Luke 1 vv 39-45

Two Women Get Excited About

The First Christmas!

Part of the story as told by Luke,,,,

A few days later

Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea,
to the town where Zechariah lived.
She entered the house
and greeted Elizabeth.
At the sound of Mary’s greeting,
Elizabeth’s child leaped within her,
and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry
and exclaimed to Mary,
“You are blessed by God
above all other women,
and your child is blessed.
Why am I so favoured,
that the mother of my Lord
should visit me!
When you came in
and
greeted me,
my baby jumped for joy
the instant I heard your voice!
You are blessed,
because you believed
that the Lord would do
what he said.”

[The second part of the story tells about Mary’s response to all this!]
 Getting really excited about Christmas!
1. INTRODUCTION
What do you find most exciting about Christmas?
Father Christmas, Christmas Trees. Christmas Dinner, Presents?
This Christmas has a special “buzz” in the air - 3 religious events:
Haj finished yesterday – Christ’s birth 25th – Eid in between
For Mary the most exciting thing about the first Christmas was:
having a baby - a very special baby!
Mary couldn’t wait to tell someone about it. But who?
Her older cousin, Elizabeth, perhaps? Didn’t the angel say
something about her also having a baby?
So Mary hurries off to tell E. what is happening to herself…
And how did Elizabeth take the exciting news?
Well, that’s what our passage tonight is all about…
For, in Luke chapter 1 verses 39 to 45, Luke tells us all about
How did Elizabeth Respond to Mary’s Exciting News
• Instead of mutual congratulation, E. focuses on Mary’s
wonderful pregnancy
1. E recognised that Mary was special.
“You are blessed by God
above all other women,
Note E’s humble attitude:
• She thinks about Mary’s baby before her own
• She humbly acknowledges how honoured she is by Mary’s
visit
2. E. recognised that Mary’s baby is special.
“Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should visit me!”
3. E is filled with the Holy Spirit: so she could recognise Jesus!
But it wasn’t only E, who recognised Mary and her unborn baby
The truly amazing thing: E’s own unborn baby recognised M’s baby!
“my baby jumped for joy the instant I heard your voice!”
It is as if the unborn John recognises who it is that Mary is
carrying in her womb; i.e. Jesus the Messiah!
• The unborn John anticipates his later relationship with Jesus
– joyful & inferior
At weddings our anticipation increases when we hear the drums
announcing the arrival of the groom.
John B. was to announce the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah.
“I am not the Christ, but I am sent ahead of him…the friend…is full
of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice….He must become
greater: I must become less.” - Jn 3:29f We conclude:
• 2. It seems not only E. was inspired; so was her baby!
Which is not surprising when we remember: “He will be filled with
the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb” - Lk 1:15
Yesterday the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Environment:
“Eid: Abraham sacrificed his son: but God’s greater sacrifice!
5. APPLICATION
Who takes central stage today?
When we lose the true wonder of Christmas, we lose the meaning of
Christmas, and we lose Jesus!
We know now that Jesus is the Son of God and our Saviour, so it is
easier for us to honour him now.
Or do we? Do we honour Jesus for who he is and for what he has
done?
Do we really allow Jesus to take centre stage – at Christmas?
Or is it the secular trimmings? (F Xmas, Xmas Trees, etc)
Or even the religious trimmings! (Angels, shepherds, wise men,)
Don’t lose Jesus himself in all the excitement of this Christmas!
6. LESSON
Surely this story has a message for us today:
Be excited about Jesus this Christmas (even leap for joy!)
&,
rather than being proud of what you are doing for God,
be humbled by what God has done for you!
Have an exciting Christmas this year!