Our gospel reading today actually starts in the middle of the story. It goes with the rest of the first chapter of Luke, which of course we usually don't hear all in one reading. So I'd like to start today with a bit of a review. Many of you are probably familiar with the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and announcing that she will soon become the mother of the Son of God. However, this is actually the second announcement of a birth that takes place in the gospel of Luke. Do any of you remember what the first announcement was?

The first announcement was made to Zechariah, an elderly priest who was working in the temple (Lk. 1:5-20). We are told that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were getting on in years, and that they had never been able to have any children. And so, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the temple, and Zechariah is told that he and his wife Elizabeth will have a son whose name is to be John. John will be set apart for a special task in his life: He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. This is the angel's message to Zechariah.

So - how does Zechariah respond to this announcement? He looks for proof. He says, "How will I know that you have told me the truth? Don't you know how old Elizabeth and I are?" And because Zechariah does not believe the angel's message, he is left unable to speak until the day when John is named and circumcised.

Now, all of this is important because it is in total contrast to Mary and her reaction when the angel Gabriel comes to her with a similar message (Lk. 1:26-38). In fact, Gabriel's message for Mary is probably even more unbelievable than the message was for Zechariah. For Mary is told that even though she is a virgin, she is going to have a son. Her son will not just be a prophet like John, but will be the Son of God, who will reign forever over God's people.

Now, it's not as if Mary doesn't have any questions. She does want to know how on earth she's going to have a child when she is still a virgin. And so the angel tells her that it will be by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel also mentions the miracle that has taken place for Mary's relative Elizabeth, who is already six months pregnant, and promises that with God, nothing will be impossible (Lk. 1:35-37). In all of this, the truly amazing thing is the faith that Mary exhibits. No more questions. No demands for proof. She simply says, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Lk. 1:38).

All of this has happened before we even get to today's gospel reading. So we've got Zechariah the priest who doesn't seem to have much faith at all in what the angel has to say. We've got Mary the peasant girl who not only believes the angel's message, but offers herself in God's service. And now, we have the infant John the Baptist - only six months in his mother's womb - who recognizes the presence of Mary and of the infant Jesus in her womb.

Part of the angel's message to Zechariah is that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth (Lk. 1:15). His mother, Elizabeth, is also filled with the Holy Spirit, which is how she knows that the child in her womb has just leaped for joy. Think about that for a moment. Zechariah, who has been around for quite a few years and has served many years as a priest, is quite understandably skeptical that he and his wife will be able to have a son. John, who was conceived only six months ago and is still in his mother's womb, senses Jesus' presence right away and leaps for joy. How true it is when the Scriptures say that out of the mouths of babes and infants has come perfect praise (Mt. 21:16)! Who are we as adults to try to make pronouncements upon what children are able to sense and believe? Who are we to say that a child doesn't get anything out of being baptized, or doesn't have enough faith to receive the bread and the wine at the Lord's table? There is good reason that Jesus told his disciples that they needed to become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 18:3 ) -- child-like, but not childish.

How difficult it is for adults to believe, and how easy it is for children! And yet, the one thing that we are asked to do is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who has saved us from our sins. We are saved by grace, through faith, for service (Eph. 2:8-10 ). The infant John believes in Jesus. Mary believes in Jesus. