To Face Unafraid The Plans That He’s Made (Luke 1:26-38)

What are your Christmas plans? I’m sure someone has asked you and you’ve asked someone that question. Christmastime has a high concentration of plans. Where are we going to go? What will we buy? Which events will we attend? What side dish are we bringing to Aunt Blanche’s house?

Christmas travel plans require US airlines to add an additional 72,000 seats on their flights every day between December 19 and January 5.^[1]

But some people take Christmas plans to the next level. Consider Delaware native Rich Faucher. In the late 80’s, he and his wife Linda piled into the car with their infant daughter to drive around and look at Christmas lights.^[2] But, they simply couldn’t find any. And so, Rich made a plan. They would cover every square inch of their house with 1,000,000 Christmas lights every year. And they have! The job takes over a month to complete,^[3] but year after year the Faucher Family Christmas House ranks as one of the best light displays in the nation.

We’ve been taking a look at some of the angel visits surrounding the birth of Jesus. Every time they come, they come plans have to change. Sometimes it’s a short-term change – “You shepherds should go check out a Baby in a manger tonight.” Sometimes it’s a total life change. That’s what happens today, when Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, who explains that any and all plans she may have had for her life going forward were about to dramatically change.

At the same time, Gabriel reveals something amazing about God’s plans. Plans He had been dedicated to and accomplishing for thousands of years. Plans He continues this very day as He faithfully carries out His intention to Light up the world with the Good News of the Gospel.

Luke 1:26-27 – ²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

We’ve talked about Mary and Joseph’s betrothal before. Mary was probably around 14 years old.^[4] She lived in a tiny town, in a not-very-respectable place. From the world’s perspective, she was not important, not interesting, not significant.

But here she is, a young lady in love with a young man. And though we don’t know the specifics, we know that they had made plans together. To make a family. To start a life together. But one day everything changes. This angel named Gabriel shows up with a message.

There are only two good angels named in the Bible. One is Michael, who is called an archangel. We see him in Daniel and in Revelation doing battle against the powers of darkness. He commands other angels when war breaks out in heaven.^[5] And then there’s Gabriel. He is seen bringing messages to Mary, to Daniel, and to Zechariah. But don’t think of him as just a courier. He identifies himself as one “who stands in the presence of God.”^[6] His name can be translated as, “God’s strong man.”^[7] And here he was, having a one-on-one with a young Jewish girl.

Luke 1:28-29 – ²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

Mary was made of some tough stuff. She wasn’t afraid of him because he was an angel. She was deeply troubled because of what he said. She thought, “What kind of greeting is this?”

Did you know Gen Z is changing the etiquette of telephone greetings? According to some research, many young people today think that when you call someone, it is the caller’s responsibility to say ‘Hello’ first, not the person being called.^[8]

Mary was upset and puzzled by what the angel said.^[9] “What do you mean I’m favored? What do you mean the Lord is with me? What could God have to do with my little life?” Maybe you feel that way this morning. But the Scripture shows many times over that God can and does use people of every age and stage, every background and circumstance, for His purposes. He loves to do it. Fishermen and kings and shepherds and academics and slaves and priests and soldiers and prisoners of war.

We get why Mary was puzzled, but why would she be upset by this greeting? One scholar wrote, “perhaps she had the innate wisdom to comprehend…that those highly favored by God do not have a life of unbroken happiness.”^[10]

That’s true. God’s plans for Mary’s life were marvelous, wonderful, history-changing, but they came with a cost. Because the good work of God is always opposed by the spiteful challenges of the enemy. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen the kind of dangers and difficulties Mary and Joseph were up against as God accomplished His work through their family.

But even though there would be difficulty, there was good news: She could be full of joy because God was with her. The word used for “greetings” means “be full of joy,” or “continue to rejoice.”^[11]

God was not only with her, He knew her and He loved her. God is omnipresent. But understand that He has individual care, concern, and affection for you. And it’s not that it’s just a wish that we hope He will be with us. He IS with us. That’s what Gabriel told her. And that’s what the Lord tells us. “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”^[12] It’s not just that God is around, He wants to indwell you.

God was doing a specific work in Mary’s life – a special thing that no one else in human history would experience. But that doesn’t mean that God feels differently about you. Because Paul says the same grace that was given to Mary has been lavished on us by God when we walk with Him.^[13]

Matthew 1:30-33 – ³⁰ Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

God was making big plans for our world. Plans that would change everything forever. The Faucher Family Christmas House lights up their one neighborhood for one month of the year. Jesus is the Light of the world and His illumination never ends. The darkness cannot overcome it.^[14] One day, Christ Jesus will return and establish a literal Kingdom on a throne in Jerusalem, and His glorious reign will never end. He will rule in justice and righteousness and wisdom.^[15]

What would you do if you were king or queen for a day? We have ideas, right? “If I were president, there’d be no more pineapple on pizza.” We’d solve a bunch of problems for about 2 hours and then we’d be violently overthrown.

There are so many competing visions of how the world should be. People fight for this political party or another one, this form of government or another one, this style of society or another one. And yet, with all the variations and all the attempts and all the struggle, have you noticed there is no lasting peace anywhere? Not true peace. Not in the East, not in the West, not in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. Where nations aren’t at war, neighborhoods are.

Do you like to clean up other people’s messes? Do you like doing your coworkers’ jobs for them? God loves us so much He isn’t going to come solve all the mess we’ve made. He’s going to cover the world in His righteousness, wipe away every tear from our eyes. The King will return and fix everything with His power and His grace and His goodness. And oh how this world needs it.

But only Christ can do it. He alone is the great, Most High, Son of David Who can do what is necessary to save not just us individually, but save the whole world. But to do this work, God Himself would have to put on flesh and dwell among us. Fully God and fully man. And for that, He would need a human mother to deliver Him into the world.

Matthew 1:34 – ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

This isn’t a statement of disbelief, it’s a legitimate question of how such a work could be accomplished. When Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and said, “Hey your wife is gonna get pregnant,” Zechariah essentially said, “Yeah, that can’t happen.” And so Gabriel said, “Here’s how I’ll prove it – you’re going to be mute for nine months.”

Mary is asking for guidance. Have you ever been given a job you don’t know how to do? Ask questions. As Christians who want to be doing God’s work, ask for wisdom. “Lord, what’s the plan?”

