St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church -- Watertown, WI
Pastor Mark Gartner
Sermon for Advent 4 -- December 24^th, 2006

Dear children of God who are preparing our hearts for the birth of our Savior.

Anyone who has ever had children knows that pregnancies change everything. Your life changes. Your family changes. Your priorities change. There just seems to be a certain buzz in the air during those months of pregnancy that is really hard to explain. You feel different and other people may act differently to you and around you. It’s amazing how this little child inside of you can cause all these changes in your life. All the planning and all the changes that have to be made to welcome the birth of this small bundle of joy.

As we gather on this last Sunday of the Advent season we see this same thing happening at the coming birth of a baby to a lady named Mary. We see that this birth is causing a buzz or stir in the air. Things are going to change and things are going to be different. It is this feeling that we want to concentrate on this morning as we use the theme:

As we follow this account we see some unusual things happening. We see a lady named Elizabeth and here husband who were going to have a baby even though physically speaking this wasn't supposed to happen to people this age. We see angels talking to people like Zechariah and telling him that his son would be the one who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah and then Zechariah not being able to speak until his son was born. We see the angel Gabriel appearing to a lowly virgin and announcing that she would be the mother of the Savior of the world. We see Mary believing these words and trusting these words.

What is one of the first things that people do when they find out they are pregnant? Most people start calling family and friends with the good news of the coming birth. Mary was the same. But she must have had some odd thoughts running through here head. Where shall I go? Whom shall I tell about this great mystery of a this miracle pregnancy? How can I explain God being born through me a lowly servant? How was she going to explain that the father was God the Holy Spirit. She went to her relatives who would believe her and understand her circumstances. She went to Zechariah and Elizabeth. It was quite journey to travel from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. I’m sure that the whole journey her heart was racing with the joy of wanting to share this wonderful joy of the coming Messiah. I’m sure that there was also some apprehension as she tried to run all these things through her head. Is this all true? Am I really the mother of God’s Son? But the Holy Spirit was with her and filled her heart with joy and peace.

As we eagerly travel to another Christmas celebration we might have some of these same thoughts. Is it really true that God’s Son was born through a virgin in a stable in the small town of Bethlehem 2000 years ago? Is it really true that this small baby was the one who would deliver us from our sins? Was this really God’s Son or was it just another great prophet that God sent into this world? And like Mary we might wonder if God’s plan really is going to work? Is God really watching over my life and my faith? Where is he when I need him most? How could he let these things happen to my family and me? Just like Mary we need to let the Holy Spirit bring us the assurance that God’s plan is always perfect.

When Mary arrived at the home of Elizabeth, I’m sure that she was welcomed. What this welcome was like we can only imagine. There was Zechariah who still couldn't speak because of his lack of trust in the words of the angel. There was Elizabeth listening as Mary explained what was going on. It is what happened as Mary came to their home that is amazing. "At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." At the news from Mary the baby who was John the Baptist leaped in the womb of Elizabeth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the baby John knew that these were the words of joy about a coming Messiah. This was more than Elizabeth feeling a small movement from the baby as the baby kicked into her ribs. This was a very clear movement from the baby that came at the very same time that this Good News was announced from Mary.

As we hear this Good News of the coming Savior’s birth we see the Holy Spirit filling our hearts with joy – a joy that moves our hearts and souls to serve our Lord and Savior. We are not in the womb anymore, but the message has the same effect on our lives. It moves us to see that the baby that would be born from Mary was the real reason for the Christmas Season. Jesus was special. Jesus was the promised Messiah that God said would come. As we sit here, I pray that these words make our hearts leap for joy at the news that Jesus has been born and that our sins are forgiven.

Sometimes people get jealous when they hear of other people getting all the attention when they are pregnant or at any other time in their lives. They may say what is the big deal or why is every one fussing over that person. Elizabeth wasn’t that way. She didn’t say that she was jealous because her son was only the forerunner of Jesus while Mary actually was carrying the Savior of the world. It was actually the exact opposite, "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" The Holy Spirit filled her with humble thanks at the news that Mary was bringing her. She felt blessed that Mary was even coming to her. Elizabeth knew what this meant. She knew that Mary had been blessed by God himself. She had found favor with God. And just as great is the fact that Mary was led by God to believe these things that God had announced to her. Mary didn’t ask questions. She trusted that God’s plan was being fulfilled through her in a way that she could never completely understand or explain.

As Mary listened to these words from Elizabeth we can see the joy that was in her heart came bubbling out of her heart. She spoke words that were placed in her mouth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her words start with her humble appreciation for God’s mercy in choosing her to be the mother of God’s Son, ^"And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name." Mary recognized this baby as her Savior. She recognized that she didn’t deserve to be in this position but that God’s mercy showered this great blessing on her. He did this wonderful blessing for her and many other blessings. Mary realized that she was a lost and condemned sinner who didn’t deserve any of God’s blessings. She also knew that the baby she was carrying was her only answer to sin, because he was her Savior. She knew that he was the one and only answer for her sinfulness.

Mary also goes on in her song of praise to tell why this baby would be great. He would be great as he showed his power and might in ruling all things. He would show his power and might as his eternal kingdom of grace spread throughout the world. His mercy and forgiveness would rule in the hearts and minds of many people and their lives would be changed forever, "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

For the next three months Mary spent time with Elizabeth and Zechariah. What a time of joy and celebration this must have been as they talked and shared with others this great and wonderful news. Mary knew and believed this message and took the time to share it with others. As we listen to this account again, I pray that our hearts are moved liked those in our text for today. As we close another Advent Season we can come with this same humility, as we come before our Lord and thank him with our words and actions just as Mary and Elizabeth did. May our hearts be moved to proclaim clearly and boldly what it means for Jesus to be born and why he came and what he accomplished for us and this sinful world. Following the sermon will have special opportunity to sing Mary’s song. May it move our hearts to praise our Savior and our King. Amen