Blessed
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Introduction
Introduction
Kids! They just don’t know any better, do they? They haven’t lived in this world of ours for all that long. They’re oblivious to the realities that stare us in the face as adults. They just don’t know any better to be cynical. So we see the difference in Zechariah and Mary. Zechariah is a man advanced in years. Mary is a young teenager, still a virgin. When Zechariah is told that he and Elizabeth—his aged, barren wife—will have a son, he responds cynically. “How shall I know this?” But when Mary is told that she will have the Son of God, she asks “How will it happen?” curious rather than cynical. Zechariah asked for a sign and received a disciplinary sign. Mary asked for clarity and received both clarity and confirmation together. Cynicism comes the older we get. To quote Farmers Insurance, “We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” But cynicism is a barrier to faith. Cynicism is walking by sight and not by faith.
This morning, we are seeing what can happen when faith takes over. I say can happen because not all three will necessarily happen each time, but certainly marvelous events will happen when we walk by faith and not by cynicism—that is, sight. And we see it in the testimony of the three characters in this scene: We first see it in Mary’s testimony, then in John’s testimony, and finally in Elizabeth’s testimony.
Mary’s Testimony
John’s Testimony
Elizabeth’s Testimony
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.”
Mary’s Testimony
Mary’s Testimony
So the first testimony we see that comes from Mary’s faith is Mary’s testimony. That ought not be too surprising. But what is surprising is how the testimony works itself out.
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.
We don’t hear a peep from Mary, not just in these two verses, but in this entire section. The most we get from Mary’s mouth is that she greeted Elizabeth. So, we get something like a “Shalom.” That’s it. But that’s not her testimony. Her testimony is in her walk. She went to see Elizabeth and she went with haste—from Nazareth to Judah! We don’t know what town Elizabeth lived on, but if it were on the border of Judah and Samaria, that would be some 60 miles nearly, as the crow flies. Most likely, she would not have gone through Samaria, and so that’s an even longer trip. This would be a multiple day trip just to get there.
So the way it goes is that Gabriel tells Mary that she will have a son and that the sign she has been given is that Elizabeth is pregnant. So Mary, understanding that the sign is meant to be a sign and not just a rhetorical saying, actually went to see the sign. Signs were given for reasons. The signs did not ignite faith; they bolstered it. Signs strengthened faith. Mary already believed what Gabriel had told her, but she went all the way to Judah to see the sign that she was given, strengthening her own faith for what was to come.
This, in and of itself is a testimony of faith.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
If this is what faith is—and it is—then Mary’s walk—literally a walk of faith—is a testimony. The thing hoped for was the promised Son (the promised Messiah and Savior of the world). Faith assured her that it was true and that what she heard was truly happening. What she had not seen yet was the baby within her. What she had not seen yet was Elizabeth pregnant. But there was a conviction; there was proof that it would be so. Mary didn’t go all the way to Judea in order to disprove a miracle, but to show itself so!
That word for assurance comes from the Greek word that literally means to stand under. The idea is one of a foundation. Before we build a house, we pour a foundation, something that stands under the house so that the house does not fall apart. Turn with me to
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Being tossed here and there is not steadiness. Faith steadies. Doubt tosses us about. It’s hard to walk, let alone run, when there is no steady ground beneath us. ****Circus Act**** Some Christians get adept at unsteady ground and putting on a performance to hide the fact that we aren’t going anywhere. Look at me juggling all this stuff. Pay no attention that I’m in the same place I was 10 years ago. Now some actually juggle their stuff and continue to walk and move forward, but many are like Gabriella on the rola-bola: unsteady and going no where, praying no body notices. Faith steadies the ground so that we can move forward to the hope and joy set before us.
The word conviction might be better understood as “convincing.” It is the convincing of things not seen. Neither of these ideas of faith would give credence to the idea of blind-faith. There is enough evidence prior to the outcome that makes one assured and convinced of the outcome. Hence, we call that geyser that goes off every few minutes in Yellowstone “Old Faithful.” There is enough evidence of the past to be certain of the outcome. Namely, it has been gushing into the air every few minutes for hundreds, if not thousands of years, so we can be assured and convinced that it will do it again in the next few minutes. That’s not blind faith.
Mary’s wasn’t either. She had talked with an angel! That wasn’t enough proof for cynical Zechariah, but it was for Mary. She believed and the testimony of her faith was that she trekked all the way down to Elizabeth’s house. Not going would actually have been a testimony of unbelief, as James tells us
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
If we were to separate our faith from action, it only shows that faith is actually dead. Living faith moves; it acts. Inaction is unbelief. Faith is risky; it takes risks—calculated risks, but risks nonetheless. This is not much different than Abraham hearing from God to leave Ur and go where he will tell him. Both left their homes to go to a far off place because they believed God’s Word.
Beloved, when we believe God’s Word, we act on it. It’s when we are cynical of God’s Word that we fail to act. We talk ourselves out of it. We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two and God’s word just doesn’t jive with what we’ve seen. Yet, God’s Word is ever true. He has proven himself trustworthy more times that Old Faithful has erupted. We don’t pray because we are cynical of prayer. We don’t see him work supernaturally because we are cynical of the supernatural.
John’s Testimony
John’s Testimony
Which actually leads us to the second testimony that comes as a result of Mary’s faith: John’s testimony. Something supernatural happens here. We first hear about it happening, and then we get the explanation of what it means.
