Advent 4

Elizabeth extols the blessedness of Mary. Today there is a fight over Mary. Some want to make Mary equal to God others consider her of little value at all. Elizabeth considered her blessed. Why?

1.   Blessed because Mary was chosen as the mother of the Lord. V 42 “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear”

Mary is just an ordinary girl. Yet, she is chosen by the Father to work His will in this world. Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the will of the Father. Jesus is born of a virgin to fulfill Scripture. Jesus came into this world according to a divine plan.  The story of Christmas reminds us that God is in control of all of these events that lead to the birth of Jesus. He is in control of the events of this world and especially is He in control of the events of your life – every single detail!  Nothing is left to chance. If He so orders the events of Mary's life, how much more will He be more then able to order our days to bring them to completion according to His perfect will?    

Transition: Mary is blessed because she has been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus – this is no ordinary child – He is the Savior of the world!

2.      She’s blessed because Mary’s child is the Lord! V 43 – But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

As soon as she learns from the angel Gabriel that she will carry Jesus, Mary leaves the tiny village of Nazareth. She leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is expecting. Elizabeth will give birth to John the Baptist. This is not a chance meeting. Everything goes according to plan, the Father's plan. Although we might not be able to see it, there is obviously something miraculous happening here. God is directing these events. Mary, who at this moment is less then a few days pregnant, is caring the Savior of the world within her.

When Mary's voice reaches the ears of the Baptist, John leaps for joy; for he is in the very presence of the holy Son of God. What a miracle, what a blessing for us today. If John can hear the voice of Mary and recognize her voice; if John can recognize the presence of Christ before he is born, should we be surprised that infants today can recognize the voice of their Savior even before they are born?

3.      Blessed because Mary believed the Word of the Lord. V 45 – “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished”

Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father. In faith, we trust the Father to work His will in us. The will of the Father was simply to do the work of redemption in this world. Jesus came to break the bondage of the devil, death, and sin. He came to be our substitute. He came to live under the Law perfectly. He came to take our sin and to suffer and die for the sin of the world. All He asks of you this day is to believe in this plan of salvation. “Blessed are those who believe that what the Lord has said will be accomplished!”

Mary is truly blessed. Blessed, because she was chosen as the mother of the Lord. Blessed, because Mary’s child is the Lord. Blessed, because Mart believed the word of the Lord. “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”