The Visitation

Context

Two weeks ago: We met the aged, barren couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, foretelling that that even in their old age Elizabeth would have a child. Zechariah would name him John, and the child would grow up to be John the Baptist, who would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.

According to the angel’s word: Elizabeth conceived.

What Zechariah and Elizabeth did not know was that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy Gabriel was sent to Elizabeth’s younger kinswoman, named Mary.

Last Sunday we read that story: The angel told her she would have a child through the direct agency of God. She must name him Jesus, and he would be the Messiah and save his people, and the whole world from sin. Gabriel also told Mary that Elizabeth was already carrying a child.

Mary immediate travels from Galilee to Judah and visits Elizabeth...

Text

Luke 1:39-55

Luke 1:39–55 (ESV)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you 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? 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 that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on 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. He has shown strength with his arm; 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 to his offspring forever.”

Introduction

EG from Tombstone: Are you happy? ....Well, I don’t go around grinning all day like an idiot, if that’s what you mean…but, I guess, yeah, I’m happy…

I don’t go around grinning all day, not suggesting we all should be nothing but happy all the time. Circumstances don’t always call for happiness.

But joy is a deeper thing. Erupts into expressions of happiness, but come from deep sense of blessedness within.

Picture of joy on our bulletin. Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth touching Mary’s womb and looking up toward God in joy and Mary receiving the touch and looking down at her womb. The joy, the touching, the celebration.

Both women are pregnant. Elizabeth with John. Mary with Jesus, though she is not yet showing.

Both are filled with joy, one could say literally filled with joy because they are carrying sons in their wombs.

My wife beaming with joy during her own pregnancy. Our joyful shared expectation and that of other women and mom’s toward Dao.

Supernatural element in this picture of Mary and Elizabeth. Christ the Son of God is to be born of Mary. A picture of our spiritual life. The joy of welcoming Christ into our lives.

Exegesis 1: ELIZABETH IS FILLED WITH THE HS

Mary travels from Galilee in the north to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Judah.

Likely a surprise for Zechariah and Elizabeth. They had been keeping a low profile since the visit of the angel. Zechariah was muted by the angel Gabriel as penance. Elizabeth was pregnant— not exactly the typical situation for established, mature couple.

Zechariah admitted Mary, as family as a matter of course. But why Mary had come may have been a mystery…

Seemingly Mary did not say anything to Zechariah about why she had come. Doesn’t say anything about Gabriel the angel visiting her; that she would become pregnant even though she was a virgin; that her child being the expected Messiah. Indeed, being early in her first trimester, she was not even showing.

Zechariah supposed: just younger cousin Mary coming to visit and Elizabeth could probably use some female company.

Neither Zechariah nor Elizabeth had any inkling who the mother of the Messiah would be, or that they would ever know or meet that person or be a part of the Messiah’s life at all. Indeed tradition was that when Messiah came, he would just appear, seemingly from nowhere.

Mary goes to Elizabeth.

Calls to her from beyond the door or curtain or as she enters. Elizabeth?

The moment Mary speaks, two things happen: The baby within Elizabeth leaped in her womb and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.

These signs are not actions of Mary…but of God! Mary does not say a thing…Elizabeth miraculously knows the good news!

Exclaims with a loud cry…joyful! (EG when a mother/grandmother greets)

Blessed are you among women! Supernaturally knows: Chosen by God!

Blessed is the fruit of your womb. Supernaturally knows: The child will be Child of the Most High.

Blessed are you for believing! That what was promised will come to be!

The Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth with awareness of Mary’s child. Fills her with awe.

How honored I am that the mother of my Lord should come to me! Mary younger, but Elizabeth honors her. “My Lord” refers to Jesus. Elizabeth recognizes him as the Messiah. Therefore Mary is the mother of my lord.

All this coming out in a torrent of joyful exclamation.

Implication: To be near Jesus gives us joy

We can’t see Jesus with our physical eyes right now because he is in heaven. Just as hidden from us right now as he was hidden physically from Elizabeth in Mary’s womb.