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Mary has traveled dozens of miles over a few days, and when she enters the house, and greets Elizabeth, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb. And Elizabeth explained that it was Mary’s greeting that caused the baby to leap for joy. John, in utero, was meeting Jesus, in utero, for the first time and he leaped for joy at his presence. It’s as if Mary said, “Shalom!” and John responded with “Yes! Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” Okay. That might be a bit much. But the presence of Jesus brought joy to John.
How do we know that? Because Elizabeth said as such. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and was able to translate the reason behind John’s leap. So not only did Mary’s walk of faith give rise to her testimony, but it also gave rise to the testimony of John. It is only because of Mary’s faith that Mary went to Elizabeth (because faith moves us to do what we’ve been assured and convinced of). And because Mary was now standing before Elizabeth, John and Jesus “met” for the first time, allowing John to give his first testimony about his Lord.
It’s not hard to see how this testimony of the baby leaping in Elizabeth’s womb would bolster the faith of Mary even more, knowing that John was overjoyed to have Mary and the Messiah in his presence. The word that is used for “joy” is that same word that we saw back in
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
but is translated as gladness. It’s that eschatological joy. It’s one that is connected with the kingdom of God coming and so is an extreme joy. Some might use the term, “exult,” as though John leaped with exultation! And again, without Mary living out what she believed John’s initial testimony from the womb would not have happened.
Have you ever noticed how hesitant we are to live our faith out there in the “real world?” We have been taught that faith is a personal and private matter. It doesn’t belong in the work place. It doesn’t belong in politics. It doesn’t belong on the field or in schools or other places. To hear politicians say, “I personally believe abortion is wrong, but I will vote to keep it legal and I will fight with everything in me to keep it” is in many ways unbelievable. Yet we often do similar things ourselves. We believe that people need to repent of the sins, but we won’t confront them in their sins. We believe that people need Jesus but such and such isn’t the time to tell them. We believe that God created the world in seven days, but a biology class is not the place to bring it up. We have come to believe the lie that faith is private and personal.
So what happens? We keep our faith to ourselves and no one sees or hears the testimony that springs from our faith. No one else’s faith is bolstered by it and ours doesn’t get strengthened by theirs either.
Elizabeth’s Testimony
Elizabeth’s Testimony
Which leads us to the third testimony that came about because of Mary’s walking in faith: Elizabeth’s testimony. So Mary’s testimony is given by her expedition to Elizabeth. John’s testimony is given by his exultation in Elizabeth. And Elizabeth’s testimony is finally one given by her exclamation! She gives a testimony not just by right conduct, not just by a joyous life, but by a blessed word.
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?
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Notice the three blessings in these three verses. The first two are superlative blessings. In other words, Elizabeth is saying that Mary is the most blessed among women, but by whom? In English we have this thing we call, “the understood you.” We use it when we give a command. We don’t generally say, “You go to your room. You clean your plate.” We just say, “Go to your room. Clean your plate.” The “you” is understood. Hebrew has something similar, we could call it the “understood God.” Many times God is not mentioned by name but he is understood to be the one performing the action. Such is the case here. “Blessed are you among women. By whom? By God.”
The word “blessed” in this text is not the word we tend to think of when we hear the word blessed. “Blessed are the poor. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.” That’s a completely different word and has a completely different meaning than the word used here. That typically is thought of as being “happy.” But this word is where we get the word, “eulogize” from. It literally means, “good words” and with it the benefit of those words. Thus, “Good words and all that they encompass are said about you more than any other woman.” By whom? By God. And we see this when Gabriel visited Mary. He said she was the favored one. And the benefit of that favor is the coming Messiah.
Likewise, Elizabeth testifies that Jesus himself is the most favored of all human beings. He was Holy, the Son of God. Later to be called His beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased.
And the third blessing goes back to Mary precisely because she lived out her faith. She believed that God would do what God said he would do! Would that we could see the blessing—the benefits—of taking God at his word! That we would not allow our cynicism to get in the way of believing that God would fulfill his word!
But then we see the question: “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” The most profound part of this statement is her calling the baby in Mary’s womb her Lord. You may remember that both Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before the Lord. Zechariah served in the temple of the Lord. But ultimately Elizabeth’s own son would make the people ready for the Lord. Elizabeth knew exactly who was in Mary’s womb. And as old as she may have been and as teeny tiny as he may have been—just a little peanut of a baby at this point, she knew he was Lord of her life.
Do you know him that way? Do you know him as your Lord? Do you follow him in faith? Or are you a cynic? Are you one who doubts the very promises of God that are found only in him?
Conclusion
Conclusion
A few weeks ago I called Zechariah’s faith fragile. Today I call him a cynic. I think they are two sides of the same coin. It’s hard to believe in miracles and the movement of the Holy Spirit when this world, with all its disappointments, disillusions, and dissensions have made us cynical. We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two and those things we’ve seen and experienced have dissuaded us from receiving in good faith what God has promised.
Yet here is Mary, who did receive God’s promise and lived that faith out, calling herself the servant of the Lord and going to see Elizabeth to strengthen her faith by the sign graciously given by him who is faithful. That testimony of faith led to the testimony of others. It had a domino effect on others who lived in faith.
When Peter told those who were reading his first letter to be watchful for Satan the lion, he told them
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Our faith means something to others who are seeking to stand firm in their faith. Our faith in suffering means something to those who are suffering in faith. And their faith in the midst of suffering means something to us as well. Together we build one another’s faith when we live it out.
So beloved,
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.