December 9, 2018
Eveing Service

We left Mary and Joseph this morning being two of the few who knew God was on the move.  It had been revealed to them both that they were going to play major roles in the long awaited coming of the Messiah.  They still could have no idea what was going to happen, but they were in this together until the end.  Tonight we will start with Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth.  In God’s wisdom again, He made it possible for Mary to leave Nazareth for a time to be removed from the unwanted attention she would be receiving at this time.

Luke 1:39-45  Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,  (40)  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  (41)  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  (42)  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  (43)  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  (44)  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  (45)  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

            We really don’t know the time frame of Joseph’s dream, so it is likely that at this point Mary is still alone with the fact that she is carrying a child.  She probably rushed over to Elizabeth to help confirm that what she had experienced with Gabriel had really happened.  Elizabeth’s greeting must have strengthened Mary’s faith and gave her a needed friend that she could talk to about her unique situation.  Elizabeth not only confirmed what Mary knew, but then honored her as the mother of the Lord.  It also was prophesied that her child John, would be filled with the Holy Ghost even before his birth by the angel Gabriel and that came true as the baby leaped in her womb at the presence of Jesus. Her words and actions quickly affirmed all that Mary had been told.

            We all need Elizabeth’s in our lives to affirm and encourage us along our journey with Christ.  We also need to be Elizabeth’s to others cheering on our brothers and sisters as we do life together.

            Mary now sings a wonderful song that is often called the “Magnificat.”  She begins with a word of praise continues with a cause for praise and ends with the object of our praise.  She now knows God is fulfilling His promises to Abraham’s descendant through her and praises Him for it.

 

Luke 1:46-56  And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,  (47)  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  (48)  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  (49)  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.  (50)  And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.  (51)  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  (52)  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.  (53)  He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.  (54)  He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,  (55)  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."  (56)  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

            It certainly is obvious why God chose Mary for this wonderful event.  Her heart belongs to the Lord and she is overwhelmed by His goodness to her.

            The visit to Elizabeth allowed 3 months to pass without Mary having to face the scrutiny of her small town.  She must have really dreaded going back home.  We now jump forward another 6 months and we see how God again works in mysterious ways to remove Mary and Joseph from the small town gossip and to fulfill another prophecy that the child would be born in Bethlehem.

 

Luke 2:1-5  And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  (2)  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  (3)  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  (4)  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  (5)  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

            Little did Caesar Augustus know but He was being used God to fulfill prophecy.  He used him to decree a census, thus having Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem which was the city of David. The two of them had to be thinking something like “Really God, now we have to travel now at the time for the baby.”  They of course went anyway and God was with them.  We now again see the theme of humble surroundings come around again.

 

Luke 2:6-7  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  (7)  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

            The world would think that a palace is where a King’s child should be born, but God disagrees.  He instead chose the humblest of the humble as the Son of God came to earth in a stable.  Only God could write this story this way.  A stable has been glamorized by Christmas cards, because it was often caves that were dark and dirty.  It certainly was not how the Jews were expecting their Messiah to arrive on the scene.  God may have used their expectations to aid His plan to blind them to His true identity as well.

            Luke with all his writing skills seems to let us down here with a simple description of Jesus’ birth.  He continues the story for us.

 

Luke 2:8-20  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (9)  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  (10)  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  (11)  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  (12)  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."  (13)  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  (14)  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  (15)  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  (16)  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  (17)  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  (18)  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  (19)  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  (20)  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

            Our theme of God choosing the least of these to be the first to know continues.  Shepherds were on the lower end of the society scale.  They were not even given rights to vote, but God chose them to reveal that He was on the move.  Verse 10-12 are classic part of our Christmas celebration as it is how Linus explained the real meaning of Christmas to Charlie Brown.  (Read).  Can you picture their conversation after the angels had left them?  Did that just happen?  What do we do now?  Let’s go!

            Here is another round of affirmation for Mary and Joseph.  Shepherds arriving to view their Savior that was lying there in a manger.  They must have been wide eyed and wound up tight as they tried to explain to the young couple what had happened to them.  Little did they know that He was not going to deliver them from the Romans, but He was going to conquer an even greater enemy in sin and death.  “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

            As we look at how God planned this entire event in His unpredictable manner, don’t get too concerned when you don’t understand what He is doing in your life.  Trust Him to work everything out in the end and then give Him the glory for it.

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your ways are not the ways of man.  Help us to trust You even when we don’t understand what You are up to.