But does that mean that he is not near?

Or does it mean that we need another mode of perception. A spiritual mode. The help of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:18 “[I always pray for you that] the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know ….

When the Holy Spirit aids us, we recognize Jesus. That God is in the world through Christ. And our spirits come alive near to Jesus.

1 Peter 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Moment prayer: I need a miracle: Holy Spirit, let me know that Jesus is near!

Exegesis 2: John Signals from the womb

Elizabeth was filled by the Holy Spirit.

She was also aided by her unborn son, John.

John “told” her that Mary was carrying the Christ child by leaping within Elizabeth’s womb.

σκιρτάω - leap, jump. We derive our word, “skip”.

Not unpleasant. Elizabeth interprets the meaning. He is leaping for joy!

Elizabeth knew John’s mission — Prepare the way for the Messiah. When he kicks, she knows what it means. He is signalling the presence of Messiah.

He could not speak, but he used the means he had. He signals Elizabeth and through her gives witness to Mary of Jesus. YES, you carry the Messiah!

John would always react to Jesus in a dramatic way. When we meet him as an adult:

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 3:30 “Now that he is here, my joy is complete! He must increase, but I must decrease.””

[John would later die in prison for testifying to the Kingdom of God that Jesus brought. Imprisoned by the evil king Herod, John was again in a “womb” that was dark, where he couldn’t see or hear, but Jesus sent him word through is disciples. Tell John what you see and here, that the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, and blessed are those who receive me. John left this world just as he entered it, witnessing to Jesus.]

It gave John joy to point to Christ, to know others were connecting with him.

Implication 2: To share Jesus gives us joy.

It increases our joy to share good things.

EG. A good concert, even better together. Good meal, even better shared. My kids achieved this milestone. Sharing it makes it even better.

JOKE: about a pastor who was cutting church — saying he was going to make a pastoral visit to the Greens — but he was really going to play golf. Gabriel said to God, what are you going to do about that? God said, I’ll show you. And he blessed the pastor with the most fantastic game of golf he had ever played. Amazing drives, expert short game. Gabriel said, How is that punishment? God said, he can’t tell anybody.

We long to share good things, our joy, with others: it becomes all the more real, all the more treasured.

More wonderful than golf, or dinners, or concerts, is our relationship with God through Christ. It gives us joy to talk about Jesus. To do things for Jesus’ sake. To signal Jesus to others.

I am not much of an evangelist. I don’t share my faith readily, even though I love my faith. I don’t invite people to church, even though I love my church. I suspect that that often causes my joy to wither.

I notice that my joy increases when I share Christ.

Paul rejoices over sharing faith; 1 Thess. 2:19: what is our joy when Jesus comes, but you? You are our glory and joy!

John witnessed as baby with no word, no position or power, just a kick. We have the option of witnessing with all our abilities. John witnessed from in prison. We could witness with freedom.

Maybe joy is just waiting for us to leap?

What is a way that you desire to signal joy and share joy and experience more joy because of Christ?

Moment Prayer: How would you like me to leap for joy for you, Christ?

Exegesis 3: Mary sings in joy

Mary, too, is filled with joy.

The willingness that she expressed to Gabriel…let be done unto me according to your word, for I am the servant of the Lord…becomes now and exclamation of joy.

My soul magnifies the Lord! “The Magnificat”

My soul magnifies, God my Savior.

How God has blessed her.

From humble estates now to be known forever by all the faithful.

But also programmatic for how God relates to all people

has mercy on those who fear him

scatters the proud, but lifts up the humble.

he reverses the schemes of the world

The mighty are brought down, the rich are sent away empty; the hungry are filled and the humble are exalted.

Song: “Mary did you know?” Mary knew something.

Forecasting Jesus’ sermon on the mount.

Blessed are you who mourn, for you will be comforted. Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be filled.

Mary, alone in the Bible, was with Jesus for his whole ministry. Saw his power to bring reverse the sorrows of this world.

At his first miracle of turning water into wine. Reversed panic of a ruined wedding into joy.

