The Joy of the Coming King

December 23, 1990

Instead of a traditional sermon with three logical points, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, I wish that I could simply show you three dramatic scenes, like the three ghosts in (Dickens') A Christmas Carol.

Let me read to you a rather extensive scripture lesson, actually, three lessons; each lesson sets the stage or describes a scene.

Scene One: [Luke 1:26-38.]
Scene Two: [Luke 1:39-55.] Finally,
Scene Three: [Philippians 4:4-9.]

Now- Try hard with me to see the three pictures which these scriptures bring to mind. The first scene has a title. It is called:

I. THE ANNUNCIATION

This is an utterly great moment in the history of all humankind. Some might dispute its factual historicity. If I thought it did not literally take place I would not be celebrating Christmas. We probably can not authentically set the scene in any photographic sense. But some of the elements described for us by the scripture are beyond doubt. I am certain we will see them clearly.

The central figure in Scene One is a beautiful young lady. Mary was a beautiful person, clothed with humility and purity. I am sure she was beautiful in every way, but the beauty I am certain of is her spiritual beauty. In appearance Mary may have been no different from many other teen age girls in Galilee. But there was a purity about her which God highly honored.

The other person in this scene is not human. Gabriel is a magnificent being. His name means "Man of God" which we could probably translate "Being of God" or "Person of God," for the scripture says Gabriel is an angel. We tend to picture angels as sort of gold-and-white winged creatures that blink on and off, in and out, half real, half imaginary. But we may be sure that Gabriel is a very, very real being. He inhabits a level of reality with which we are only marginally tangent. The sudden impact of that reality startled Mary, as it would startle any one of us. In the scene we are watching Gabriel greets Mary with great respect. He calls her "Blessed!" He is very gentle, but he is a pretty dazzling sort of presence.

Mary is greatly troubled. She cannot imagine what this might be. This is NOT a dream or a vision. It is a visitation from other dimensions of life. God is using the angel to communicate His will.

Gabriel gives Mary assurance that he is not going to hurt her. "Don't be afraid!" But then without a pause the angel goes on to say that Mary is to have a Son, she shall call Him Jesus, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever." That is almost impossible for Mary to grasp all at once. But Mary does understand: God has chosen her for a special task!

Mary's reaction is total humility. There is shock, even fear. "Why me? How can this be?" Her questions are answered, perhaps not completely, but enough that Mary knows God has really spoken. God asks Mary to be the mother of the Son of God.

Mary's deliberate and immediate reply is: "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord! Be it done to me according to Your Word!"

And the curtain comes down on the First Scene. The next picture we call

II. THE MAGNIFICAT, OR 'MARY'S SONG'

Actually, The Magnificat is the name given to the song or hymn which Luke uses to portray the expression of praise from Mary's heart as it fairly burst with love to God. How Mary came to sing that hymn is what I want us to look at again, to ponder. Simple scenes like this are all too easy for us to overlook.

Mary's hymn of joy was not glibly or superficially sung. Her submission to God's will [in the first 'picture' we saw] brought her inner peace, but also brought challenge to her faith. The angel Gabriel had told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, whom Mary knew was past normal child-rearing years, was six months pregnant. This was very significant information to Mary.

First of all, it was a help to her own faith, for it would be nothing short of a miracle if Elizabeth really were expecting a child at her advanced age. But also it became a suggestion as to where she might go in perplexity to find help and encouragement. If Elizabeth really was expecting Mary thought that she might be a help to Elizabeth. And it also just might have occurred to her that though she was SURE she had seen the angel, she wanted to see how Elizabeth looked (what SHAPE she was in!) So Mary went into the hill country to visit Elizabeth.

Scene Two begins as Mary steps inside Elizabeth's door. Immediately Mary saw that Elizabeth truly WAS expecting! It was an emotional moment! There was genuine love, and joy, and warmth. Even Elizabeth's unborn baby reacted to the Presence of God as Mary drew near. Once again Mary is called "Blessed!"

Elizabeth acknowledged the joy, and spoke these words: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." Blessed is the faith of Mary! Blessed because she dared to trust God's WORD!

THEN came the sudden warmth of heart to Mary! THEN she FELT the Divine approval! Then her soul nearly burst within her as she felt a rush of deep emotion, and she uttered the words which Luke has passed down to us as a song:

My soul exalts the Lord!

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

And the curtain comes down on Scene Two.The final picture, far removed from the other two, is nonetheless an Advent passage, too. See if you can connect it with the other two. I call this one:

III. A RHAPSODY OF JOY

We are a long, long way from Bethlehem and Galilee. The scene is ancient Rome, in a prison cell. Perhaps, actually, it is a rented house where Paul is permitted to live with a rotating guard schedule. That portion of the stage which we might outline or define with detail is vague, dark. At best, Paul's "state" as he is writing is far from ideal. He is NOT staying at the Sheraton Tara. We have to almost read between the lines to get the picture. The simple facts are there: Paul is not complaining, but if we look carefully we see [1:7] chains. We realize that Paul has had to face [1:15] envy & strife even while being imprisoned. Paul has lost everything he owned; [3:8] I have suffered the loss of all things. Paul has wept; he has [3:18] shed tears over false brethren. Paul has been neglected, for [4:10] he is now rejoicing that after a long neglect Philippians able to get a care package through. Do you get the setting?

There is not a lot of action in this scene. But Paul is writing- dictating to Timothy and Epaphroditus. And look, listen what he is writing! Paul is radiating pure JOY! He is giving off solid rays of LOVE! THE DRAMA IS THE MIRACLE OF WHAT IS BEING PRODUCED 'HERE!' Here is an epistle that we look to for resources:

REJOICE IN THE LORD! THE PEACE OF GOD WILL KEEP YOU! THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU! I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST! MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS!

It isn't that Paul doesn't feel cold or hunger or pain. He is very human, and like Mary, he craves the comfort of other people of faith. But Paul's heart, like Mary's, seeks to MAGNIFY THE LORD!

The curtain comes down on Scene Three.

What is the common thread here? What does Paul in prison, and the blessed mother of Jesus have in common? They believe God's WORD! They believe God has chosen them! And they believe that God is with them!

God breaks into human existence! THE LORD IS AT HAND! THAT is what makes Philippians a lesson for Advent. And that IS the lesson we can try to learn! We have not been chosen like Mary. She is unique. We are not chosen like Paul, thank the Lord for that! But we ARE chosen. And we CAN trust God's Word.

Look at the "summary words" that come to us from these pictures. JOY / SUBMISSION STRENGTH HOPE PEACE / FELLOWSHIP/PRAISE. And once again, the 'common thread' is Immanuel. God is With US!

Prayer: God, We thank You that "The Lord IS near!"

174 O Little Town of Bethlehem