Matthew 1:35-37 – ³⁵ The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Gabriel isn’t terrible specific, but that’s ok. The important point is that this was not like what the ancients used to teach about demigods like Hercules or Achilles. This was a miracle accomplished through God’s holiness and His presence.^[16] God was sending His Son, not creating His Son. Jesus was not created when He was born. He is the Second Person of the Trinity. He is God. He is eternal.

John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

To help strengthen Mary’s faith, Gabriel pointed out the miracle of her relative Elizabeth who was about to give birth in her old age.

God plans to do wonderful work in the world. He plans to save, to restore, to transform, to rescue. And part of that plan is to use your life as a testimony of Who He is and what He can do. Gabriel said, “Look at Elizabeth and you’ll see that nothing will be impossible with God.”

This is the same thing God wants to do in small or great ways through your life. He’s making plans for it. That your life would become more and more adorned with the light of the Gospel, drawing the people around you to stop and see the glory of God, the goodness of God, the reality of God.

Now notice, as Gabriel revealed all this to Mary, she doesn’t respond with, “Ok, well what about me? There’s a lot of talk about Jesus and about what He’ll do, but how does that make my life better?” Mary doesn’t say that at all. Here’s what she says:

Matthew 1:38 – ³⁸ “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

She agreed. She signed on the dotted line. She presented herself to God as a trusting servant. But understand, that means that any plans she had for her life were now submitted under the will of God. She was willing to be redirected because she trusted Him. She believed that a life submitted to God’s plans was infinitely better than a life directed by only her own plans and desires. We’ve seen Joseph looked at things the same way. That, when the moment came, they said, “Yes, Lord. Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Mary says, “May it happen as you have said.” This is truly one of the most courageous statements ever recorded.^[17] Technically, she could face the death penalty for being pregnant before her wedding. She would certainly face lies and smears and sideways looks the rest of her life. She would have to watch her son be mistreated, attacked, misunderstood, beaten, and crucified.

But she saw beyond the temporal to the eternal. That she was being invited into the work of God. That she had a part to play in His wonderful plans. That the God of the universe had come to her and said, “Would you join Me in this?” And even though it wouldn’t be easy, she said, “Yes. This sounds like a great plan!”

The Faucher Family Christmas House brought joy to their neighborhood with their shining lights year after year. But over time, they decided they wanted their Christmas plans to reach further. They have since used their light display to raise funds for children’s charities like the Ronald McDonald house.^[18] Their annual Christmas plans bring a lot of joy and wonder and real help to people. But it also comes at a personal cost. Though the Fauchers haven’t said how much, some experts estimate their monthly energy bill could be in the $80,000 range.

God is a planner. His plan is to save this world. To transform lives. To glorify Himself through the power of His grace and truth and victory. And though I’m sure you’ve heard it many times, He really does have a plan for your life. In that same passage where Paul says God’s grace has been lavished on us – that we are people who like Mary, have found grace in the eyes of the Lord, Paul also explains that God has made wonderful plans for your life – custom made – before the foundation of the world to be holy, to be blameless, to be adopted into His family, to be forgiven to bless us with every spiritual blessing. It is His plan to bring everything together in Christ. The Gift of God sent at Christmas for you, for me, for your family, your neighbors, your friends, and enemies. The Savior, Christ the Lord. And now, not only at Christmas, we can remember we have a place in His work. And, like Mary, we can face unafraid the plans that He’s made.

The Sights Before Christmas (Luke 2:1-20)

Can you win a game of chess if you only have a few pawns with your king? Your coach will tell you no^[1] – that those pawns need to be promoted into more powerful pieces. Even with support from the rest of the chessmen, the odds of a pawn checkmating an enemy king are one in a thousand.^[2]

When Jesus came on that first Christmas, He came as God’s Indescribable Gift to us. But it was also a significant move in His plan to checkmate Satan, sin, and death. Of course, God isn’t playing games with humanity. He is waging war and rescuing us from our captors. But, through the centuries, as He moved in conquest, the devil made counter moves in his effort to defeat the Lord.

Perhaps Satan thought he had God on the ropes. It didn’t seem like the Lord had made much progress for several hundred years. God’s people were subjected under Satan’s puppet king. And, looking at the board, when the Messiah arrived, He was surrounded not by knights, but by pawns.

When we read Biblical accounts of Christ’s birth, a consistent theme is how amazed and astonished the people in these scenes were. And we should be astonished, too. Solomon tells us that, “God works so that people will be in awe of him.”^[3] So, let’s look at Luke’s telling on Christ’s birth and allow our hearts to be filled with awe at the wonderful, generous power of God.

Luke 2:1-3 – In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. ² This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

Luke sets the scene by first showing us the power of Rome. We’re meant to see a contrast between earth’s king and Heaven’s King – between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of light.

Augustus, also called Octavian, was the first Roman Emperor.^[4] He expanded his territory through bloody conquest. Now, he was reorganizing how the empire would be administered.^[5] He would need more soldiers and he would especially need more taxes to fund his dominion. And so, he called for this census so he could tax and, in some cases, conscript fighters accordingly.^[6]

Luke 2:4-5 – ⁴ Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ⁵ to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 90 miles.^[7] Like walking from here to the far side of Bakersfield. The likely route Mary and Joseph took would be difficult and dangerous. Descending down toward the Dead Sea and then a constant ascent up into the Jerusalem hills.

Now a lot of the details we traditionally associate with this story are not actually given in the Gospels. Hopefully it’s not too upsetting to hear that there’s no sign of a donkey on this trip. Maybe they haven’t one, maybe they didn’t. We tend to put that in because we don’t like to think of poor Mary walking all that way while great with Child. But, there’s nothing in the text about the trip itself.

Nor can we be sure she was 9 months pregnant at the time they traveled.^[8] That’s usually the image, right? As the donkey makes its last steps into Bethlehem, her contractions start. It makes for great drama, and it may have happened that way, but we have to read that into the text.

Joseph and Mary weren’t stupid, and in Matthew we see they stayed for an extended period of time in Bethlehem. Perhaps it was less last-minute and less haphazard than the movies suggest.

The important thing is not the timing of their arrival, but the fact that they did arrive. You see, the Messiah had to be born in the city of David. Luke keeps bringing up David. Why?

It’s because God made eternal promises to and through David. The King of kings, the Savior of the world, the One Who would make everything right would be a descendant of David. Along with that promise, God made many other promises concerning this Son of David. And God is never slack concerning His promises. He keeps them to the letter, even in the smallest details.

