Joy is On the Way 2

Introduction

On the Way: Where to Find Good News in Hard Times

Today: Joy Is On the Way

Some will hear this and hopefully the spirit will bring renewal of thought, heart, behavior.

Some will not and miss out on the joy that Jesus wants to bring - life as God intends.

Where’s The Good News?

Hard Times

A lot being asked of us

What we’re being asked is being interpreted in a lot of ways

Some of it makes sense, some, not so much

We’ve become our own experts on things we know little or nothing about.

Every day new news is released: statistics, studies, updates, “What someone doesn’t want you to know...” “a little known secret (conspiracy, GNOSTICISM).

Where do you go for news and why?

What are we looking for? Something good?

Where? Sources that Validate what we already believe? Invalidate what we don’t believe?

Fact based news

Analysys

Opinion (entertainment)

Big question: can we trust it?

Not a lot of fun. In fact, it’s causing depression, division.

Joy - Anticipation of something good.

Joy is elusive: Where’s the good and when will it get here?

How Joy Meets Us On the Way (Looking for Something Good)

Luke 1:46–55 ESV

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.”

It’s hard to imagine God making any request more extreme than what He asked of Mary.

Close-knit community

Never been with a man

Probably still lived with her parents but Betrothed: legally binding arrangement

Money involved (Joseph’s parents paid her parents money)

Just like marriage: talked about as husband and wife; only broken by divorce

Consummated at the marriage

Any sexual infidelity during betrothal was punishable by death.

The day of Gabriel’s announcement must have started out like any other.

Imagine what it must have been like for Mary. At the time of Gabriel’s announcement, she is living an ordinary life.

Mary’s pregnancy put her life in danger.

Help Is On The Way

Elizabeth

Tells Mary what is true: you are Blessed

In this time, in this situation, God favors you - you’re right where you need to be.

There is a purpose here: Through Mary, God will bring the savior of the wold

When it seems bad, it’s about to get good

Hearing these words from a trusted friend who understood the nature of a miraculous pregnancy, Mary's response is to rejoice.

Joy like this is not common (when we see it, we think the person has lost their mind).

Song - If there is any scene in the bible that resembles a musical, this is it.

Being Seen

God my savior - He saw her in her situation

Like every other nobody

Women in antiquity

He has looked into me, who I am - he knows me. I'm not much to write home about (humility) but after this, in 2020, people will call me blessed not because of me but because of what the holy one has done for me.

From invisible to seen and...

In the midst of a very bad situation, Celebration of accepting her calling to be the key human in God’s plan of bringing hope

Enjoyment

The truth Elizabeth told her made her happy

At times we need someone who understands and relates to our situation to come alongside us.

Not to make us feel better or debate the handling of the virus, but help us see the purpose God would have for us in the midst of it for the good of others.

That in this time, in this situation, God favors you - you’re right where you need to be.

while it seems bad, it’s about to get good

Because while this might be a surprise, you are part of what God is wanting to do to connect people with the life Jesus has for them.

Elizabeth served as that person for Mary.

And it radically changed her mood and emotions because it took her attention off her hopeless situation and how it affected her to the reality of being part of something so much bigger, so powerful that would change lives for generations from that time on.

He had chosen to work through Mary - who seemed to be insignificant to give birth to His own Son in keeping with his promises to the ancient fathers of the faith to launch a movement that would challenge the values and systems of nations from them on, expand His reign through others who would believe and become the Church.

How is that not something to get excited about?

Invitation to Joy

Joy doesn't seem natural for us. We seem to have to work at it, schedule it, plan for it. Manage it.

How we “manage” our joy. Not too high, not too low.

Except when it comes to sports, we avoid extremes.

Fans, players - expect a lot of joy

BUT anything else, we manage it because it might be embarrassing.

Called

God continues to choose - and if you are listening, he is choosing you in this time of pandemic, corruption, where you are to be God’s people for others.

To not concern ourselves with things Jesus and the disciples were not concerned about.

To remove ourselves from the addictive, polarizing system of news.

To attach ourselves to Good News, pointing people to it and where to find it.

To love holistically in the way of Jesus.

No matter the circumstances. The way of Jesus rises above them.

Because God favors you.