there was that undercurrent of concern. Then, after what seemed an eternity, a family’s name would be called, and the doctor would give them (usually) the good news. Their loved one was going to be OK.
But I still waited. If this wasn’t a 100-year thing, it had to be at least going on 50. I’d drunk all the coffee I could, read the paper, finished the crossword puzzle. Still I waited. Time goes so slowly when you’re waiting for something, After at least a junior assistant eternity the doctor came out and called my name. The surgery went OK. Cindi would be all right.
In Mary’s time the world was waiting for a Messiah. They were having a rough time both with their own sins and shortcomings and those of others who were oppressing them. It seemed the world was spinning out of control. The prophets had foretold a Savior; but when would he come?
In our time, 2008, the world still needs a Messiah. We’re having a rough time both with our own sins and shortcomings and, for some of us, those of others who are oppressing us and others. It seems the world is spinning out of control. Only at this time we know there definitely is a Savior who is coming and has already come.
We can rejoice, even in our adversity, because we already know that Jesus is here for us. It’s a miracle, a miracle of salvation. Rejoice in God your Savior! In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN
MAY WE PRAY? Almighty and gracious God, we thank you that you have sent us Jesus so we can live in hope for a better life than we’ve ever had before. We thank you for that precious gift, your child, our Savior. We thank you for the grace in which you bring us into a closer life with you. But we thank you even more for a Savior who still lives and the promise He gives that we will live also both now and for all eternity. In Jesus’ name AMEN.