Now, it’s surprising that Mary came along on this trip.^[9]

Perhaps her pregnancy caused so much social friction in Nazareth that it was best for her to go with Joseph. Or perhaps it was because the Syrian province (which included Judea) taxed men and women.^[10]

Luke 2:6-7 – ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

It doesn’t say the contractions started the moment they arrived. They may have already been there for weeks. Luke also does not indicate that Mary and Joseph were rudely rejected by all the innkeepers of Bethlehem.^[11] For one thing, Bethlehem was probably too small to actually have a commercial inn.^[12] And the word Luke uses for inn doesn’t mean a hotel. In fact, it’s the same word he later uses for the “upper room” that Jesus and His disciples use for the last supper.^[13]

The term means a guest room. This was likely the home of their extended family. Lots of people were there for the census. The house was packed. Let me ask you moms this: If you were about to give birth, do you want 8, 10, 20 people in the room with you? Or would you like some privacy?

Here’s a question I hadn’t thought about before: Who was in the stable that night? Again, we have this idea that it was just Mary and Joseph, maybe a few sheep and cows, right? It’s likely that a midwife was there with them assisting, especially considering this was Mary’s first delivery.^[14]

The point Luke is making in this account is less about that night being scandalous or embarrassing. His point is to show us what kind of King Jesus was, right from the start.

What kind of King leaves His throne? What sort of Kingdom would He establish? Luke’s wants to highlight the humble and lowly nature of the Lord Jesus. This was a King Who came to serve. This was a King Who did not demand a palace. This was a King Who paid everything that was necessary on behalf of His people.

Compare Him with Caesar, who was driving his people from here to there so he could extract from them to fuel his greed. But not Jesus. He came to be with us. Whether that was in a stable or in a fishing boat or by a well or in your living room. That’s why He came – to be Emmanuel.

Luke also wants us to realize that Jesus was a real human Baby. He was, of course, fully God, but it’s just as essential that He be fully Man. In the first few centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection, heresies arose which taught that Jesus was not, in fact, actually human. That He only seemed to be human.^[15] But He really was fully God and fully Man. He was swaddled up like any other baby.

Luke 2:8-9 – ⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Why did the new come first to shepherds? The angels could have appeared to Herod, or Augustus himself. Maybe the high priest or the Essenes out in the desert. How about the zealots? If God wanted to make a move to establish a Kingdom, some soldiers would be helpful, right?

Instead, shepherds. Pawns. Shepherds were generally seen as outcasts – undesirable, unclean.^[16] But we remember the connection to David. David, who was anointed while tending sheep and told by God that he would shepherd Israel.^[17]

It is a foreshadow of how Christ would be the Good Shepherd, Who lays down His life for His sheep.^[18] How, laying down His life, He was the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.^[19]

God wanted it to be very clear Who Jesus was and what He would do. You see, these shepherds between Bethlehem and Jerusalem were likely watching over the temple flocks – the sheep destined to be sacrifices on the altar of Israel.^[20] God was explaining the Gift He was giving us.

Luke 2:10-14 – ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹ Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:  ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

This is amazing not only because it was a miraculous visitation by supernatural beings, but because their statements are a direct refutation of the worldly king who thought he was in charge.

When Octavian became emperor, he was given the name “Augustus,” which means, “exalted one,”^[21] or “holy and revered.”^[22] He was worshiped by the Imperial cult,^[23] and Roman inscriptions called him the “savior of the world.”^[24]

But here are the angels saying, “No, no, the Savior of the world, the Messiah, the real Lord has just been born in Bethlehem.” And this Messiah will usher in real peace.

You see, Augustus established the Pax Romana. After decades of civil war, he brought stability to the empire.^[25] But it was at the edge of a blood-soaked sword. It was a dark peace.

But into that dark, the light of heaven suddenly broke through with an offer of real peace. Not one enforced by violence, but one offered in grace. Not one that lasts for 250 years, but one that lasts forever.

But who gets to enjoy this peace? Well, the angels give two qualifiers. The first is hidden in the english. Where it says news of great joy that will be for “all the people,” scholars explain it is a specific reference to those who belong to God.^[26]

Who belongs to God? Well, that’s in the second qualifier: the people on whom His favor rests. Those who have willingly received His gift of grace. Those saved by grace, through faith in this Messiah, Christ Jesus. But for those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior, there is no peace.

The angels told the shepherds how to find the newborn King. The question is: Would they go to Him? Well, of course they would, right? But remember what happened when the scribes and priests were told the King was born in Matthew 2? They stayed home. They were uninterested.

God’s gift has been arrived. Maybe you’ve never believed Jesus is Who the Bible says He is. But He is the Savior and Messiah. He is the only One Who can rescue you from the guilt of your sin and the grave. Are you willing to believe? You can receive this gift today and you don’t have to be afraid.

That was what the angel said to the shepherds. They were terrified, but they didn’t have to be afraid. Neither do you. Now, we do need to be confronted and redirected and converted, but not afraid. Because our Savior is a King of love. Pleased as Man with men to dwell.

Luke 2:15-16 – ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.

The angels returned to heaven. Do you think they were disappointed? Wouldn’t it have been great if they went through the streets of Bethlehem? Or flown right into the palace of Jerusalem or Rome? But this was not about God’s gift to angels. It was about His love for humankind. And though they be weak as pawns, it was shepherds and carpenters that the Lord wanted to spend that first Christmas with.

For their part, the shepherds had immediate belief. A faith that moved. They left their sheep and supplies behind, not waiting for someone else to cover them. This was too important, too amazing.

Luke 2:17-18 –  ¹⁷ After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

This is another subtle hint that Mary and Joseph weren’t absolutely alone in the stable. The shepherds come, see Jesus and His parents, then tell their story and “all who heard it” were amazed. Someone else was there.

They were all amazed at what had happened. But this was just the beginning of what Jesus was willing to do for us. He is the most generous, most caring Person to ever exist. Consider what He deserves – the praise and the pomp and the pageantry and everything else. But He set it all aside and offered Himself so you can be saved. So you can receive His everlasting life. So that He can love you and walk with you and share His inheritance with you. He is a Savior born for you (v11).

Luke 2:19 – ¹⁹ But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.

Perhaps Mary had been wondering why this Child of promise had such a lowly entrance into the world. Had God forgotten them? Did He forget to provide them what they needed? What about in the days to come? Would He be faithful? But as Jesus lay in a manger, the Lord sends Mary and Joseph a powerful testimony of His care and faithfulness. He proved His goodness and ability to Mary and Joseph that night.

