Ponder these things in your heart (Week 4 of Advent)
(Luke 1:26-38 ESV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary got some big news. The Son of God was coming. The kingdom of God was at hand, and it was all going to start with her. Much like the shepherds we learned about last week, Mary was terrified by the angels. As all of us would be today as well. But the angel told her, do not fear, you have found favor with God. How wonderful would that be to hear. One second you're scared senseless by some bright shingling angel and then he tells you don't worry God is very happy with you. My first thought would, if he's happy with me why in the world would you scare me like that. But if we read through the scriptures we find that's just what angels do. So he tells her that she is going to have God's son. And being a virgin she was correctly confused. But the angel explained that God works in mysterious ways and that her son would rule over the house of Israel forever with no end. Wow. Stop and think about that. For a soon to be mom to hear that. Your son is going to rule forever. What a magnificent gift and what a great responsibility and weight on your shoulders. But she doesn't complain and she doesn't boast. She says I am your servant. Do as you will. That's a whole sermon on itself. No complaints no boasting. Just doing what God wants. Amazing. If you remember anything in this message remember that.
(Luke 1:39-45 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.”
So Mary's cousin is pregnant with John, the man who will prepare the way of the Lord. So that's really cool, but the most interesting part in this story is the very last phrase from Elizabeth. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from The Lord. Just like the shepherds, Mary didn't just hear the angel talk about Elizabeth and think oh cool she's pregnant, no she thought oh wow she's pregnant and I'm going to be there when this all goes down. She believed there would be fulfillment. Just like our wise men she anticipated John's birth and the fulfillment of God's words. She went and saw it for herself. She participated in God's plan.
(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.”
The magnificant. Such a beautiful song that Mary sang. Not only was it beautiful though, it shows her knowledge of God's ways and His plans. She hadn't forgotten what God was going to do. She hadn't forgotten whom God came for. She doesn't forget that it was all God's doing. She begins with saying that generations will call her blessed but not because of her works, but because of what the Almighty has done for her. She had been nothing but a servant but God has shown His power to her. Mary realized that God had come for the humble, the poor, and the hungry. She speaks of how God has sent away the proud the rich and has instead opened his arms to those who can't provide for themselves. He opens his arms to those who are his servants like their father Abraham. Just as Christ says later in Luke 5:31-32, "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" And also in Mark 10:23-27, "And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.'" Jesus fulfilled Mary's words. She was right about who Jesus came to reach out to. He came for those who were willing to listen and obey.
One last point and then we will conclude. Luke 2:16-19 "And they (the shepherds) went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."
What does it mean to ponder something in your heart. Let's do a little activity. Close your eyes. Breath in deep, now breath out. Just be still for a moment. After the psalmist quotes God and says, be still and know that I am God. Now think back to Christmases past. Think of the fun, the laughter, the family. Perhaps some of the family that used to be there isn't now. Now think of your favorite Christmas. Think about getting that one gift that you loved so much. Perhaps that's still one of your favorite thing. For me it's the Christmas that I woke up one morning to two puppies in a big cardboard box. One for my sister and one for me. My dog Henry. I picked up that dog and we played and played and I took him to the couch to show my Mo-Mo my great great grandmother who passed away within the next year. Seeing her face light up because of the joy that me and my sister had. Perhaps these memories bring tears to your eyes much like they do to mine. Y'all can open y'all's eyes up now. That's what it means to ponder in your heart. To take the entire event of a day and just think each individual part through. To stop and reflect on what it all meant. We should be doing that in our relationship with Christ. We need to take time to stop and ponder to meditate on what he's done for us and what all it actually means. God gave everything for you and He expects nothing less of everything out of you. You're his servant and he's got big plans that all you have to do is say "let's do this, I'm following your lead." They say the trinity is like a dance. And you just have to jump in there with them and follow their lead. Walk with God and even when things down here get rough and hard times come your soul can find rest in him. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary got some big news. The Son of God was coming. The kingdom of God was at hand, and it was all going to start with her. Much like the shepherds we learned about last week, Mary was terrified by the angels. As all of us would be today as well. But the angel told her, do not fear, you have found favor with God. How wonderful would that be to hear. One second you're scared senseless by some bright shingling angel and then he tells you don't worry God is very happy with you. My first thought would, if he's happy with me why in the world would you scare me like that. But if we read through the scriptures we find that's just what angels do. So he tells her that she is going to have God's son. And being a virgin she was correctly confused. But the angel explained that God works in mysterious ways and that her son would rule over the house of Israel forever with no end. Wow. Stop and think about that. For a soon to be mom to hear that. Your son is going to rule forever. What a magnificent gift and what a great responsibility and weight on your shoulders. But she doesn't complain and she doesn't boast. She says I am your servant. Do as you will. That's a whole sermon on itself. No complaints no boasting. Just doing what God wants. Amazing. If you remember anything in this message remember that.
(Luke 1:39-45 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.”
So Mary's cousin is pregnant with John, the man who will prepare the way of the Lord. So that's really cool, but the most interesting part in this story is the very last phrase from Elizabeth. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from The Lord. Just like the shepherds, Mary didn't just hear the angel talk about Elizabeth and think oh cool she's pregnant, no she thought oh wow she's pregnant and I'm going to be there when this all goes down. She believed there would be fulfillment. Just like our wise men she anticipated John's birth and the fulfillment of God's words. She went and saw it for herself. She participated in God's plan.
(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.”
The magnificant. Such a beautiful song that Mary sang. Not only was it beautiful though, it shows her knowledge of God's ways and His plans. She hadn't forgotten what God was going to do. She hadn't forgotten whom God came for. She doesn't forget that it was all God's doing. She begins with saying that generations will call her blessed but not because of her works, but because of what the Almighty has done for her. She had been nothing but a servant but God has shown His power to her. Mary realized that God had come for the humble, the poor, and the hungry. She speaks of how God has sent away the proud the rich and has instead opened his arms to those who can't provide for themselves. He opens his arms to those who are his servants like their father Abraham. Just as Christ says later in Luke 5:31-32, "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" And also in Mark 10:23-27, "And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.'" Jesus fulfilled Mary's words. She was right about who Jesus came to reach out to. He came for those who were willing to listen and obey.
One last point and then we will conclude. Luke 2:16-19 "And they (the shepherds) went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."
What does it mean to ponder something in your heart. Let's do a little activity. Close your eyes. Breath in deep, now breath out. Just be still for a moment. After the psalmist quotes God and says, be still and know that I am God. Now think back to Christmases past. Think of the fun, the laughter, the family. Perhaps some of the family that used to be there isn't now. Now think of your favorite Christmas. Think about getting that one gift that you loved so much. Perhaps that's still one of your favorite thing. For me it's the Christmas that I woke up one morning to two puppies in a big cardboard box. One for my sister and one for me. My dog Henry. I picked up that dog and we played and played and I took him to the couch to show my Mo-Mo my great great grandmother who passed away within the next year. Seeing her face light up because of the joy that me and my sister had. Perhaps these memories bring tears to your eyes much like they do to mine. Y'all can open y'all's eyes up now. That's what it means to ponder in your heart. To take the entire event of a day and just think each individual part through. To stop and reflect on what it all meant. We should be doing that in our relationship with Christ. We need to take time to stop and ponder to meditate on what he's done for us and what all it actually means. God gave everything for you and He expects nothing less of everything out of you. You're his servant and he's got big plans that all you have to do is say "let's do this, I'm following your lead." They say the trinity is like a dance. And you just have to jump in there with them and follow their lead. Walk with God and even when things down here get rough and hard times come your soul can find rest in him. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Comments
Post a Comment