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.
Greetings are important.
When you greet someone, you recognize they are present. You know this from the times you have received or given the silent treatment.
When we have formal greetings we recognize that we are present together for a particular purpose.
This sermon and nearly every sermon I have ever preached formally greets you, “In the name of Jesus,” reads you His Word, and then calls you Christ’s “Dear saints.”
In that greeting, I am formally recognizing what you as the Church and what Christ, as Lord of the Church have called me and ordained me to do – preach and teach in no other name than in the name of Jesus and preach His Words.
By saying, “Dear saints,” we are recognizing together that the preachers major duty is not to lambast you, to condemn you and tell you what an awful group of people we are and how far we still have to go – that would be too easy –
no!
A preachers major duty is preach about how far Christ has gone for you that you, you! and me! are saints, are holy, are righteous because of Jesus and His death, resurrection and His Word which sanctifies all things, including us, dear saints. God help us be worthy of the name He has given us.
It’s hard to overemphasize how important Mary’s greeting was for Elizabeth.
[Mary] entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her 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.”
Greetings recognize the presence of someone.
In Mary’s greeting, John the Baptist recognize His Savior was at hand! He rejoiced. He’s leaping.
St Paul calls us today to have that same greeting.
Rejoice in Lord always, again I will say rejoice. Why? The Lord is at hand!
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
He’s at hand. Recognize His presence.
That’s one of the truths of Christmas. He’s present. The Word became flesh and dwells among us.
Do not be anxious about anything
Why? The Lord is at hand! How could you be anxious!
Fear not for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord.
But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.
Why? The Lord is at hand!
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
Why?
Because the Lord is at hand to give you His peace.
“Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”
God is present. Peace and joy He gives you. Peace and joy which the world cannot understand.
Our opening hymn assumed the Lord’s presence and asked an question, “O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright? Your people long to greet you, my hope my hearts delight!”
How shall we greet our Lord Jesus?
He is at hand.
He is present.
He came! He is coming! He is here now! And He will come again!
How shall we formally recognize Him? How shall greet Him?
John the Baptist leaps for joy.
Elizabeth confesses the mother of her Lord came to her!
Mary sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
How shall you greet Him?
I don’t ask you you’re doing, how things are going, or how you are feeling?
I ask how shall you greet Him?
For some, things are going really well. The Christmas mood is pretty good. Things are far from perfect, yes, but we’re pretty good. Family is pretty good. Health is pretty good. Christmas will likely turn out to feel pretty good.
God be praised. You’re in the right place. Sing with Mary that your soul magnifies the Lord, your spirit rejoices in God your Savior.
Greet Him. The Lord is at hand. He is here to thank and praise, serve and obey. He gives us all amazing gifts and He is here to help us see that it is from His hand.
The babe born in Bethlehem, which means house of bread, is also the God who provides us our daily bread, and all things needed for body and soul.
For others, it’s hard to say things are going well. Sure, we have a lot to be thankful for. A lot! More gifts than we can begin to recognize.
But it’s also a tough time of the year. People are missing at the Christmas table that we loved. Christmas, let alone life, is not the same without them.
Being surrounded by the cheers of a Merry Christmas can sometimes highlight many other sadness’s we have in family, in our bodies, in our souls deep within.
If that’s you, God be praised. You’re in the right place. Greet your Lord and Savior. Sing with Mary that your soul magnifies the Lord, your spirit rejoices in God your Savior.
Your hope is not in this world or life and most certainly isn’t in a mood and you’re feeling.
You have a joy that no one and nothing can take away. I promise that’s just true. Jesus said that and Jesus doesn’t lie.
If you’re feeling quite small than rejoice that you have a bigger than life Lord Jesus Christ, who also was conceived by the Holy Spirit, once no bigger than a dot the sharpest pencil can make,
Born of the Virgin Mary, laid in a manger for there was no room for Him in the inn,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, rejected then and now by so many of the very ones whom He came to save.
Greet Him! That’s the Him you greet! That’s the Lord who is at hand!
He is not removed from suffering. He is not removed from death or trouble and He is aware of what troubles you. He is more aware of what troubles you than you are!
Mary calls us to sing and rejoice in God, our Savior. A rescuer. He knew and knows what you need rescued from more than you do!
And the Savior whose presence brought so much joy to-little-baby-in-his-moms-womb John the Baptist that he leaped for joy,
is here for you now, calling you children of God,
having given you a new birth of water the Spirit,
promising here His mercy, His help, His blessings, His looking upon you in your little humble estate.
He fills the hungry with good things.
If you’re not feelin’ it, then He is here to give you a hunger for the things He longs to give you.
So long for the things He wants to fill you with – like newborn infants, long for the pure Spiritual milk of His Word –
like those who are dying, long for the Bread of life –
like those who are mourning, long for the comfort and promise of happy reunions and full Christmas tables,
like those who are lonely, long for the certainty of one who stands besides you and never leaves you nor forsakes you,
like those who are lost, long for the Father’s welcome arms here and a word that leads and guides you,
like those under the weight of God’s wrath, long forth blood shed for the forgiveness of your sins,
like those not feeling happy, long for a joy that no one can take away!
Greet your Lord here in this Church today.
The Church has long been compared to the virgin Mary because we bear within us the Christ. He’s put Himself here, dwelling among us
And we greet Him who greets us.
And we ought leap for joy at the sound of that truth.