Luke 2:20 – ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

It says they “returned.” They went back to their regular lives, but they were transformed. Now, they weren’t just watching sheep, they were simultaneously doing the heavenly work the angels did before – praising God and preaching the Good News. And, as they lived their regular lives, they waited for the next part of the story to unfold. How long would it take? When would the next part unfold? They didn’t know. But that didn’t matter, because they knew the Savior Himself. They had opened the gift and their lives would never be the same.

Christ came to save you. Have you received that gift?

If you have, this story then reminds us that Christ came to dwell with you, walk with you, live with you in whatever life He’s given you. And as we live our lives, we’re commissioned to be a part of His ongoing work of love, power, and grace. Lives that praise and glorify God as we share the Good News that the Savior was born for us, the Messiah, the Lord.

We may feel insignificant, like pawns without much power, but God has decided to bless us and use us and fill our lives with His Presence. So, celebrate His victory and generosity and affection as we remember Him this week, thanking and praising God for His Indescribable Gift.

There Was An Old Woman Who Lived To Serve Jews (Luke 2:36-38)

They are called the 400 silent years.

It is the time between the Old Testament and New Testament, during which no inspired Scripture was written.

It would be wrong, however, to say that God did not speak. He certainly spoke to Anna as a “prophetess.” She may have been over 100yrs old. That cuts deep into the 400 so-called silent years.

God speaks. He’s a talker, with lots to say. He reveals Himself to us so that we can know Him.

He speaks to everyone through the wonders of the created universe. You could call it, “Creation Evangelism” or, “The First Testament.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). Design demands a designer; creation, a Creator. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.”

God reveals Himself to each person through his or her conscience. Everyone has a conscience. Our conscience gives us an awareness of what is right and what and wrong. Don Stewart writes, “Humanity knows intuitively the difference between good and evil, right and wrong. Furthermore, they know from their conscience that they will ultimately be held responsible for their behavior.” Another commentator said, “Conscience is the voice of God in the soul.”

God speaks to you from the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified. If you listen, you hear, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Most of you recall Verizon’s “Can you hear me now?” ad campaign. No matter where the tech was, you could hear him on Verizon’s superior network.
It’s Christmas and God has brought you here so He can chat you up. If you are not a Christian, then His Creation… Your conscience… & The Cross where He took your place in death that you might live…

They are the very voice of God drawing you to Himself.

Only a fool says “there is no God” as you experience and explore the wonderful world He has created.
In your conscience, you know that you are a sinner.
With your attention drawn to the Cross, God’s Spirit provides the ability for you to repent and believe.

Since you know He is speaking…“Can you hear Him now?”

We will spend the next few minutes with Anna. We’ll see her living in the Temple, always ready to serve her fellow Jews.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

We start asking kids this question when they’re in elementary school.

A poll revealed that the #1 career among children is Professional Athlete. Rounding out the top ten: Doctor, Don’t Know, Teacher, Veterinarian, Firefighter, Scientist, Astronaut, Engineer, and Law Enforcement.

I couldn’t find, ‘Widow who lives in the Temple serving God with fasting and prayers.’ Most likely, Anna didn’t aspire to the career that would occupy the majority of her very long life. Nevertheless, that was her calling and she went about it as a gift from the Lord.

Some of us are in our dream job. One or more of you might go as far as saying you hate your job. You might have upward mobility. Perhaps you are stuck, can’t start over. The possibilities are many.

Anna didn’t choose the course of her life, but no matter the twists and turns, she walked her course to please God.

Luk 2:36  Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

Asher was one of Jacob’s sons. He was the progenitor of one of the tribes of Israel. When you search the Bible for him, you find his greatest achievements stated in the form of prophecies: “Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties… Let him be favored by his brothers, And let him dip his foot in oil” (Genesis 49:20 & Deuteronomy 33:24).

It sounds like he owned a day spa.

When the tribes of Israel inherited their land, Joshua assigned to Asher western and coastal Galilee. It was a region with some of the most fertile land in Canaan, with rich pasture, wooded hills, and orchards. You could say of Asher that he was materially well-off.

He is remembered as a privileged, wealthy land owner, rancher, and farmer. God is not opposed to wealth, only its potential to trip you up in your walk with Him. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The love of money is what motivates people to lie, steal, cheat, gamble, embezzle, and even murder. Jesus warned that “you cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). By one estimate, stock market losses wiped out $9 trillion American’ wealth this year. Meanwhile, Heaven is cranking out the dividends to those who invest with God.

The Bible encourages us to counter the hold money may have on us by being thoughtful, generous, hilarious, regular givers to the work of God.

We can’t know if Anna was once, or even then, materially well-off. We can say that she spent most of her life living meagerly. She’s an example to us of being rich in faith.

Her dad, ‘Phanuel,’ is mentioned nowhere else. Nothing is known about her family, or her deceased husband’s family. Whether or not any relatives were still involved with her, her daily contact was with the Temple servants. They would be like family to her.

Don’t think of her as some crazy oracle, the kind highlighted in fantasy movies. Prophets didn’t necessarily predict the future. Technically, we would list Anna with the godly Old Testament women called prophetesses: Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Deborah (Judges 4:4); Huldah (Second Kings 22:14; Second Chronicles 34:22); and the wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3). The scope of their speaking for God can be ascertained by reading the relevant passages. What I get out of them is that they advised with wisdom derived from the written word, and they revealed the will of God. We could say that they functioned in the office of prophetess to advise about the will of God.

Anna’s ministry, whatever its scope, assured the people God was not silent. He was behind the scenes, prepping for the fulfillment of His promises to them. If in your walk with the Lord He seems silent, know that He is behind the scenes, prepping for the fulfillment of His promises to you.

BTW: Sometimes silence can be effective, edifying communication.

Luk 2:37  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

What happened to her husband? Did they have children during their seven years of marriage? If not, why not? Still a relatively young woman when her husband died, why did she not get remarried? Don’t know. Don’t know. Don’t know. Don’t know.

She may have been 84 years old, or widowed for 84 years. If she married in her teens, she would be over 100.

At some point she “did not depart from the Temple.” If someone spends a great deal of time somewhere other than home, we say they live there. Anna really did live there.

Another big part of her being a prophetess was to “[serve] God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Anna was on-call, day and night, to pray for you.

