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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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HIS STORY INTRODUCTION |
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HOMEPAGE |
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JESUS THE ANTICIPATED ONE |
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PAGE 1 FORETOLD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT |
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PAGE 2 JESUS ANNOUNCED BY ST. JOHN |
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PAGE 3 EARTHLY PREPARATION |
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PAGE 4 ALL IS MADE READY |
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PAGE 5 |
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PAGE 6 |
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PAGE 7 |
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PAGE 8 |
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PAGE 9 |
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PAGE 7
LESSON #1 His Story #18/Luke 1:40-45/Blessed by the Blessed One
LESSON #2 His Story #19/Luke 1:46-56/Blessing the Blesser
LESSON #3 His Story #20/Luke 1:57-66/Birth of John the Baptizer
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LESSON #1 His Story #18/Luke 1:40-45/Blessed by the Blessed One
Thu Jun 14, 2001 8:57 am
This whole passage is a picture of spiritual excellence: the appearance of the angel to Zacharias in the Temple, the angel's appearance and announcement to Mary and then the visit of Mary with her cousin Elizabeth. The arrival of the Son of God was accompanied by some strange and wonderful events. The announcement of His coming gave a preview of His excellent character, revealed His divine as well as human nature and also identified Him as the God of the Old Testament. The announcement of His birth also foretold His coming work and purpose. This visitation from God was all the more impressive when we remember that God had
been silent in Israel for 400 years.
Realizing she would bear the Messiah, Mary went to visit her older cousin, Elisabeth. Mary may have visited Elizabeth because they had been close friends in the past or because of what the angel had told her about Elizabeth's miraculous conception.
Mary and Elizabeth were both chosen for their roles in life because of their own personal piety. God has "chosen vessels" to carry out His plans. God has a plan for each of us and we can fulfill that plan only if we meet His requirements. Though we may have failed Him in the past, we should endeavor to follow Him fully by love and faith in the "now" so that He can call, annoint and lead us in the future. And though our calling will be different from that of Mary and Elizabeth, we can know the same kind of joy, wonder, holiness, awe and love which they knew.
When Mary entered Elizabeth's house and greeted her, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and her own unborn son lept within her. Though this took place over
30 years before the day of Pentecost (the outporing of the Holy Spirit), the Holy Spirit was not only present but active in the lives of God's people, as He had been throughout the Old Testament.
As we see in Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit within a believer will respond to the pesence of Jesus; the work of the Holy Spirit is to gloryfy the Son. Though every believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit, not every believer is sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit within them. Elizabeth not only "felt" the Spirit within her, she
understood His promptings and acted on those promptings. There would be others who would encounter Mary during her pregnancy, but not everyone would rejoice in the presence of the Christ within her.
Though Mary and Elizabeth enjoyed a special relationship with God and had been recipients of special grace in this extraordinary time, there are some realities which we are common to all who know Jesus. We will have the Holy Spirit within us, we will rejoice in the presence of Jesus, we will have deep fellowship with other believers, we will sense discern spiritual realities and enjoy true worship.
As great as Elizabeth's own pregnancy was to her, she rejoiced more in the presence of Jesus. She cried out to Mary upon her arrival, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." We will only appreciate our own blessings fully as we apreciate the Bless-er. Unhappilly, most people are more interested in being blessed than in knowing the Blessed One. Elizabeth was thankful for the visitation from Mary and even her unborn son leaped within her at the sound of Mary's voice.
Mary was more highly favored than any woman, but as we read in the next passage, Mary knew she was the recipient and not the source of the blessing.
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LESSON #2 His Story #19/Luke 1:46-56/Blessing the Blesser
Sat Jul 7, 2001 11:27 am
There is no question that Mary was a very special and blessed person. She was chosen by God to carry His Son and then bring Him into the world.
Some have mistakingly thought that Mary should be honored as the Blessed One in the same sense that God is the Blessed One. However, it was clear to Mary that she was one who was blessed, because she had been blessed by the Blessed One. Her blessedness was not inherent, but bestowed. There was nothing in Mary which was worthy of honor or veneration or reverence, but rather she was, as Elizabeth had said, "Blessed...among women" (42) because she had been chosen by God. She did not have a rightful claim to be the one who would carry and deliver the Christ-Child, but rather she was a recipient of God's goodness and kindness, just as are all sinners who are in need of God's mercy.
Elizabeth did not worship Mary nor did Mary receive worship from anyone. We learn from this passage that Mary recognized herself as the recipient of the blessing and not the source of the blessing. Mary responds to Elizabeth's
words by saying, "My soul exalts the Lord." (46) Her reason, emotion, desire and will, all joined together in honoring the Lord as the beginning and ending of all she
longed for. She lifted Him up as the One who was great and greatly to be praised.
