Sunday Worship 19 December 2021 : “Blessed is she who believed”
Text: Luke 1:39-45 19 December 2021
INTRODUCTION
1. A special Angelic visit from the mighty Angel Gabriel
2. A wonderful yet humbling Greeting was given by the Angel Gabriel
3. There were uplifting insights given concerning the Child Mary was to bear
4. The Angel Gabriel mentioned that Elizabeth, a relative was with child
THE DECISION OF MARY TO VISIT ELIZABETH
1. The home of Elizabeth was the hill country in Judea
2. Mary was from Nazareth
3. The distance was more than 130 km from Nazareth
4. It was a long, arduous and hazardous journey
5. Arriving at the home of Elizabeth, Mary greeted her
THE FIRST WORD OF ELIZABETH TO MARY
1. A remarkable response
“The babe leaped in her womb, And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” Luke 1:41
a) From the little baby
i) How would a little baby know?
ii) How could a little baby respond?
iii) But Baby John could and did respond
b) Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit of God
i) The Spirit of God will give special enlightenment
ii) This enlightenment would not come from human reasoning
iii) It would be a special revelation given by the Spirit
2. A remarkable proclamation of praise
a) A special word used to translate “Blessed”
“Blessed are you among women” Luke 1:42a
b) This was the same greeting the angel Gabriel gave to Mary
“Blessed are you among women” Luke 1:28
c) This word of praise was said concerning Baby Jesus
“And blessed is the fruit of your womb” Luke 1:42b
3. The significance of this word “Blessed”
a) Quality is found in this word
b) Significance is also to be found
c) Special intrinsic blessing
4. She explained why she spoke of this special blessing
“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:43-44
a) She recognized who Baby Jesus was
i) He was “my Lord”
ii) “The baby leaped in my womb”
b) Elizabeth, the much older relative
i) Acknowledged Mary as the “mother of my Lord”
ii) It was very high honour to have even this visit from Mary
THE SECOND WORD OF ELIZABETH TO MARY
1. Elizabeth had a second word to give to Mary
“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment Of those things which were told her from the Lord” Luke 1:45
2. The word “Blessed” is a different word used by Elizabeth
a) The word used here is “makaria”
b) It is the same word used in The Beatitudes (Luke 6:21, 22; Matthew 5:3-10)
3. The significance of this word “blessed” (“makaria”)
a) It is tied to a person
b) It is tied to the person who has believed (Mary)
c) This word involves:
i) A happiness felt
ii) A special joy from God
4. A word of exhortation to Mary
a) There will be fulfilment of what the Lord had said
b) All that the Angel Gabriel had said to her would be fulfilled!
c) Mary was encouraged to hold fast to her faith
REMEMBERING WHAT MARY HAD SAID TO THE ANGEL GABRIEL
“Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
1. She presented herself as a servant of the Lord
a) A humble servant
b) An obedient servant
2. She expressed
a) Acceptance of her role as the virgin mother of the Lord Jesus
b) Faith in what the Angel Gabriel had said to her
CONCLUSION
1. The Challenge to find that wonderful blessing from God (makaria, makarios)