“Fastings” can be translated, “Going without eating.” I buy Chaplain gear from a website called ColdDinnerClub. The name represents firefighters & police officers not being able to finish a hot meal on account of their commitment to serve. Anna was often not able to finish her meal, and, in addition, she practiced the discipline of fasting.

Jesus spoke of praying, giving, and fasting as spiritual disciplines. I doubt any of us would claim to be satisfied with our praying, giving, and fasting (Matthew 6). These disciplines, however, are not a one-size-fits-all program. Talk to God about your praying, giving, and fasting.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? She was pretty spry for her age. Pilates?? No, God measured out her physical health.

If you have your health, do you have everything? Of course not. What is the condition of your soul?That’s the essential thing. Charles Spurgeon writes, “I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has.”

Luk 2:38  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Anna came just when Simeon was holding baby Jesus and prophesying about the royal family.

The words, “that instant,” are truly amazing. Simeon, Anna, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus converged in a fleeting moment of time. It was a case of right place, right time, in God’s providence. He had foreseen the free actions of these people, and then He saw to it that their meeting came to pass for His glory.

If I asked you to name a spiritual “that instant” moment in your life, most of you could do so. If you were saved later in life, not from an early age, the moment you received the gift of salvation was at “that instant.”

As long as you are on Earth, you should expect “that instant” moments.

We aren’t told how Anna “gave thanks.” It may have been silently, in her heart. Maybe it was out loud. It probably describes not just her immediate reaction, but an ongoing one. We can assume that she was thankful prior to this. Now she would take gratitude to an entirely new level.

I’m reminded of the apostle Paul and what he described as the thorn in his flesh. After praying about it, the Lord revealed to Paul that it would not be taken away. Paul reacted, saying, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (Second Corinthians 12:9-10).

God’s answer wasn’t “No,” it was grace, sufficient grace. Paul was grateful. That is ‘next level’ gratitude.

Anna “spoke of Him to all…” As a prophetess, she already did this, but now there was a renewed excitement that expressed itself in her sharing.

“All those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” were godly Israelites who hoped for the arrival of their promised Messiah. Here that hope is called “redemption.” A redeemer was a certain person described in the Bible, who had a very important role in their tribal culture. The Jews connected the Messiah to the person in the Law of Moses known as the “kinsman-redeemer.” Our friends at gotquestions.org put it like this:

The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who had the privilege and responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9-25, 25:47-55).

Another commentator said,

“A kinsman-redeemer was someone who redeemed what was lost. This could be the other persons’ property, their freedom, or even their name. The kinsman might also be called upon to exact revenge on someone who may have killed their relative. In short, the kinsman was a rescuer and restorer.”

Summarizing our redemption as Christians, one author said, “To be redeemed is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled.”
Commenting on our need to be redeemed, Dave Hunt said, “The more clearly we see the infinite chasm between God’s glory and our sinful falling short thereof, the greater will be our appreciation of His grace and love in bridging that gulf to redeem us.”

There were four requirements you had to meet to be go el:

You had to be kin.
You had to be willing.
You had to be able to redeem.
You had to pay the price in full.

Jesus was Israel’s go el.

Jesus was God in human flesh. He became just like you and me, our kin, which put him in position so that He could redeem us.
Jesus gave up His life for us as a sacrifice of His own free will.
Because Jesus was God, He has the ability to redeem us.
Jesus paid the redemption price. We are told, “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people…” (Titus 2:14).

If you want to understand redemption, read the short Book of Ruth in your Bible. It tells the story of a go el rescuing and restoring his kin. It tells it as a love story.

God redeeming you by sending Jesus as your go el is a love story; it is THE love story.

The holiday season is for most people a fun time of the year, filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings with family and friends. For many people, it can be a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. You either know someone who has suffered loss for whom the holidays hit hard; or you are that someone.

Anna was that someone. We need to be careful to not suggest a backstory for Anna that is purely speculative. One thing for sure is that she had suffered the loss of her husband. She remained widowed all her very long life.

No one chooses that path to walk on. Little girls don’t aspire to widowhood.

Some little girls will get a bride Barbie doll this year, but not widowed Barbie, with coffin Ken.

We might immediately admire Anna’s life devoted to God, living in a makeshift room in the Temple, praying and fasting night and day, blessed with getting to see Jesus, the Redeemer. At the same time, I think the majority of us look at Anna and say, “See you; wouldn’t want to be you.”

You have, or you will, suffer loss on your way to Heaven. It might be great loss, by our reckoning. Anna can minister to you in your loss.

It isn’t a matter of trying to be like Anna. You are an Anna already. In fact, you’re better off than Anna, spiritually, because you have God’s Spirit in you.

Anna didn’t overcome loss by praying and fasting and living at church. She didn’t discipline herself out of depression. She was on a walk with God, and she accepted that her path went through the loss of her spouse, and all these other things that followed.

You don’t know where your path will lead me, let alone you. On Earth, it will involve greater or lesser loss, on account of the problem of sin.

The psalmist wrote, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 76:3). It would have been a good life-verse for Anna. Let it be yours while waiting for your own; or, if you have been given a life-verse, let it fill your heart.

Simeon Says: Wait (Luke 2:22-35)

Simeon awoke every morning with the imminent hope he would see the Messiah.

Does that sound like anyone you know? Christians in the Church Age awake to the imminence of Jesus’ return to resurrect and rapture us.

One day, and we don’t know how many days it was after Simeon initially received the prophecy, that day came. God the Holy Spirit directed him to the Temple. His excitement must have been palpable.

Undoubtedly others knew of the prophecy. Seeing Simeon, with an extra bounce in his step, they may have followed him.

“There He is,” God’s Spirit announced. Where? Is it that guy? Is it that guy?

“Simeon – He is that 40-day old in the arms of His teen mother.”

It is a good bet Simeon figured that, when he saw the Messiah, it would be ‘deliver’n time,’ not diaper’n time. We are so familiar with the Christmas story that we assume Israel was waiting for a baby to be born. They were not.

Simeon, however, was anything but disappointed. He blessed the little family, then went away hopeful.

Throughout the Bible we find God working in unusual ways that we could never predict. Sending a baby to do a Messiah’s job isn’t strange for Him:

He sent a stutterer to be His voice to Pharaoh.
The youngest, least obvious teenager was His choice for King.

His work in your life will be no less unusual. It is His signature as the craftsman who is completing His good work in you.

