Just another Christmas. Is it finally Christmas again? Sometimes I seems like we just finished all that Christmas hassle. Here we are again ready to do Christmas. At other times it seems like we have been getting ready for this Christmas for months. The fact that the shops have been marketing Christmas since before Halloween doesn't help! Sometimes it gets old.

I have number of boxes of ornaments at home. But there is one that never gets unpacked. The others are empty now. The boxes of lights have been put up. The box of curios and statues of Santas and mangers have been put all around the house. Most of the ornaments have been placed on the tree.

But one box is still full. Each year I come upon old worn out ornaments. Reindeer with no antlers and three legs. Silk ornaments that are all fuzzy and have strands of silk falling off of them. Santas that look anything but jolly.

Sometimes I feel like that. Christmas can become like a box or worn out ornaments. Too tattered and torn to put out. But that the same time too precious to throw away. Maybe something can be made out of it.

This is what the religious state of the people of God was in Elizabeth and Mary's day. A once precious and glistening beautiful thing had become torn and worn out. Hebrews recalls the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Back in the Old Testament from the time of Moses until the time of Jesus, God's people sacrificed animals in worship to the one true and living God. Back in 1400 BC that was new and refreshing. And for a long time that continued to be a very valid means of honoring and worshipping God. It was a very tangible way that they people of God could express their devotion, praise, thanks and their sorrow at having sinned.

But as good and beautiful as it was it grew old. By the time of the Old Testament prophets it has become broken and tattered. The practice of sacrifice had been misused and abused by the people charged with administering it. It had become like those tattered and torn ornaments and decorations. It was still something valuable and was not to be thrown away but it was also no longer as beautiful as it once had been. Sacrifices which had once been a means of devotion have become for most an empty ritual.

Things were still in that state in Elizabeth and Mary's day. Elizabeth and Mary and their contemporaries had been looking for something new from God. Something to replace the tarnished and tattered sacrificial system. Something to make their hearts and spirits new.

God's answer to this desire for renewal was Jesus. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were meant as a stop gap measure. They were to fill the gap between the exodus and the coming of the Son. When Jesus came he didn't just abolish or replace the old tarnished sacrificial system. He completed it. Jesus came to bring light and life and to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

For centuries God's people had been slaughtering animals in atonement for their sins. But those sacrifices never actually paid God back for the sins of the people. They were symbols of a greater sacrifice to come. They laid the ground work for the sacrifice of the Son.

And in his coming Jesus made the whole thing new. Hebrews says, "He abolishes the first in order to establish the second � we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (9-10) The old tarnished and torn symbols of the Old Testament were replaced and fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus. Elizabeth and Mary had been looking for the fulfillment of this promise. And so they rejoiced when they saw it coming to pass.

Jesus came to make all things new. I am sorry to say he probably will not do anything for the boxes of old ornaments in our houses. But he will do something for our worn out hearts and souls and our frazzled and frayed minds and nerves. All we have to do is let him.

Don't let the stress of Christmas get you down. I know it seems to be getting old. But the true meaning of Christmas never gets old. God gave his Son for the sins of the world. He sent us light and peace and new life!

Don't let this be just another Christmas. Just trust in him. Replace the worn out relics and symbols of Christmas with the real thing. Let Jesus fill you with the Holy Spirit just as Mary and Elizabeth were filled with God's presence and power. Then we can all join them in praising God for fulfilling his promise of new life to us! Let Jesus fulfill your Christmas!

Luke 1:26-38

An angel descends from heaven and visits a girl named Mary. This girl is engaged but has never known a man in the Biblical sense.

Yet the angel says, "You will conceive and bear a child who will be the Messiah the savior of the world."

How can this be?

The virgin birth causes trouble for many people. There are even some who believe in Jesus Christ who cannot bring themselves to believe in the virgin birth. I know people who, when saying the Apostles' Creed, skip over that part that says "born of a virgin." Many of these people point to the passage I read from Isaiah and argue against the Virgin Birth. If you noticed the translation I used says, "a young woman shall conceive and bear a son." But many other translations say, "A virgin shall conceive.." That's because the original Hebrew word used there could be translated either "young woman" or "virgin." If you look at the context of this prophesy you will see that the woman being referred to was the King's wife. She was a young married woman and not a virgin. She would conceive and bear a son and that was a sign of God's care for Israel. Centuries later the Hebrew was translated into Greek and the Greek word used can only mean "virgin." So Luke read the Greek and misinterpreted it. Or so they argue.