Mary went on to say, "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (47) Mary recognized herself as a person in need of salvation and her spirit rejoiced in God as being her salvation, just as He is everyone's salvation. God was her only reason for rejoicing. Not for works which she had done or for her own worthiness, but because of His great mercy and love with which He loved her did He choose her. "For He has had regard for the low estate of His bondslave." (48 KJV) Mary's claim to greatness was not based on any such foolishness that she was the "Mother of God" as the Roman Church so falsly claims, but that she was His bondslave. She was saved by the goodness of God and not because of her own worthiness, "For
He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave" (48 NASB).
She also realized that others should see that she was blessed by God, "For the Mighty One has done great thngs for me" (49), and that God was the One Who was holy, "And holy is His name." (49) Mary saw herself as the blessed, not the
Blesser. She points out that God is merciful to those who fear Him (50). Mercy can be understood as, "not receiving that which we deserve (kindness)", just as Grace can be understood as, "receiving that which we don't deserve (judgment)." Mary was a recipient of mercy as are all sinners. But mercy is given to those who fear or reverence God, showing us that Mary feared God with a holy reverence.
Mary also realized that God's greatness was not only extended to her and other individuals who would trust Him, but He would also deal lovingly and justly with all of society. He is involved in the daily needs and affairs of mankind.
Mary praised God for His might and power to scatter the boisterous (51). This also showed His ability to read the hearts of men and not just their outward behavior. He would overthrow the thrones of self rigteous rulers and exalt the humble (52). She continued to honor Him for his kindness to the poor and hungry and His justice in resisting the proud and selfishly rich (54).
Mary praised God for the help He would give to Israel, His servant, and the mercy He has always extended to Abraham's offspring (55).
What a wonder
Pastor D ful greeting they shared with each other. The days of Mary's visit with Elizabeth must have been filled with great joy and deep insight as they spent those three months together at Elizabeth's house (56).
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LESSON #3 His Story #20/Luke 1:57-66/Birth of John the Baptizer
Wed Jul 18, 2001 12:24 pm
Elizabeth's conception was miraculous, but her pregnancy was normal. It had been an interesting 9 months. During a good portion of that time, Mary had stayed with her and they had shared in their mutual blessings. This aged saint had been sustained by God and then was shown His mercy when she delivered a healthy boy (57). Word spread quickly about her good news and her friends and relatives rejoiced with her (58).
We should all live in such a way that our friends and relatives are aware of the mercies of God in our lives. On our own we have accomplished nothing and we are nothing on our own. Everything which is good about us is a gift from God, "He is the giver of every good and perfect gift." We have nothing to boast in except God and His mercy.
As with most people, Elizabeth had experienced the darker days of life but finally the light of God's mercy started to shine on her. After we pass through the difficult times and start to enjoy the brighter days, we should be sure to give Him the praise
and share our testimony of victory with others. The Bible says, "It is a good thng to give thanks to the Lord" and, "Let the redeemed of the Lord says so." It is good to give praise when things are not going our way. It is also good for us to call upon Him when we are in need. But once we are on the blessing side, we should give Him praise, for, "great is the Lord and greatly to be praised."
Just as had happened since the days of Abraham and Isaac, the parents brought their son to the Temple to be dedicated and for him to be circumcised. This symbolic ceremony represented the separation of Israelites from the world around them and also represented the cutting away of the worldliness of the
heart. As was the custom, the relatives and neighbors gathered for this high and holy time and fully expected that Zacharias' son would be named after him (59). But Elizabeth told them that he should be named "John" instead (60). Since no one in the family had that name, they thought she must be wrong and made signs to Zacharias (apparently he was deaf as well as mute) asking what the child's name should be (61-62). They were all shocked when he wrote "John" (63). They were also amazed that he began to speak and praise God (64). The people were also afraid because they were seeing the manifestation of God, after 400 years of silence (65). This news spread quickly througout the hill country of Judea (65). The people kept these events in their hearts and wondered who this child would become (66).
None of us can determine the circumstances of our own births. We cannot impress others with our conception, family, birth or any other attending events. Only God can orchestrate such spectacular and remarkable events. That is why the people said that the hand of the Lord was with John, even from his birth (66).
However, we can all impress our friends and families with the life we live after we are "born again" into the family of God. When we come into a living and loving relationship with Jesus, others should be moved with the mercy of God and the manifestation of His Spirit in our lives. They should take note of the changes which attend our lives. They should watch us and wonder what will become of us. Though John was destined for a place in history, we all have a part to play in His Story.
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