Luke
1:26–38—What a shock it must have been for this
pious young woman to learn that she, not having known a man, would give birth
to a baby boy. And no ordinary boy, but God Himself, the second Person of the
Trinity! Due to the miracle wrought through the Holy Spirit, Child born would
be ‘true God, begotten of the Father from
eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.’ The Blessed Virgin
is, therefore, truly the Mother of God, and her Son, the Savior of mankind, is
properly named ‘Jesus,’ that is, ‘Yahweh saves.’
The promise told in the Old Testament lesson is fulfilled in this week’s
Gospel lesson. A messenger from heaven comes to a young girl in Nazareth to
tell her that she is to be the mother of the Messiah. Joseph was a son of
David. By physical nature Jesus was a son of David. He was also son of God and
his kingdom was to be eternal. This was all the LORD’s work, for the child
would be the produce of the Holy Spirit. Humbly and submissively Mary consented
to be Gods’ instrument in bringing his Son on earth as a human being.
From the great Advent hymn, “O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
O come Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy
tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times
didst give the Law
In cloud and
majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O
Israel!
O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning
bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.
Lectionary
Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
O Come,
O Come Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis
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