december 14 2022
2022 Mid-week Advent II, Wednesday December 14th
Old Testament: Isaiah 40:6-8 “The Word of God stands forever”
Psalm: Psalm 24:7-10 “He is the King of Glory”
Epistle: Romans 16:25-27 “Strengthen you … through the preaching of Jesus”
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56 “Blessed is she who believed”
Sermon Text: Luke 1 or Romans 16
Sermon Title: “The Visitation”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, we see the angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah to announce the birth of a son to his wife Elizabeth; a special child whom many in Israel would rejoice over, because he would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. Last Wednesday, we heard the account of the angel Gabriel’s appearance also to Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. Tonight, we heard of Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth, who also was with child, miraculously, “in her old age”. (Luke 1:36a) We do not know exactly how they were related, but Mary was quite anxious to visit with her, who also had a miraculous pregnancy.
So, “in those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah” (Luke 1:39), not in Jerusalem itself, but close enough for Zechariah to serve in the temple there. This was no short trip either, being close to 50 miles from Nazareth, so naturally Mary stayed with her for a while, about three months.
“And Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1:40), thinking to honor her, but before she can, Elizabeth bursts forth with praise for her younger relative, even humbling herself before her. Mary’s place in salvation history is front and center in all of the biblical texts as Christmas approaches.
Now, the angel had earlier told Zechariah that John would be “filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15b). “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby (John) leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit”. (Luke 1:41) Here is a clear example of a child, even a child in the womb, having true faith in God, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You see here that the work of God’s Spirit is not limited by age or by anything else. (except our unbelief/hard heart????) It also shows that our Lord values the life of the unborn that we so casually throw away in our wicked country.
Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you (Mary) among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me”. (Luke 1:42-43) Elizabeth also recognizes that the child in Mary’s womb is “her Lord” (Luke 1:43b) and she called Mary, “the mother of my Lord”. (Luke 1:43b) As we heard the Psalmist declare, “He is the King of Glory”. (Psalm 24:10b)
It was most certainly pleasing to God that Elizabeth honored Mary in this way and we too honor Mary as a great example of faith and service, just like the saints of old. However, we are not to go beyond this honor, and see her as greater than others; for she too was sinful; in need of a Savior. The child Jesus; whom she bore, was her Savior from sin, as well as ours. “So, we honor Mary and emulate her faith, even as we worship the Christ child”; “for no one comes to the Father except through Jesus”. ((John 14:6b)
Again, Elizabeth praises Mary saying, “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord”. (Luke 1:44-45) Mary also was saved by grace through faith; she believed the Lord, “and it was counted to her as righteousness”. (Romans 4:3)
She was blessed because of her faith in Christ her Lord and Elizabeth’s words must have encouraged her. One can only imagine the God centered/Christ centered conversations they had over the next few months, regarding the Word and promises of God and “together praising and glorifying God for every good thing that He has shown (revealed) to them and to others”. (CFW Walther sermon on Luke 1:39-56) Both Elizabeth and Mary trusted in the Lord, because they knew that the Lord was in fact trustworthy.
As soon as Elizabeth was done speaking, Mary opened her mouth in praise to God her Savior, saying the beautiful words of the Magnificat. Notice how she points away from herself and her low estate, to the Lord. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked upon the humble estate of His servant. For behold, now, all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation”. (Luke 1:46b-50)
“He has shown strength with His arm; and He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever”. (Luke 1:51-55) All of these things are beginning to happen because of the coming birth of this child Jesus.
“And Mary remained with her about three months (perhaps even seeing the birth of John the Baptist), and then returned to her home”. (Luke 1:56) About six months later, Jesus, “the Savior of the Nations” would be born. This is the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:11) that the angels announced to the shepherds on the day of His birth. He is the Savior of ALL nations, because all have sinned and are in need of His saving work.
Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem, where the aged Simeon praises the child Jesus and announces that His coming is for all people. “Lord, you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word. My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of ALL peoples, alight for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of Your people Israel”. (Luke 2:30-32) Christ our Lord came to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world; Jew and Gentile, Male and female, rich and poor.
God’s desire is that “all would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1st Timothy 2:4); but sadly, most will reject His gracious invitation to salvation. Simeon further prophesied; “Behold, this child will be appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed”. (Luke 2:34b-35)
As we heard on Sunday, most are offended by Jesus; even to the point of persecuting His church. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Apostle Paul declares; “As it is written, I am laying in Zion, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame”. (Romans 9:33) The Apostle Peter also, quoting the Psalms, says “they stumble because they disobey the Word … the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (1st Peter 2:8b, 7) Jesus also said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me”. (Matthew 11:6)
But Satan is quite active in our world, “exercising incredible cruelty towards … those who teach godly things … trying to suppress and distort the Gospel in countless ways … all in order to render this kind of teaching odious”. (Apology XXVIII, par. 24a) Against the devil and the world and our own sinful flesh, we must fight, lest we too become offended by the Word and message of Christ and join the world in their rebellion against God.
Our Old Testament reading reminds us how fleeting our lives are; that we are all going to die; for “all flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field … the grass withers and the flower fades”. (Isaiah 40:6b, 8a) The solution to our death is found in the incarnation; God humbling Himself by becoming man in the person of Jesus and dying to atone for all our sins and conquering death by His bodily resurrection. This is the Gospel message we proclaim from God’s Holy Scriptures; for “the Word of the Lord will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8b)
In his doxology to the Roman churches, Paul also clearly states where our spiritual strength comes from. It comes from the Word and Sacrament, where God gives His gifts of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation to His people. “Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ … and has been disclosed and through the prophetic writings (God’s Holy Word) has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God”. (Romans 16:26a)
So, like Mary and Elizabeth, we find our strength not in ourselves, not in the wisdom of this fallen world; but in the message of the cross; of Christ crucified for you and for me and for all; that we might live with Him forever. Now, “to the only wise God, be glory forevermore, through Jesus Christ (our Lord). Amen”. (Romans 16:27)
The peace of God …