Brother Andrew put it this way: “I am a fool for Christ. Whose fool are you?”

With that under our belt, so to speak, let’s take this wonderful passage verse-by-verse.

“Simeon Says, “Wait”

Do you think of little Jesus like Boss Baby – an infant with the mind of an adult? We sing, Mary, Did You Know? The better question might be, “Jesus, what did You know?”

The subject of how Jesus processed the world as an infant isn’t discussed in Scripture. The only appropriate verses I can think of are in the Gospel of Luke where the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, John the Baptist, “leapt” when Mary came to visit pregnant with Jesus. He and cousin Jesus were definitely not normal babies.

If we are careful doing so, I think we can make a few suggestions as to how Jesus would look back upon His infancy.

Luk 2:22  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
Luk 2:23  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “EVERY MALE WHO OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”),
Luk 2:24  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

The Law God gave to Moses when Israel exodus-ed Egypt required Jesus be circumcised (Leviticus 12:3), and presented as their firstborn to God (Exodus 13:2 & 12). It was also necessary to bring an offering for Mary’s purification after childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8). Jesus would be 40-days old when Simeon encountered Him. .

As a newborn, Jesus kept every requirement under the Law thanks to the obedience of Joseph and Mary. We are informed in the Book of Hebrews that Jesus “learned obedience” (5:8). It means that He was fully immersed in being human. As a Jew, He must obey the Law. He would throughout His lifetime perfectly obey God and the Law of God, first with the needed assistance of godly parents, then on His own.
Both in the womb and now 40-days having emerged from it, the Lord had not only fulfilled prophecies of His virgin birth, but was perfect. Jesus learned to walk in holiness before He learned to crawl as a toddler.

Luk 2:25  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

In the Gospel of John, we are told that Jesus “came to His own.” He came to Israel, as their “Consolation,” i.e., the Messiah. His own, however, received Him not. That is an understated way of reporting that they hated Him and had Jesus crucified.

Towards the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus lamented over the Jews in Jerusalem. He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).

Every Jew could have been a Simeon.

Jesus is the Savior of all men, especially those who believe. He draws all men to himself by the agency of the cross. God is not willing that any perish, but all come to eternal life. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

The leadership hardened their hearts and resisted the grace of God. Yes, God’s grace is resistible. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, substantiated it when he accused these same Jews, saying, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

But there was Simeon; and there were others like him, believers. This would greatly encourage Jesus in His mission, just as it would any of us with a mission, to find faithful followers.

Simeon was “just and devout.” The two words summarize Simeon’s walk on Earth:

Towards men, he was motivated to do what was “just,” meaning right.
Towards God, he was devoted above all other persons or things.

This is another way of saying, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ”(Matthew 22:37-40).

It is always a good idea to reflect upon your love for God. It can easily wane as we wait for Him. Not always out of disobedience. We can leave love for Jesus in the dust of our zeal to serve Him.

As for “your neighbor,” Jesus told a parable, The Good Samaritan, so that we would not ask, “Who is my neighbor?, but, “Whose neighbor am I?” You are everyone’s neighbor, to do good to them and thereby glorify God. You make the invisible God, visible.

“Consolation” sounds weird to English ears. I immediately think of a consolation prize for losers. We describe someone as inconsolable.

Simeon used it hopefully. The nation would be consoled when the Deliverer came:

He would deliver them from the oppression of other nations.
More importantly, He would deliver Jews and Gentiles from the oppression of the malevolent ruler of this world, of sin, and of death.

Luk 2:26  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Was Simeon an old man? Nothing in the text indicates his age.

He lived in a state of imminence. The Messiah might appear any moment. Imminence is a big thing to us. Jesus could return any moment to resurrect the dead in Christ, and nearly simultaneously rapture living believers.

It seems that it was widely known that the Holy Spirit had “revealed to him” this marvelous promise. In that way, it was a shared promise. You could get up every morning and check the obituaries in the Jerusalem Daily News. If Simeon wasn’t listed, then you still had a chance to see the Messiah.

Luk 2:27  So he came by the Spirit into the Temple…

Maybe the Holy Spirit gave him a strong impression to go to the Temple.

Maybe he had a dream, or a vision, or a prophecy.

Maybe another God-fearing believer received the message from the Lord to give to Simeon.

Or a bunch of seemingly random coincidences suddenly seemed to him God’s providential direction.

God the Holy Spirit is multi-lingual, especially when it comes to communicating in unusual, non-linguistic ways. He especially likes to ‘sign’ things to you. Throughout our walk with Jesus, we will learn SSL – Spirit Sign Language.

If you are not receiving anything from the Spirit, one possibility is that you are not listening. All of us understand the husband who is not really listening to his wife. Whether it is on account of the game on the television or something else, he’s not hearing her. Or those scenes when someone isn’t listening and the speaker starts stating absurdities.

A first step to listening is to believe God’s Spirit ‘speaks’ to you. Then go through the Book of Acts and note the various times and ways the Spirit ‘spoke’ to the apostles and disciples.

We read, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Baby Jesus was the first step in revealing God to His creatures on Earth. Coming as a baby by itself shouts volumes about God’s understanding of, and use of, power and sovereignty. Human infancy isn’t exactly a strong position to take in a cosmic war against supernatural creatures bent on your destruction.

Satan is the ruler of this Earth. From the Garden of Eden forward, he has been trying to stop the coming of the Messiah. With all of his many resources, both natural and supernatural, how easy would it be to simply kill the promised Christ as an infant. In fact he tried to do just that.

Satan incited brutal King Herod to “put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16).

Sidebar: Secular scholars try to discredit the slaughter by saying there is no historical record of it. One may yet be found. Without minimizing the event, mathematicians have calculated the likely number of male children in Bethlehem and its districts who met Herod’s criteria – 12. Significant, sure, but not exactly newsworthy when dealing with a despot who regularly killed his own family members.

Luk 2:27  So he came by the Spirit into the Temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

I can’t speak for Simeon, but I know what I’d have thought. When I saw the Deliverer, I’d be expecting deliverance! An infant deliverer meant decades more of waiting for the political aspect of deliverance. Think Moses.

This is the third time our attention is drawn to God the Holy Spirit’s ministry in Simeon:

“The Holy Spirit was upon him” (v25).

The Holy Spirit “revealed to him” (v26).

He “came by the Spirit” (v27).

God’s Spirit did not indwell him. The indwelling of God’s Spirit is a gift promised to believers in the Church Age.