Now before I go any further let me make one thing perfectly clear. I believe in the Virgin Birth. I believe that Mary was a Virgin. And that God, not Joseph, was Jesus' Father. I also believe that Isaiah's prophesy was on two levels. On one level he was speaking of the young woman who was the King's wife who would bear a son. On the other level he was also speaking of the virgin Mary who would bear God's son. I believe that God inspired Isaiah to use that particular Hebrew word because it could be understood as both "young woman" and "virgin." And I believe that Isaiah was aware of this double meaning. If you look in Isaiah 7:15-17 he is obviously speaking of King Ahaz's son. But in Isaiah 9:6-7 he says this child will be "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." That is obviously a reference to God's Messiah who would come centuries later. I also believe in the Virgin Birth because it makes sense that if Jesus is the sinless Son of God that God would literally be his Father.

So, I believe in the Virgin Birth and I advise you to believe in it as well. However I do not consider belief in the Virgin Birth as necessary for salvation. There are many preachers and theologians who say that belief in the Virgin Birth is essential to salvation. But the Bible doesn't say that anywhere. It says God sent his Son, "so whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life."(John 3:16) In Romans it says, "if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."(10:9) All that is necessary for salvation is believing in Jesus Christ.

Having said all that, let me get back to my point. Many people have problems with the Virgin Birth. The logical incongruities make it difficult for them to accept the doctrine. How can God, who the Bible describes as light and Spirit, sire a child. How can a virgin conceive and bear a son. How can this be?

Brothers and sisters, that is exactly what Mary said. When the angel told her that she would bear a son she said, "How can this be since I do not know a man?" It even boggled Mary's mind. First of all there was this virgin business. But that was just the beginning. How could it be that God had chosen her to bear the savior when there were many more rich and powerful women. How could it be that God had chosen her time and generation from all the times and generations in history.

The angel tried to answer her question. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you. It will over shadow you. You son will be God's Son. Hey, your old aunt Elizabeth is six months pregnant as we speak." All this was an entirely accurate explanation but I imagine it still left Mary wondering. Then the real answer came. The answer to her bewilderment. I imagine Gabriel shrugging his shoulders as he said, "Nothing is impossible with God."

How can this be? Everyone knows that a virgin can't conceive and bear a child. It seems impossible that God would choose a poor peasant girl to give birth to his son. But we are dealing with God Almighty here. With God nothing is impossible!

Christmas is a mystery. "Mystery" is a word us preacher types use for something we don't really understand but believe anyway. How can it be that a virgin gave birth. How can it be that God became human. How can it be that the one who spoke the universe into being become a babbling baby. How can it be that the author of gravity must learn how to hold his head up. How can it be that a carpenter can bring hope to the world. How can it be that a poor homeless boy can bring real good news to the poor and not merely empty words like the politicians bring. How can it be that a persecuted refugee can offer freedom to the oppressed. How can it be that heavenly beings announce the birth to shepherds and leave King Herod and Caesar in the dark. How can it be that wise men cross the known world to see him while the people next door are oblivious to his birth.

Christmas is a mystery. One great big "How can it be?" I don't understand it all, but I believe in it. I believe because I need to believe. If the mystery of Christmas is not true, then we are alone in this world. If hope was not born at Christmas, if love did not come as a baby, if God was not made flesh, then we are alone and helpless. So I believe in Christmas with all my might, because without it I am without hope.

How can this be? It can be because God Almighty says it can be. Christmas is impossible by human designs and devises and conceptions. But with God nothing is impossible.

Your life, your situation, the condition of your world may seem impossible. You may say, "How can God bring a blessing out of this mess?" Let me give you a Christmas gift. It is the gift of hope, and it is wrapped in swaddling clothes and tied with a bow of impossibility. When you open it and say, "How can this be?" remember "nothing is impossible with God." When all seems hopeless and impossible remember nothing is impossible with God.

Luke 1:39-45

What expectations does an expecting mother have? What are the things they imagine about their yet to be born baby? Do they wonder if it will have black hair or blue eyes? Do they think "This one may be a great artist" or "This one may cure cancer." Do they wonder if they will be quick of temperament or slow and methodical. What expectations do they have?

Well, Luke gives us a picture of the expectations of two expectant mothers in the first century Palestine. But these are no ordinary expectant mothers. They are Mary and Elizabeth. You know, "Mary full of grace" the mother of God the virgin birth and all that. And the childless getting old Elizabeth whose husband was struck mute after entering the holy of holies. And their children were no ordinary children. One was Jesus, the son of God and the other John the Baptist, God's voice crying in the wilderness.

So what were these women's expectations? That is where it gets real interesting. They didn't need to wonder what their children would do. And angel had told Mary that her child would be the Son of God. And when John leapt in Elizabeth's womb the Holy Spirit revealed to her who was in Mary's.

