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Carol Sunday

Sunday, December 31, 2006

"Leap for Joy, Be Humble with Joy, and Magnify with Joy!"

Luke 1:39-55

Preached at Providence Lutheran Church in Holland, O.

By Pastor Dennis R. King

The Grace and Mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all. Amen.

For our text this morning we use the words of Mary as she magnifies with Joy her Lord. It is a powerful and exciting text. In fact, if we were to watch the events of our text being filmed one could almost imagine the director running about calling his crew to speed up the action, to raise the level of excitement and to capture the joy for those who would view the film later. Maybe some of you will get an opportunity to envision that happening if you watch the latest release “The Nativity Story.”

This morning as we look at this text, that joy which Elizabeth and Mary shared is for us to see and to share with others not only during this festive Christmas season but even in the middle of summer, even in difficult times that joy which only Jesus Christ can bring is worth listening too and sharing. Certainly this is a message which needs to be shared with all even those in captivity, the hospital, or on the verge of death. This message has an unending message of joy for us.

Let us sing---“Joy to the World”

Three thoughts come to mind as we take a closer look at this text. They are “Leap for Joy,” “Be Humble with Joy” and “Magnify with Joy”

“Leap for Joy!” This is the season for us to leap for joy as we celebrate Jesus Christ coming into our midst and into the midst of the world. Generations have leaped for joy since John, the unborn babe, first gave his leap for joy.

An article written on this text concluded, “If we pay attention to this text from Luke, perhaps once again John can make ready for the Lord a people prepared to “leap for joy.” If we listen closely, Mary and Elizabeth may help us (you and I) to make a new leap of faith. The witness of these two women can not be denied—both of them trusted greatly in God to mold and direct their entire lives. Mary moved with haste because of her great trust and Elizabeth was moved to speak boldly and joyfully at the appearance of Mary, the mother of her Lord.

But what about us, you and I, as we progress through life, and now this Christmas season? Where are we at and how is our witness? The babe John is the one that leads the way. Even as a babe not yet born, it is John who prepares the way for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is John who leaps for joy in the presence of His Savior.

There are mothers here this morning whom I am sure remember the moment of there yet unborn child. I am sure most of them would agree when I say—it is exciting when that child you carried begins to move. Didn’t you become thrilled and full of joy? Can you imagine what it most have been like for Elizabeth. A woman, supposedly barren to all of a sudden, feel her baby leap for joy. She was ready to leap for joy and almost immediately her joy was shared with Mary.

Elizabeth responses to John, her baby and through his inspiration Elizabeth is inspired and the Holy Spirit comes to her and she recognizes Mary as the blessed one among women. Mary the chosen one of God carries out His plan.

Have we got so wrapped up by the events of the moment or overwhelmed with the problems and bitterness of the world that rather then leaping for you we find ourselves burden down hoping that the season will progress quickly on. If you catch yourself thinking that way, it is time to recall the words of Luke 6:22-23.

“Blessed are you when men hate you and ostracize you and heap insults upon you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in Heaven…”

Remember too why, John, the babe, leaped for joy. This is his Savior the one for whom he is to prepare the way—calling the world to repentance and forgiveness. So like sheep skipping about we too are called to “leap for joy” and prepare the way for Our Savior (your Savior and mine) for His Coming again. Calling people to repentance and faith.

Heaping tomorrows plans and problems into today causes us to forget the real meaning of Christmas. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves and our families, shopping, planning, card sending, that we fail to even hear the message and sometimes we become so excited and joyous because everyone else is that we begin to think we know the message of Christ but do we? Do we really hear the message that brings everlasting joy the message that Jesus is our Savior.

“Good Christian Men, Rejoice”

Let us as a Christian congregation and a Christ like people help our friends, our neighbors, and others know that message. This is the ideal time for sharing the salvation story for that is what Christmas is all about. Do your best and if you get discouraged remember Luke 6: 22-23.

“Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man! Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in Heaven.”

What a position and how has it happen to me and to you that our Lord, Jesus Christ, should call us? Elizabeth reacted to her calling in this way, remembering the words of our text. “And how has it happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth reacted by be humble with joy. She recognized the babe in Mary’s womb as her own Almighty Ruler. A revelation made known to her by the work of the Holy Spirit. She humbled herself in great joy, and she humbled herself before Mary and let God use her to prophesy what Mary was yet to see. Elizabeth joy centered about Mary, the mother of her Lord, not about herself. She was humble with joy.

Elizabeth becomes for us an example and a reminder also to us to center our lives about Jesus, then others, and then ourselves for Jesus is the source of true Joy. I am reminded so often if one is struggling with their faith or failing to come to true repentance and faith it is the element of pride which quite often holds them back.

Our pride too seems to get us into trouble more often then not. Remember the words of Martin Luther, God made the world out of nothing if you are not yet nothing God can not make something out of you. Only by the grace of God are we offered the opportunity to serve as He served us—“Being humble with joy” is a response to His Grace and Love.

“O Come All, Ye Faithful”

Mary responds to God’s Grace not only by humblying herself and trusting totally in God but also she began to magnify with joy His name. Note that to magnify is to make great and glorious by what we say of a person. She bears witness to the Savior and all the grace and mercy that God, the mighty one, has shown to her. She bears witness to the fact that all God’s mercy in past generations led up to this crowning mercy, and all God’s mercy in coming generations flows out from this supreme mercy.

So also we like Mary should individually and collectively magnify with joy the name of our Lord. It has often been said, “We may magnify men too highly, but all our magnifying will not express fully the greatness and the glory of God. So what is our response, my response and your response to God’s Grace.

Remembering always that Jesus Christ’s Coming will effect all now and in preceding generations. May we in our lives emphasize the importance of sharing the message of God’s Grace with others. To magnify with joy is not just to carry on the way we have been but to make our witness for Jesus Christ greater and more glorious that we might meet the new challenges of living and witnessing for Jesus Christ in the decades to come. To magnify with joy is to sing praises to our King and to grow in our fellowship with him through prayer, His Word, His Sacraments and His fellowship as we share together His love.

May this Christmas season find you leaping for joy, humble with joy and magnifying with joy the name of Jesus, as we prepare for his daily coming into our lives.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

Amen!