THE VISITATION

We have become a very prideful people. People pride themselves in what the wear, where they live, where they work, what they drive, fishing abilities, education, how much money they saved, ... people even take pride in saying they are NOT prideful. There are many that take pride in the fact that they do not have a nice house, a lot of money, or a nice car. We also see in sports the victory dance after a touchdown or when the game is over,... or the holding up the pointer finger saying we are number one. Pride causes you to focus on yourself instead of God. Pride can lead you to judging others. Some people might walk through a store and see someone else and say "I’m glad I don’t look like him or her". I ask you, who are you focusing on? You or Christ? That other person needs Jesus just as much as you do! You are a sinner! You all suffer from a prideful heart in some fashion or another. You all fall guilty of comparing yourself to others, whether it be positive or negative. This pride also carries over into Church life. We take notice of who goes to church and who hasn’t been. Pride exists in all of you. The Bible has a lot to say about pride. Let’s listen to a few passages from the Scriptures.

Php 2:3-4Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love⁰the world nor the things in the world. ⁰If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, ⁰the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who⁰does the will of God lives forever.

Prov. 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.⁰

Scripture points out that Pride is a sin. I also want to point out that if you are thinking that this applies to your spouse, family member, or to a friend... you are guilty of judging and it applies to you too!

Our sermon text comes from the Gospel lesson of Mary visiting Elizabeth, the visitation. I want to go back and refresh in your minds what has just happened to Mary in the text right before the Gospel lesson. Scripture reads:

The angel went to her and said, "⁰Do 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 name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ⁰and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

The angel also told her:

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. ³⁷For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Mary had just found out that she was going to have God’s Son. The Gospel text gives a great teaching lesson. There is much to be read into the actions of both pregnant women: Mary & Elizabeth. Mary knew that Elizabeth was six months pregnant and Mary leaves to go visit her. The Gospel begins: ³⁹"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth." This one sentence shows us the servant nature of Mary. Let’s contrast the two women. Mary is young and a virgin while Elizabeth was old and had been barren. There are two big miracles that have taken place. Mary has become pregnant while still a virgin and Elizabeth became pregnant after her child-bearing days were over. Mary already knows that Elizabeth is pregnant and has gone to help her through her pregnancy. Mary, the Mother of God, is being a servant. Mary has much reason to be prideful and boast that her baby is God! Does she do this? No! Instead, she humbles herself through service and goes to Elizabeth to help her. This foreshadows the servant nature of Christ. Christ came not to be served, but to serve. I would venture to say that if some, being in Mary’s shoes, that is pregnant with the Messiah,.... some would want to sit back and be served. The mother of God should be treated like a Queen. However, instead of being served, Mary is willing to wash dishes, clean house and to take care of Elizabeth. Where is the pride? Mary is teaching us by her example, to put others before yourself.

Let’s proceed with the story. As Mary enters Elizabeth and greets her, two more miracles take place. Listen to the text.

"When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’"

The next miracle that takes place when Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice and the baby, John the Baptist", leaps while he is still in the womb. Why did the baby leap?... John leaped because he had just come into the presence of the Messiah. Although Jesus is still in the womb, He is still GOD! John was the forerunner of Christ, only six months older than Jesus, and He leaped through the power of the Holy Spirit.

But wait, there’s still yet another miracle. Mary has just become pregnant and would not be showing. How did Elizabeth know that Mary was pregnant? ... If you recall, Elizabeth said Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Elizabeth had no previous knowledge of the pregnancy, but she points out that Mary is pregnant. By what power is this accomplished? It is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

But wait, there is even more to Elizabeth’s proclamation. Elizabeth also acknowledges that the child is GOD! Elizabeth states: "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Elizabeth calls Mary the mother of my Lord! It must have been exciting to Mary, who I’m sure wanted to share the news of what was going on with Elizabeth, but instead, Elizabeth CONFIRMS what is going on with Mary. Elizabeth confirms Mary’s pregnancy and the very nature of the child as being the Lord. I’m sure this probably took Mary’s breath away to hear this confirmation upon just entering Elizabeth’s house.

The final statement by Elizabeth shows us a picture of Mary’s faith. Elizabeth concluded by stating "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" There are two things revealed. The first is the Lord’s revelation to Mary. How did Elizabeth know that the Lord had spoken to her? It is true that the message came from the angel Gabriel, but it was God’s message. This revelation came to Elizabeth through the Holy Spirit. The second revelation comes from the fact that Mary BELIEVED what was told to her. This must have been a true joy to Mary to hear these words coming from Elizabeth. In fact it was so much of a joy... that Mary breaks out in a song which is called the Magnificat. The Song comes from the optional portion of the Gospel reading and reads as thus:

"My soul exalts the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

"And His mercy is upon generation after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

"He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

"He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

"He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever."

Yes, the Lord has done mighty things, but nothing more mightier to US than coming down to be born of a virgin, living a perfect life, fulfilling the Law, and dying as a sacrifice for our sins. He has done this for you. We will see Him in His full glory when He returns at the Second Coming. When Mary said: "And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him", this generation after generation applies to YOU! The Holy Spirit comes to you today through His Word and brings you the forgiveness of your sins. Some of you may be concerned that you have done something that God will not forgive you for, but I’m bringing you the Gospel of Jesus Christ who died for ALL YOUR SINS! Paul writes in Colossians 1:13-14 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." We have a God who not only reached out to Mary and Elizabeth, but is reaching His arms out to you today. His message in this Advent season is that He loves you, ... He forgives you... and he has promised you that He will come back for you. Your sins are forgiven, eternal life is yours! Amen