So what were their expectations?

One expectation is that Mary's baby will be a source of Joy. Here were two women in the midst of oppression. One is elderly and until now childless. The other has been discovered to be with child outside of marriage. The penalty for adultery in that day was death! As women they had no say in the running of their community. As Jews they were under the thumb of a ruthless Roman empire that merely tolerated their religion and way of life.

Yet both are overcome by joy. One can understand Elizabeth's joy. She is expecting a child. But that is not why she praises God. She praises God because she has been visited by the mother of the Messiah.

And Mary praises God for the same reason. The salvation that she and all Israel have awaited is upon them. She is quite literally pregnant with the expectation of the ages. God's mercy in its purest form is soon to be born into a cruel and merciless world.

Another expectation is that Mary's baby will lead a revolution to turn the moral order on its head. Right after praising God Mary says: "He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. Pride is the root or all sin. Not only was it prideful desire that lead Adam and Eve to commit the first sin, but it is pride that leads us all to declare ourselves morally superior to God when we break his law.

But Jesus has come to turn all that around. He has come as a revolutionary bent of subverting the proud of this world. Through his humility he will bring the proud to defeat.

Jesus could have come in a chariot of fire with legions of angels. But he came in humility and he died in humility. And through his death sin was ultimately defeated. And through his blood the moral order, or disorder, of our sinful hearts was subverted.

Another expectation is that Mary's baby will lead a social resolution. Moved by the Holy Spirit Mary says, "He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly." We can see this in his birth itself. Jesus came not to the palaces and principalities of this earth. Instead he lifted up a humble but faithful young girl.

But this was only a harbinger of thing to come. Jesus would continue to bypass the governors and religious leaders of this world and go straight to the people. He would teach and preach to the masses. He would lift up the lowly by healing them.

Jesus certainly lifted up the lowly during the years between his birth and his death, but that is but a foreshadowing of things to come. Jesus will come again and he will cast down the powerful. The evil powers and principalities of this world will be done away with the meek shall inherit the earth!

Yet another expectation is that Mary's baby will lead an economic revolution. Finally Mary said, "He has filled the hungry with good things and he has sent the rich empty away." In this world people amass wealth. Some gather things and resources they don't need but simply want. The end result is that some lack the things the need.

Jesus came to turn that state of affairs on its head! Didn't he say "blessed are you poor for yours is the Kingdom of God."(Luke 6:20), and "Woe to you that are rich for you have received your consolation."(Luke 6:24).

Jesus came to make right the economic wrongs of the ages. He does it today through Christians who work for economic justice. This revolution takes place where ever people share their wealth with those who are in need. It happens where ever people work for better working conditions and benefits.

In short Jesus came to be a revolutionary and would drastically transform the world and people's lives. He came to bring Joy out of sadness. He came to bring righteousness out of sin. He came to bring down the powerful and lift up the humble. He came to feed the hungry and send the rich empty away.

Has Jesus changed your life? Has he lead a revolution in your heart and soul. Has he transformed your weeping to gladness and your sin to righteousness. If not then let him because that is why he came.

And if he has changed your life then join the revolution. Join the battle against economic injustice. Make subverting the powers of pride, prejudice and materialism your quest. There is a revolution taking place! That is what Mary was expecting! The birth, not just of a son, but the birth of a new age!

What are your expectations?

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Luke 1:39-55

How much do you want Christmas? Not how much do you want for Christmas, but how much do you want Christmas itself? Only one more day until Christmas. I know everyone is getting excited. Especially the children.

When I was a little boy I used to always want Christmas to come really bad. It would hit me when I heard a Christmas song for the first time. "You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why..." Once those images of St. Nick and Christmas trees were planted in my head I became impossible to live with. At every turn I would ask my parents, "How many more days until Christmas? I was too young to comprehend such lengths of time. They all seemed like and eternity to me. So I would forget and have to ask again. But I needed to ask anyway. It seemed important for me to know how long it was. I wanted Christmas so bad that I had to keep asking. I just couldn't wait for that morning that I would wake up and see the presents under the tree. Christmas was something special to me then. It was a joyous experience. It was so special because I wanted it so bad.

But I am a man now. I no longer think like a child. I can't be bothered with such things, I have more important things to think about. I have children to raise and a home to support. What if something should happen, who will fulfill my obligations. Those are the things on my mind. I have come a long way from those childhood days. I have been to college and Seminary. I have studied about the Annunciation and the incarnation. I have read books about the theology of Christmas. I have put childhood behind me and I have gone on to more important things.

