Some friends of ours have been dealing with some very difficult health issues in the family. There's something inside that groans under the weight of things that leave a person feeling lost, unsure of the days ahead, wondering where hope is to be found.
Advent reminds us that Jesus Christ came into a world of darkness and with little hope. The story of Advent began with the aged Priest Zechariah, and after his encounter with the Angel Gabriel in the Temple, he went home.
Luke 1:36-37 (NIV)
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
Luke 1:39-45 (NIV)
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Let's think about Elizabeth :
Elisabeth is somewhat quiet in the background for much of this story in Luke 1. Zechariah meets Gabriel in the temple. Then coming home, he cannot say what happened. Elisabeth has what many wives have – a non-communicating husband!
Impossible? Sorry, you can’t say God and impossible in the same sentence.
An Advent Prayer:
“Oh Lord, Christmas is coming. Lord, not just a day to open presents and be with family and friends, as wonderful these blessings are; but Lord it is a day that reminds me that you can do the impossible. You are coming Lord and I can’t wait. My heart beats with joy and beats faster knowing that expectations grow with each passing day. Elisabeth laughed…I bet she did! And Lord, I can’t help but laugh also. Lord, send me to others that need to laugh. Send me to others that need to know you are the God of impossibilities. Send me to another that I might share this joy that God is coming!” Amen.
Advent reminds us that Jesus Christ came into a world of darkness and with little hope. The story of Advent began with the aged Priest Zechariah, and after his encounter with the Angel Gabriel in the Temple, he went home.
Luke 1:23-25 (NIV)
23 When his time of service was completed, he (Zechariah) returned home.
24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
23 When his time of service was completed, he (Zechariah) returned home.
24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
Later, and we'll get to this shortly in the days ahead, the angel visits Mary, and tells her of what is to happen in bearing Jesus. But in the announcement to Mary, the angel says these words:
Luke 1:36-37 (NIV)
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
NOTHING is impossible with God.
Luke 1:39-45 (NIV)
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Let's think about Elizabeth :
Elisabeth is somewhat quiet in the background for much of this story in Luke 1. Zechariah meets Gabriel in the temple. Then coming home, he cannot say what happened. Elisabeth has what many wives have – a non-communicating husband!
Something has happened, this she knows…did he write it down for
her? We don’t know. She is wondering what to make of it all – her
husband cannot tell her.
While Zechariah does not speak, he does do what needs to be done to
get pregnant - he makes love to her. It’s
not like they’ve never done this before, but they are older, past the age of
child-bearing, and yet somehow this
time, much different than all other times, something happens. She becomes
pregnant!
You know what I imagine?
Elizabeth smiles, and then laughs.
Yes, Elisabeth laughed. Sort of
opposite of Zechariah in the temple who was serious, she laughs… “you’ve got to
be kidding me…after all these years.”
Something happen that was impossible. After so many years…years
that began with hope and expectation, but turned to loss of hope, the barrenness,
and with it shame – the impossible became real.
Here's the question: Why do we focus so much on what has NOT happened, instead of what
could still occur in our lives? Are we jaded by the unbelief? That a lot of things are outside of God, and therefore impossible? I'm afraid at times I am. The man cried out to Jesus, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!"
The Prophet Isaiah some 700 years before had written
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Here is Elizabeth. Her older
frame starts to get round and her belly sticks out. She who endured the shame
of barrenness is now proudly walking in a place of blessing. She is quietly
happy, joy-filled, and wondering…after all these years of trying, crying, and
missing…why now?
There are months of quietness for her household. Zechariah still cannot speak, and she has kept her condition a secret – why? Perhaps it appears so unreal at first, perhaps she is concerned whether she’ll carry the baby to term, perhaps it’s just her personality…we don’t know. It’s in the sixth month that her younger relative Mary shows up. Elisabeth has not communicated with family, and Mary has not communicated her news either. Mary’s journey to her is spurred on by her own news and yet both are unprepared for what is to take place. Without a word spoken, something happens…the baby within Elisabeth “leaps inside of her”. No words have been spoken, but yet volumes spill out in that second. Mary whispers the word, “Elisabeth”, and before she can respond, the baby inside of her responds for her. The baby is prophesying even in the womb. He is already doing what he was sent forth to do!
The older Elisabeth should be the one honored – she is married and has waited for this pregnancy for years. Mary is the young virgin needing to explain why she is still a virtuous woman. But it is the younger Mary that receives the blessing of Elisabeth’s Holy Spirit filled phrase: “And she cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”
Now, nothing is private. Now, more than one knows the miracles that have occurred. Now, there is a stirring in the world that will begin with the two mothers and their two babies. Think about it…the ripple of that “fruit of your womb” has not stopped since then.
The first Advent only these two women grew with fulfillment and promised hope inside…and they celebrated the announcement in private, sharing their joy with each other, and with the children in their wombs. And surrounding both of their pregnancies - among most humans that is - was the word "impossible".
There are months of quietness for her household. Zechariah still cannot speak, and she has kept her condition a secret – why? Perhaps it appears so unreal at first, perhaps she is concerned whether she’ll carry the baby to term, perhaps it’s just her personality…we don’t know. It’s in the sixth month that her younger relative Mary shows up. Elisabeth has not communicated with family, and Mary has not communicated her news either. Mary’s journey to her is spurred on by her own news and yet both are unprepared for what is to take place. Without a word spoken, something happens…the baby within Elisabeth “leaps inside of her”. No words have been spoken, but yet volumes spill out in that second. Mary whispers the word, “Elisabeth”, and before she can respond, the baby inside of her responds for her. The baby is prophesying even in the womb. He is already doing what he was sent forth to do!
The older Elisabeth should be the one honored – she is married and has waited for this pregnancy for years. Mary is the young virgin needing to explain why she is still a virtuous woman. But it is the younger Mary that receives the blessing of Elisabeth’s Holy Spirit filled phrase: “And she cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”
Now, nothing is private. Now, more than one knows the miracles that have occurred. Now, there is a stirring in the world that will begin with the two mothers and their two babies. Think about it…the ripple of that “fruit of your womb” has not stopped since then.
The first Advent only these two women grew with fulfillment and promised hope inside…and they celebrated the announcement in private, sharing their joy with each other, and with the children in their wombs. And surrounding both of their pregnancies - among most humans that is - was the word "impossible".
Impossible? Sorry, you can’t say God and impossible in the same sentence.
An Advent Prayer:
“Oh Lord, Christmas is coming. Lord, not just a day to open presents and be with family and friends, as wonderful these blessings are; but Lord it is a day that reminds me that you can do the impossible. You are coming Lord and I can’t wait. My heart beats with joy and beats faster knowing that expectations grow with each passing day. Elisabeth laughed…I bet she did! And Lord, I can’t help but laugh also. Lord, send me to others that need to laugh. Send me to others that need to know you are the God of impossibilities. Send me to another that I might share this joy that God is coming!” Amen.
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