ADVENT 4, B – December 21, 2008

SCRIPTURES – Psalm 19; 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Great and important things can be indicated in simple little ways: a wink; a gesture; a word. Such was the case when the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary. In Luke’s account of that momentous meeting the little Greek word idou, which means, “see,” and which our text translates, “Behold,” appears three times. idou, “Behold!” – look, see, stand up and take notice! Something great and important, even life-changing, is happening!

Mary’s pregnancy would indeed be something extraordinary. A pregnant virgin? How could it be?! Who would believe it?! Think of what could happen, of what this unexpected and miraculous pregnancy would mean:

q   False accusation and slander, with whispers behind one’s back, knowing winks and nods;

q   The loss not only of respect and honor but also exclusion from community and friends and perhaps even family;

q   A father’s anger and banishment in dishonor as a sinner;

q   A life of poverty and deprivation and loss;

q   Even death itself as a guilty sinner.

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Could you say this? Can you agree to being the Lord’s servant and accepting what He requires of you, even if this will mean enduring slander and rejection? Well, I ask you: how can you not? After all, will God ever fail to love you and take care of you? Is the Creator of heaven and earth weak and unable to help you, whatever your need?  If God gives you a task, one which is greatly important but which will bring hardship and scorn, will you respond, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”? It would be incredibly selfish to not do so, considering the fact that the One who gives this task to you is the One who not only gives you life and breath but also the forgiveness of every sin and eternal life itself. How could we say no and turn our backs on such a good and gracious God?

Thanks be to God that Mary did not do that. And yet, she who offered up her life to God, saying, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord!” was prompted to answer thus because of a prior “Behold.” “Behold!” Gabriel had said to her. Look, Mary! See! Stand up and take notice!

“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

A great and mighty and eternal Son, the Son of God Himself, would be born of her! And, as to how it would happen that she, a virgin, would conceive the very Son of the Most High God, she is told: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Overshadow you – what significant words! The same bright cloud of God’s glorious presence which led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and which Moses later saw overshadowing and then filling the sanctuary God had directed him to build – an event that he had written about at the end of the book of Exodus (Ex. 40:35) and which Mary had undoubtedly learned – this glorious presence of God would now overshadow and fill Mary. She would become God’s temple! Behold, indeed. How incredible that the glorious and awesome God who overcame all the power of Egypt and divided the waters of the Red Sea with a breath would now enter her, filling her womb and becoming a lowly and weak and tiny child within her! God Himself becomes a humble servant. How could she refuse any service He asked of her, no matter what it would mean and what it would cost her in her life? “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

On this day in which we hear of Gabriel’s visitation and Mary’s humble response to His words, we should focus especially upon the humble incarnation of the Son of God in her womb. “Behold!” – look, see, stand up and take notice! In fulfillment of God’s ancient promise to make an eternal kingdom for His people through David. the almighty and eternal Son of God becomes incarnate in Mary’s womb! He is the One who will endure:

q   False accusation and slander, with whispers behind one’s back, knowing winks and nods;

q   The loss not only of respect and honor but also exclusion from community and friends and even family;

q   A life of poverty and deprivation and loss;

q   A father’s anger and banishment in dishonor as a sinner. On the cross He will bear our sins before God the Father, and so be rejected by His Father to endure His eternal anger and punishment as a sinner in your stead, that you might never face this.

q   He will then endure even death itself and the sufferings of hell as a guilty sinner.

All this He will endure for you to free you from your sin and bring you into God’s eternal love. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” – this is what the Son of God says to His Father on your behalf. He has come as your servant, that your every refusal to serve and honor God, whether from fear or doubt or unwillingness to suffer – no matter what the excuse or what the sin – might be forgiven you. He came in humility to serve you and fill you and make your body to be His temple, His dwelling place, in which you might serve God in whatever way He directs.

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary could respond thus, and so be a vessel for God’s use, because she knew that the almighty God, her Savior, was with her. He is also with us! Respond to God, then, as Mary responded. Honor God with your willing obedience to His command-ments, with your loving service to others, and with your willingness to endure scorn and suffering for the sake of His name.             (Close with Epistle, Rom. 16:25-27)