But each year about this time, usually when I hear a Christmas carol or song, there is this little boy inside me who really wants Christmas. And because that little boy really wants Christmas, I begin to want Christmas. Oh, I think I know all about Christmas with my theology and philosophy. But I have discovered that the little boy in me knows more about Christmas than all the book I have read put together. That little boy wants Christmas. And as soon as I let myself look forward to Christmas, I begin to want it like that little boy. And through that little boy I find a joy in Christmas that I wouldn't otherwise.

Mary and Elizabeth in our lesson are just like that little boy. Just as a child really wants Christmas to come, they really wanted the Christ to come. When I was a little boy the most I had to wait for Christmas was 365 days. The Children of Israel had been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. As a child I wanted Christmas just to open presents and have fun. But the Children of Israel wanted Christ, because they needed a Savior.

Elizabeth and Mary really wanted the Christ to come. Their country had been devastated by centuries of wars. One nation after another had conquered them. Looted their cities and carried off the best of Israel to decorate a foreign court. They were living under the oppression of a pagan Roman government. They couldn't turn to their religious leaders for comfort. The Pharisees and Sadducees had corrupted most of the religious practices of God's people in those days. Their whole nation was in a shambles. Their only hope was with God. Only the Messiah, the Son of God, could save them.

Oh, Mary and Elizabeth really wanted the Christ to come. All those poor children of Israel wanted the Messiah to come. So when Elizabeth knew that the Messiah would arrive soon she was ecstatic. At the sound of Mary's voice John leapt within Elizabeth's womb. John's calling in life was to announce the coming of the Christ. Even before he was born he jumped to tell Elizabeth that the long hoped for Messiah was in Mary's womb. Overjoyed Elizabeth blurted out, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Caught up in the joy Mary praised God in a psalm. They had been praying for all those years and the Messiah was finally coming! Mary was literally pregnant with the expectation of the ages.

Mary and Elizabeth's joy shows us how much they wanted that first Christmas to come. But how much do we want Christmas? Mary and Elizabeth wanted Christmas as much as they did because they knew they needed it. They needed liberation. They needed a Savior. To want Christmas like they did we have to admit that we need Christmas.

That is not easy to do. It takes humility to say "I need Christmas." We all know of people who are in need but they are too proud to accept help. We all want to believe that we are self sufficient. To say aloud "I need help" is a dangerous thing. We leave ourselves vulnerable to attack. To desire something we cannot obtain by ourselves is dangerous. But to say "I need help" also sets us free. It sets us free to accept liberation form the powers that have overcome us. It also sets us free from the impossible burden of saving ourselves. But Mary and Elizabeth needed something. They needed a savior. They were also humble enough to admit that they needed Christ. They were humble enough to let themselves desire and pray for the coming of Christ. Because of their humility they were also free enough to share in his joy when he did come.

This story, a story of two women, one who was barren, both of them powerless, shows us that God comes to the humble. God comes to the humble because the proud will not receive him. God could have chosen the daughter of Herod, or the daughter of Pilot, or even the daughter of Caesar to be the mother of Christ. Instead God chose an unknown woman of humble origins. In our lesson Mary says, "my spirit rejoices in the Lord my Savior, who has regarded the low estate of God's servant." That is the humility I am talking about. Mary acknowledges her low estate and her need for a savior. God comes to humble people in humble places because they know they need God's Savior. So Christ came to a humble family and was born in a humble place, because they knew they needed him. And because they knew they needed him they could rejoice at his coming.

We today need Christmas. We need Christmas because we need Christ. We live in dark times. People are dying from sickness and violence everyday. We live in a world where people kill each of the for mere money. We live in a world where often times people don't care for one another. Even we Christians are often so wrapped up in our own lives that we fail to see the pain in others. In our dark world we need the light of Christ. A light that can bring hope. A light that can bring joy. We need the joy of Christ's coming into our lives so that we can praise God like Mary and Elizabeth.

But sometimes we are so proud that we are unable to see the gift of life which Christ is offering us. We think we don't need help. If we cannot ask for help how will we receive it. We must acknowledge our need to have it met. We must recognize the darkness in which we dwell so that we can see the light that God is sending us. And once we see it we can praise God for sending it.

To know the joy of Christmas we must first admit our need for Christ. Like Mary and Elizabeth we must yearn for the messiah to come to us. We must abandon our pride and say, "I need you God." We must see the need to fall on our knees and plead with God to send a savior. And like a child we must want Christmas to come so bad that we cannot stand it. Then when the Christ comes we will know the joy of salvation. Like a Child our eyes will grow big at the sight of the great gift we have received. Like Mary and Elizabeth we will praise God from the depths of our hearts. Then we will be able to raise our voices with the hosts of those who have been redeemed and sing.