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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Series B
Option #1:
"A Message from the Highest"
Luke 1:26-38
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, M.Div.
1) TO THE
HUMBLEST--Lk 1:48 & 52; Eph 4:2; 1 Pet 5:6
2) ABOUT THE GREAT AND HOLY ONE--Lk
3:16-17; Matt 12:40-42; Mk 5:7; John 6:68-69; Daniel 2:44ff; 7:13-14 & 27
3) WHO WILL BRING THE GREATEST
SALVATION--Lk 24:26; John 1:29; Heb 2:10, 4:15 & 8:1; 1 John 5:19 & 20
The Holman Bible Handbook comments on
the mystery of the Incarnation:
The virgin birth of Marys child
early became an important aspect of Christian doctrine because it insured that
Jesus was indeed "holy, Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Having had a human
mother, Jesus was fully human. Having had the Holy Spirit cause conception,
Jesus was fully God. Therefore Jesus could truly be the perfect intermediary
between, and representative for, God and humanity (Heb 2:17; 4:15; 7:26-28).
The bishop of Antioch, Ignatius, who
lived during the first century A.D., mentioned the virgin birth at least five
times in his eight letters that have been preserved for us. For example, to the
Smyrneans he wrote: The Lord Jesus Christ "is in truth of the family of
David according to the flesh, Gods Son by the will and power of God, truly
born of a virgin" (1.1; see also Ephesians 7.2; 18.2; 19.1; Trallians
9.1). Justin Martyr, who lived in the second century A.D., explained in his First
Apology that Jesus "was begotten by God as the Word of God in a unique
manner beyond ordinary birth" (22). "For 'behold, the Virgin shall
conceive means that the Virgin would conceive without intercourse... Gods
power...caused her to conceive while still remaining a virgin" (33). The NT
does not present the virgin birth of Jesus as some outlandish event but as
simply the fulfillment of a promise by Almighty God made to a poor but devout
Hebrew woman. Even as the shekinah glory filled the tabernacle and as an eagle
shelters its young under its wings (Exod 40:35; 19:4; Ps 91:4), Gods Spirit
"overshadowed" (episkiadzo) and filled Mary (Luke 1:35).
Regarding Luke 1:36, Richard Lenski
writes: "The angel points out the miraculous thing that has happened to
Elizabeth, that she who had been called barren had now in her old age conceived;
and though the child is yet unborn, the angel calls it a son. By
mentioning Elizabeth...the angel silently suggests to Mary the very thing that
she now undertakes, a visit to her aged relative. It is certainly thoughtful to
point Mary to this one person to whom she might freely confide her tremendous
secret." (Interpretation of the Gospel of Luke)
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Option
#2: "Gesundheit Gott!"
Luke 1:26-38
Rev. Kelly Bedard, M.Div.
Introduction: When
someone sneezes we almost without thinking say "Gesundheit!" or
"Bless you!" The word "gesundheit" literally means
"healthiness." Today's text might prompt a new coin of phrase as we
rejoice that God blesses Mary with the ultimate in health: His unmerited
favor and constant presence. So this Sunday before Christmas we rejoice with the
angel in saying in essence, "Gesundheit Gott!": "God
bless you!"--like He did Mary.
A. Afflicting the
Comfortable
1. Stunned
and humbled by God's blessing: "Lil' ole me?"
2.
Distressed by God's blessing: "I'm in trouble now!"
B. Comforting
the Afflicted
1.
Blessed: frenzied activity enhanced by quiet waiting
2.
To be a blessing: gifted with obedience to do God's will
Notes
1. chairo {khah'-ee-ro},
v28: rejoice, be glad, joy, hail, greeting, God speed, all hail, joyfully,
farewell; to rejoice, be glad; to rejoice exceedingly; to be
well, thrive; in salutations, hail!; at the beginning of letters: to
give one greeting, salute.
2. charitoo {khar-ee-to'-o},
v28: be highly favoured, make accepted; to make graceful; charming,
lovely, agreeable; to peruse with grace, compass with favour; to
honour with blessings.
3. "Good
morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be
with you." (Wesley White)
4. eulogeo {yoo-log-eh'-o},
v28: bless, praise; to praise, celebrate with praises; to
invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; to ask
God's blessing on a thing; pray God to bless it to one's use; pronounce a
consecratory blessing on; of God; to cause to prosper, to make happy,
to bestow blessings on; favoured of God, blessed.
5. Without
acknowledging that we are, in our virgin beginnings, the humble, barefooted
recipients of a grace and a call that are the foundation of all we can ever hope
to accomplish, our civilization loses all perspective and our power inevitably
corrupts us. We could do worse than to claim Mary as our patron saint, she who
was the simple and pure recipient of the grace of the Holy Spirit. (Ronald
Goetz)
6. Mary had been
chosen, "favored" by God. But what a strange blessing. It brought with
it none of the ideals or goals that so consume our daily striving. Today many
assume that those whom God favors will enjoy the things we equate with a good
life: social standing, wealth, and good health. Yet Mary, God's favored one, was
blessed with having a child out of wedlock who would later be executed as a
criminal. Acceptability, prosperity, and comfort have never been the essence of
God's blessing. The story is so familiar that we let its familiarity mask its
scandal. (Cullpepper)
7. Paraphrase of
Mary's response to the angel/God: "Let me become what you have called me to
be."
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