Advent - Luke Chapter 1 verses 39 to 55.

Luke Chapter 1 verses 39 to 55.

Lets pray. Father God send your Holy Spirit upon us today that we may receive what you want to say to us. Amen.

Did you know that there are over 300 prophecies relating to Jesus in the Old Testament. We have one of them here in today’s Old Testament reading from Zechariah.

God says very clearly in this passage – “I am coming and I will live among you.” God himself, our creator, announces that he is coming to live in the world he created.

Many people wonder if there is a God. I used to. Well there is and the extraordinary thing is that 2000 years ago, as this prophecy testifies,  he came to earth as a human and lived among us.

 Of course we are in the season of Advent when as Christians we prepare for and look forward to Christmas day when we remember Jesus – God made flesh - coming into the world as a tiny baby, and we look forward to his second coming when he will appear to judge the world.

Today’s gospel reading reminds us how God came into the world and the circumstances surrounding his birth. 

He chose a young woman from Nazareth called Mary to be his mother, so let’s just remind ourselves of Mary’s story.

In the passage before today’s reading, the angel Gabriel has just told Mary that she will become pregnant with a child and give birth to a son who is to be called Jesus who will be the son of the Most High.

This is fairly mind blowing news and Mary naturally is curious to know how this will come to pass, as she is a virgin. Gabriel tells her – The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. In other words Mary’s pregnacy will be miraculous.

Some people seem to struggle with the idea of a virgin becoming pregnant but this is God we are talking about.  The bible tells us that nothing is impossible for him. The Old and new Testaments are full of stories of miracles and Jesus’ life on earth was also full of miracles.

Gabriel’s words to Mary bring another Old Testament prophecy to fulfilment.

Isaiah prophesied ; “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Immanuel means God with us.

But Mary’s wont be the only miraculous birth.

Gabriel tells her that her relative Elizabeth is also going to have a child in her old age and that she is six months pregnant.

Mary accepts everything Gabriel tells her – “I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as you have said.”

Her acceptance is remarkable and brave. To be pregnant before you were married in those days would result in public disgrace and humiliation. But Mary’s faith in God is stronger than her fear of man.

Mary then goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

We don’t know how old Elizabeth was but clearly she was well past normal child bearing age. In fact Luke tells us in his gospel that her own husband Zechariah was incredulous when Gabriel told him his wife would become pregnant and because he didn’t believe it, he was struck dumb until his son John the Baptist’s birth.

Elizabeth tells Mary that the baby she will bear is blessed and asks why she is so favoured that the mother of her Lord, in other words the mother of her God, should visit her. Furthermore she tells Mary that the baby in her own womb leapt for joy when she heard her greeting.

If Mary had any doubts about Gabriel’s words they are swept away and she overflows with a joyful song at the wonderful things God is going to do for her and through her.

It really is just as Gabriel said; she a lowly peasant girl from a small town in Israel is going to give birth to God made flesh.

This is all well and good but what has it got to do with us sitting here today. How are we affected by this?

Well I believe that as well as being born as a baby into the world through Mary, God also wants to be born in us, not physically,but spiritually.

My favourite Christmas Carol is O Little Town of Bethlehem and one of the verses says.

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born in us today

The biblical definition of a Christian is someone in whom the spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, is living.

John tells us in Chapter 14 of his gospel that Jesus said; "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My 

Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

In the same chapter, Jesus also says to his disciples shortly before his crucifixion; “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

The Christian experience throughout the centuries since Jesus’ death and resurrection is that true to his word 

Jesus does indeed come and make his home with those who will receive him.

Again as O Little Town of Bethlehem puts it;

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

God wants to come into your life. He wants His Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus to find a home in you. He wants to be with you always and as well as guiding, comforting and strengthening you in this life, He wants to take you to live with him one day in heaven.

He knows exactly what you are going through in your life at the moment. He knows your hopes and fears, your worries and concerns and He loves you. But he doesn’t want to help you from afar. He doesn’t want to leave you as an orphan in the world. He wants to come into the centre of your life and guide and help you from within.

But how can this happen.

If we look at Mary’s story we are given a few clues.

First of all Mary is humble. She says in her song of gratitude to God, “he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”

Jesus comes to those who are humble. Those who will admit their need for him. Those who will get down on their knees and say; ‘Lord my life is a mess without you. I need your help.’

God comes to those who truly want him. The proud and the self sufficient have no space for him in their hearts.

Those who say my life is fine as it is, why would I need God. He’s just a crutch for the weak.

The sad thing is that God will take such people at their word unless they change their minds and one day they will find that as well as being cut off from him in this life they are also cut off in the next.

Secondly Mary believes the message that Gabriel brings to her. She is willing to take him at his word, although until she visits Elizabeth she has no proof.

It is the same for us. We need to believe the gospel message that we hear if we are to find a relationship with Jesus.

Based on my own experience and what the bible says, I believe that God exists, his name is Jesus and that he wants to make his home with you and reveal himself to you.

No doubt others have told you the same thing. But you must make up your own mind.

Unfortunately it’s unlikely that God will send an angel to you to tell you what you ought to believe. You will therefore ultimately have to decide yourself whether the gospels and what you hear others tell you about Jesus, are true.

Of course you should exercise some discernment. My own advice is that if you hear a preacher telling you that what the gospels say isn’t true, then be very wary.

Once she’s heard and believed Gabriel’s message Mary responds with faith by going to visit Elizabeth.

And if you believe the gospel message is true, you too will need to respond to it with faith.

You will need to seek God and pray to him.

The bible tells us; Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must

believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

So Mary is humble, she believes Gabriel’s message and she responds to it in faith.

But the most important thing that Mary does is to say yes to God’s plan for her life.

“May it be to me as you have said.”

This is the final step for us also to find a relationship with Jesus.

We need to say yes to his plan for our lives and we need to give him permission to enter our lives.

We can confess our need for God, we can believe the gospel, and we can pray, but if we are unwilling to allow God into our lives, it will block us from receiving him.

Imagine your life as a garden with a fence round it. I don’t know what the garden might look like.

Perhaps there are some flowers but quite a few weeds as well. Perhaps it’s a bit of a mess with weeds everywhere. I don’t know.

Now imagine Jesus standing at the gate to your garden. He wants to help you turn it into a beautiful garden but it is up to you to open the gate and invite him in. With your co-operation, over time he will help you to get it in order. He will be very gentle and he wont touch anything without your permission.

Will you open the gate and invite him in. Will you say yes to him?

If you do, as with Mary, God’s plan and purpose for your life can start to take shape.

God created you for a reason and he has endowed you with the gifts and talents and abilities to fulfill that plan.

In the book of Jeremiah God says; I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has good plans for your life. He wants to bless you and fill you with his love. He wants you to experience peace and joy and fulfilment.

He wants to bless your friends and family and work colleagues through you. But he can only do that if like Mary you give your assent.

So another Christmas time is rolling towards us and no doubt life over the next week will be very hectic with loads of things to get done.

But this Christmas take a bit of time to reflect on your own life and where you are going.

Realise that there is a God and that 2000 years ago, He did indeed come into the world he created as a human being, as a tiny baby born in Bethlehem.

Remember that he wants to come into your life.

And if you would like him to do this follow Mary’s example.

Humble yourself before him and admit your need for him.

- Believe the gospel message. That God loves you and wants to reveal himself to you.

- Turn to him in faith and prayer and say yes to him.

- Invite him into your heart and life and embrace the plans he has for you.

If you do this, one day you will realise that it was the best decision you ever made.

May the living God bless you and your families this Christmas.

Amen.