His forgiveness of sinners. Reversing alienation.

She was there when he was crucified. She saw him when he was resurrected. Reversing the very power of death.

She experienced perhaps more acutely than any other the truth of her son’s words: In this world, you will have sorrow, but fear not, for I have overcome the world, and your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (John 16:20)

As mother, Mary, was actively part of what God was about to do in Christ — ultimately reversing the powers of grief and loss, and bringing new life and the kingdom of God. And that was a source of joy for her.

Implication 3: To be a part of Jesus’ reversal ministry.

The world is a tumultuous place. Election; social upheavals; financial problems; many of us personal losses and grief. Why are things this way? Most people would say because that is just the way the world is. And we could agree with that.

But what is God like?

Where we find our joy is being caught up with the God who comes into this world in Christ, joins in our sorrow, and then breaks the power of sin and death and opens the way to resurrection life.

As a church: We’ve been church in surprising ways. Online last Christmas Eve. Spaced. Masked. We’ve wondered what would happen next. Here we are. A testament to our resilience…more:Our souls magnify the Lord: a testament to the resurrected Lord.

On more personal level: families and friends. We give gifts and cards at this time. We can give our presence, our assurance, and love. I’ve always got your best interests at heart.

Jesus will supply us with what we need. In this world you will have trouble, but fear not, for I have overcome the world.

Prayer: I’d like reversed:

CONCLUSION

Are you happy? Sometimes, but I have joy.

Joy is found in our relationship with Christ.

To be near Jesus.

To share Jesus.

To be a part of Jesus’ resurrection ministry.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Let us pray to the Lord, saying, Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

Holy God, you reveal yourself in so many ways, especially in your son, Jesus Christ. We gather up the prayers of this community for the church, the world, and all in need, confident that you know our deepest thoughts and will refresh our spirits. We pray in the name of the One who transforms principalities and powers and renews the heavens and the earth, Christ our Savior. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For the church: We pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ who gather as we do on this day all over the world in house churches and storefronts, on reservations, in townships and base communities, among immigrants, in hospital chapels and prisons, and with persons who are dying. Wherever the church is found on frontiers of mission and service, empower its witness to strengthen and stretch the vision of your people. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For the earth and all creatures: We pray for the healing and well-tending of all that you have given us; for water and air, soil and stars; for creatures that roam the seas and those that fly thousands of miles in migration; for mammals and reptiles, insects and microbes in swamps and forests and in our own homes. Show us their beauty and our need for them. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For an end to violence, oppression, and injustice: We pray for all who sing with Mary a song of joy for deliverance; for all people who long to hear your promise of good news; for all peacemakers; for governments that hold at the heart of their work the needs of people otherwise invisible; for all people left homeless and destitute by the greed of others. Lead your people from darkness to light. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For Mary and Joseph in every land: We pray for all people who face the enormous vocation of raising children; for biological parents and adopting parents, for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; for children who long for a parent’s or guardian’s love and care; for children who will be born today; and especially for those born into hunger and insecurity. Let the light of your desire for our well-being shine through all children. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For those we hold dear and those who have asked for our prayers: We pray for everyone who is in any need today: for the lonely; for all people who are anxious at this time of year; for our elders in the nursing home; for people who cannot find work and those whose work is not life-giving for them; for … [names kept by the church for remembrance on Sunday] and for those we name now either out loud or in our hearts … [names may be called forth from the assembly]. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

For our own lives: We pray that Mary’s song of joy and Joseph’s loyalty will be magnified in us. Fill us with the breath of Advent. Stir us to extend ourselves beyond what we thought possible. Show us that like Mary, we need not fear. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

We remember with thanksgiving the faithful who have gone before us, especially … [names of those recently deceased and those saints whose commemoration day falls in the week ahead may be named]. As your light shines on us through them, guide us to so enlighten others. Lord, we pray in love…hear our prayer.

With the whole church, we cry “Let it be,” trusting in your word. Amen .

Charge and Benediction

Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say, Rejoice. And may the joy of the Lord, be your strength, now and always.