Jesus promised that those who believed in Him would receive the Spirit of God. This includes all believers. Are you a believer?

Then you don’t need to seek Him, per se; He lives in you.

I always liked the comic book Green Lanterns. They are intergalactic peacekeepers who receive superpowers from power rings. A Green Lantern’s ring is charged using the energy from a power battery that resembles an old-fashioned lantern made of dark green metal. A Green Lantern’s ring must be recharged every 24hrs.

Ever hear of Hour Man? He was chemist Rex Tyler, who created Miraclo which granted him super-strength and endurance, but only for one hour.

Do you think of God the Holy Spirit as if He is a power source that wears-off and needs replenishing?

The Spirit is not a power but a Person with power. His presence in you makes it possible to obey God’s Word. What God says to do, you can do.

Luk 2:28  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

Simeon wasn’t a priest or Levite. Joseph and Mary were from far away. Simeon may have been a complete stranger to them when he found them. Was there an awkward moment in which Simeon clearly wanted to hold their baby?

Again I want to stress I have no idea what Jesus perceived. But this is a marvelous moment for Him on Earth. A human being who was waiting for His coming held Him in his hands. God had come in human flesh as promised 4000 years prior.

Luk 2:29  “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

There is nothing to indicate Simeon died soon thereafter. Let us suppose for a moment that he did not. His life had been all about waiting for the fulfillment of this promise. Now, that part of his life had ended, pretty abruptly. He would have to transition into a new ministry.

It can be hard to do something like that, since so much of your identity is wrapped up in what you’ve been doing. If the Lord tells you to stay, stay. But if he tells you to go, to move, then do it.

“Peace” came from Simeon realizing God kept His Word. Some dialogue from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan came to me. Kirk asks Khan something like, “How do I know you’ll keep your word?” Kahn replies, “I’ve given no word to keep.”

God has given His Word to keep, in these 66 marvelous books, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Everything we need for living life in a godly way is found between its covers… Or in your Bible app.

Luk 2:30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Luk 2:31  Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
Luk 2:32  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Notice Simeon says Jesus will “bring revelation to the Gentiles,” then the “glory of… Israel.” It seems out of order. Shouldn’t it be to the Jews first, then Gentiles? But that is precisely what occurred:

In His first coming, rejected by His own, Jesus put Israel on hold while the Gospel would go out to the Gentiles. The apostle Paul stated at the end of the Book of Acts, “the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (28:28).
In His Second Coming, all Israel will be saved. Quoting Paul again, “Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved…” (Romans 11:25-26).

Luk 2:33  And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

Make note that Luke says, “Joseph and His mother,” using the wording appropriate to the virgin birth.

Parents, have you ever felt inadequate in raising children? That’s a rhetorical question, by the way. How inadequate must Joseph and Mary have felt to raise Jesus in light of so much expectation upon Him.

The best they could hope for was that He would grow up to be a godly master craftsman. It is all they knew, all that they had to impart.

They knew God. They entrusted Jesus to God. Chip Ingram said, “Remember that you are not called to produce successful, upwardly mobile, highly educated, athletically talented machines. Giving your children great opportunities is good; it is not, however, the goal of parenting. Christlikeness is. Above all, seek to raise children who look and act a lot like Jesus.”

Luk 2:34  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
Luk 2:35  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

David Guzik writes, “The ‘fall and rising of many’ would be shown in the way that Peter repented, but Judas despaired; in that one thief blasphemed, the other believed. Jesus is like a magnet that is attractive to some, but others are repelled from Him.”

Jesus was a “sign,” which here could be translated, target. We use the phrase, “He has a target on his back.” That’s the idea.

Mary would be more than heartbroken. A “sword” would pierce her heart. Hers would obviously be a unique suffering, seeing as Jesus was born to her in such a unique way. No one would be able to say to her, “I know what you’re going through.”

Multiple commentators note four main lessons we learn from Simeon: We wait, we watch, we worship, and we work.

Simeon ‘says’ each of them.

I encourage you to read and reread the story of Simeon with those characteristics in mind. Ask the Lord to reveal your progress or regress in each of them. Then yield yourself to His leading in order to wait-watch-worship-work as you walk.

Lady Sings The News (Luke 1:46-55)

Jesus Refulsit Omnium
Corde Natus ex Parentis
Adeste Fideles

It isn’t tongues… I don’t have a brain tumor… It’s not from Parkinson’s.

These are not spells from Harry Potter. I’m not making fun of President Biden.

They are the Latin titles for what music historians consider the oldest Christmas hymns:

Jesus Refulsit Omnium translates to, Jesus, Light of All the Nations, written by St. Hilary of Poitier in the 4th century.

Corde Natus ex Parentis translates to, Of the Father’s Love Begotten. Christian poet Prudentius wrote the poem that inspired this song in the 4th century.

Adeste Fideles is the familiar, O Come, All Ye Faithful, from 1841.

Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing… These are probably what come to mind when you think about traditional Christmas carols. As classic as these songs are, they’re not old.

There is in the Bible the overlooked oldest of the hymns of Christ’s birth.

You might know it by its Latin name, Magnificat.

It is found in only one place, in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

The Magnificat is one of four hymns recorded by Luke in response to the birth of Christ. The other three are:

Zechariah’s Benedictus (1:67-79).
The angels’ Gloria in Excelsis Deo (2:13-14).
Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis (2:28-32).

Luke presented Christmas as a musical; or at least having its own score.

Christmas is a time for song. I feel sorry for those who refuse to celebrate for one reason or another. They miss out on so much praise.

BTW: Have you been told that our celebration of Christmas has pagan roots? There is historical evidence that the opposite is true. One historian wrote,

The pagan festival of the “Birth of the Unconquered Sun” instituted by the Roman Emperor Aurelian on 25 December 274, was almost certainly an attempt to create a pagan alternative to a date that was already of some significance to Roman Christians. Thus the “pagan origins of Christmas” is a myth without historical substance.

http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v#continue

Or Google Calculating Christmas.

We don’t want to ruin the Magnificat by picking it apart. Happily, it suggests it’s own three movements:

In verses 46-49, God’s calling upon her life draws praise from Mary.
In verses 50-53, Mary sings about the Messiah transforming the world.
In verses 54-55, Mary’s song finds its crescendo in God’s trustworthy promises and prophecies.

