Sermon Tone Analysis

What is Love

Intro - (not too deep or needed in setup.

Keep it general)

One of my two favorite Christmas readings (this one and next weeks)

One of my favorites, because from a human perspective, this is the most relatable story of the birth of Jesus...at least to me.

[pic here] It is relate-able to me, because of the backstory.

You see, there is a lot going on in the text we will read here in a minute, and I want to do it justice and set it up contextually.

That first step is understanding where we romanticize this message...

You see it all starts with a 14 year old girl…

Understand this word from God, this unbelievable blessing to the entire world, it didn’t flow down from God in a plan that had been conveyed to Mary and her family.

This wasn’t a planned thing for them!

This was just like how God works in you and in me - suddenly, and with the option to accept it and find the beauty in His plan, or to rebel and suffer alone.

If you look back before our text for today you find a story of Elizabeth and Zechariah - a miracle in it’s own right.

But following that story, in fact 6 months after that story, we find this 14 or so year old girl - one who had been pledged in marriage…

Now what does that mean?

There is a lot of debate out there about engaged, married, betrothed...too much for us today.

But know this, If you read all the synoptic accounts of this event, and you balance the words used, you will find that in this moment, it is pretty clear that this relationship had advanced beyond the “negotiation” phase.

They were not yet wed, but when you take Matthew's account into consideration, where the text tells us that Joseph, having heard that Mary was pregnant, sought to “put her away quietly,” when you take that into account, it is clear that the wedding was imminent - at the very least.

So here is this girl, on the eve, in the week of, maybe the month of - no matter what, here is a very young, and likely nervous girl, who is soon to be married; here is this picture of young love if you will.

Excited, nervous, but ultimately likely laying awake dreaming of what life will be like, just we all do!

That’s what happens when you are in love, right?

But not just when we are in love, I mean, tomorrow night, we will lie awake just wondering what presents we will get!

How much more do we dream of the life that we will have with those God gives us?!

I can imagine her thinking about how many kids they would have...where they would live...what their friends would be like...would she fit in to the community...how would Joseph find work and support them...all the same stuff we think about.

To be young and in love, right?

We can all imagine that can’t we?

I mean, most of us remember that!

But then in the middle of all of that, here comes this Angel.

This messenger.

This blessing to be sure, at least when we view it from our point of view!

But when we look at it if it was us, or our daughters who this Angel was speaking with, this message becomes a wrecking ball!

You’re pregnant!!!

And not just pregnant, but pregnant with the Son of God!

Imagine telling that news, church.

Not just that, but imagine for just a second how that would feel.

The social isolation, the fear, the worry.

I mean, everything she knows is flipped on it’s head!

Her soon to be husband will think that absolute worst of her!

There is no way he would ever believe this!

She will be at best ostracized, and at worst stoned to death!

This is the absolute end of her life!

BUT DON’T BE AFRAID, the Angel says!

You have found favor!

You are loved.

You are treasured.

It doesn’t feel so loving and special does it?

At least not when you think about it in a personal way,

It’s petrifying.

And for me, loved is not what I would feel.

Even for Mary, through her brave words, I know she must have been scared.

I know that because she didn’t hang around home after she got word!

She didn’t go tell everyone around her the great news!

She headed out.

She ran away to the hill country to be with her cousin Elizabeth.

She just had to get away.

And that tells me, that just like us, she had a hard time feeling loved and cherished.

She very well may have accepted it, and been bold to carry out that duty, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t scared.

There is a reason, after all, the Angel says “do not be afraid.”

So she goes to stay, in hiding of sorts, with her cousin.

She isn’t looking for a miracle.

She is looking for sanctuary!

She isn’t looking for pity, or support, or anything else, she just wants to go away and let God do what God does!

So she goes to stay, in hiding of sorts, with her cousin.

She isn’t looking for a miracle.

She is looking for sanctuary!

She isn’t looking for pity, or support, or anything else, she just wants to go away and let God do what God does!

Luke 1:

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[read]

Pray

What is love, or more specifically, what does love do?

For me, today, in this text, I can see clearly the effect of love.

You see, it is Elizabeth speaking through the love of God that cannot be contained - a love that God sent to reach the ears of His chosen servant.

Meant to reach the one in pain.

Meant to comfort and console the one who through their painted smile was masking fears and doubts and worries.

What is love, or more specifically, what does love do?

For me, today, in this text, I can see clearly the effect of love.

You see, it is Elizabeth speaking through the love of God that cannot be contained - a love that God sent to reach the ears of His chosen servant.

Meant to reach the one in pain.

Meant to comfort and console the one who through their painted smile was masking fears and doubts and worries.

[picofmagnificat]

I mean think about it, Mary hasn’t seen her much older cousin.

And it is she - Elizabeth - that should be congratulated and fawned over!

She has a miracle in her life!

God has touched her with His Grace and Mercy; He is speaking to His people again!

- side note—included picture because even classic art gets it wrong…in this depiction Mary is obviously pregnant and Elizabeth isn’t…which is exactly the opposite.

Elizabeth at 6 and Mary at days if not hours.---back

on track

But there in that moment, God reaches down and guides Elizabeth to know what is needed.

To know that God is not only with Mary, but that Mary, perhaps just days into her pregnancy, is expecting!

What love that must be.

To look beyond yourself, and to instead seek to comfort others and show them how they are loved, and how God is with them!

But how important that is.

You see, it was BECAUSE of Elizabeth’s willingness to reach out in love - it was in THAT moment, that Mary is able to finally understand the love that had entered our world!

[picofmagnificat] But how important that is.

You see, it was BECAUSE of Elizabeth’s willingness to reach out in love - it was in THAT moment, that Mary is able to finally understand the love that had entered our world!

But how important that is.

You see, it was BECAUSE of Elizabeth’s willingness to reach out in love - it was in THAT moment, that Mary is able to finally understand the love that had entered our world!

When I read this text, I am reminded of a core truth found in scripture.

And that is this: love is powerful.