Let’s set the scene within which this song was sung. Finding herself pregnant after the angel Gabriel’s visit, Mary went to see her cousin, Elizabeth, to see if Elizabeth was also pregnant like the angel had said. Elizabeth was visibly pregnant, being six months along in her pregnancy with John the Baptist. He went full Pentecostal, leaping inside her womb when Mary arrived. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth spoke a blessing over Mary.

Mary began to sing:

Luk 1:46 “My soul magnifies the Lord,
Luk 1:47  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Luk 1:48  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Luk 1:49  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

Magnificat is Latin for “magnify.” In her case, Mary magnified God by rejoicing in Him.

The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth is implied in the Old Testament. It wasn’t revealed until later on, in the New Testament. No one in Israel was anticipating a miraculous virgin birth. The Jewish leaders would accuse Jesus of being illegitimate.

Mary was a young, betrothed girl, pregnant out of wedlock. Her condition was considered shameful socially and morally.

Mary chose to believe God and rejoice.

Do you believe God? Then choose to rejoice in your circumstances.

We applaud the person whose human spirit cannot be broken. William Wallace yelling, “Freedom,” while being disemboweled gets Mel Gibson an Academy Award. Why do the smallest things rob our joy as believers? Why does anything?

You’ll notice that Mary sang about things in the past tense as if they had already occurred. Scholars call this the ‘prophetic past-tense,’ meaning it hasn’t happened but it most certainly will because God has prophesied it.

Mary was 15 years old, maybe 16 tops. God has a habit of calling upon youth:

David was the youngest in his family, just a youth, when he slew the Philistine giant.

Daniel and his three friends were youths when taken captive to Babylon.

Jeremiah is thought to have been 17 years old when God called him.

A godly young man or woman, boy or girl, has the same Holy Spirit in them as an adult. God wants to use young people.

Mary was no theologian. Her song was spontaneous and inspired. She sang it with joy for an audience of three – two of whom were in utero.

There are two ways we can approach Mary’s song:

We can approach it intellectually by looking at its various parts.

We can approach it devotionally by taking it as a whole.

We are going devotional. Our understanding of ‘devotional’ is discovering what the Bible says to us without taking it out of its original context.

Looking at the Magnificat devotionally, we can say that it describes every servant God calls

Mary’s service was unique in the Christian story, sure. There are a lot of saints like that, whose names are known for a unique part they played.

You are an unknown. To people, that is, not to God. But you are no less loved or blessed than Mary or any other servant. It is impossible for Jesus to love one servant more than another.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Is God your Savior? If not, receive Him – right now!

Jesus is the Savior of the whole world, especially those who believe.

“Spirit” refers to the immaterial part of humanity that connects with God.

Human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word soul means “life.” It has been called the “life essence of the body.”

Humans are born spiritually dead, with souls blackened by sin. Believe Jesus and you are born again, born spiritually. You receive a new nature, and the Holy Spirit.

“For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”

A paraphrase of these words is, “God took one good look at me, and look what happened – I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten.”

God took one look at you. You were dressed in filthy garments. You were born with a sin nature and you were a sinner. There was nothing about you to commend you to God.

Mary looked just like that, too. There was nothing holy about her, nothing to set her apart.

You were just what He was looking for, to save and transform, to perfect you to meet the Father as His bride.

“All generations will call me blessed” doesn’t only apply to Mary:

Think of all the Bible’s hero’s and heroines whose names are upon our lips.

Think of all the ‘famous’ Christians not in the Bible we called blessed.

You are no less blessed, though you work in obscurity, no one ever knowing your name. (You might be better off).

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.”

Our God is “holy,” which in part means that on account of His perfection, He can do nothing wrong or evil. We can therefore trust that “great things” are happening in our lives as we walk with Him.

I admit sometimes I apply this wrongly by thinking, “That’s just great, Lord.” We don’t always recognize all things working together for our good, but we know they are because God is almighty and He loves us.

A new movement in the song begins in verse fifty:

Luk 1:50  And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

From “generation to generation,” God oversees history. He has the watch. He acts providentially to fulfill His promises and push forward His agenda of redeeming the human race and His ruined Creation. No matter how much the plan of redemption seems to be in jeopardy, believers in every generation, “those who fear Him,” experience God’s mercy.

Luk 1:51  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Luk 1:52  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
Luk 1:53  He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

Throughout history there are “proud,” “mighty,” and “rich” individuals who hold earthly power. They always seem to be winning. They are not. Time after time, God has “scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” Think of Pharaoh and Moses and you get the idea.

The reversals listed herald the changes to come in the future Kingdom of God on Earth

Satan is the current ruler of this world. At one point in history he had a throne in the city of Pergamum. God had a church there. Believers may be “lowly” and “hungry,” but the church cannot fail.

I should rephrase that and say, “believers will be lowly and hungry (in need).” The Church Age in which we find ourselves is a time when we magnify the Lord in our weaknesses and sufferings. The apostle Paul wrote,

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God can and does heal. Healings are few and far between, if we are honest.

Either the church is failing, as many suggest.

Or we are living in a time during which having a thorn in the flesh is more a testimony then healing it would be.

The final movement of the Magnificat is about Mary’s people, the nation of Israel:

Luk 1:54  He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
Luk 1:55  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

God determined to call out a special people for Himself, and through that special people He would bless the whole world with the Messiah. He chose Abram to be the father of that new people, the nation of Israel. He would later change Abram’s name to Abraham.

God’s unconditional promise included land. It was a specific land, an actual property, with dimensions specified, to be Israel’s forever.

Joel Richardson writes, “Among the most critical matters of urgency for the church in this hour is acquiring a biblical view of Israel. Exposing the spreading cancer of anti-Semitism, arrogance, and misinformation within the Body of Christ is one of the most important challenges of our day.”

If anyone deserved to be abandoned by God, it was Israel. Their history is full of rebellion and idolatry. God continually “helped” Israel, calling them His “servant.”

We serve an incredible Promise Keeper. If He has begun a work in you, He will complete it – despite your efforts to go your own way.

Think of your life as a musical, e.g., PG the Musical.

What is the audience experience as folks watch your musical? What is your score on Rotten Tomatoes? Because you can be sure people are watching.

Here’s a better way of thinking about it. Each of us, as believers in Christ, are writing our musical. Our thoughts, our actions, our decisions, all contribute to it.

Mary’s song was a Magnificat.

Our song, our musical, can likewise be a Magnificat as we choose rejoicing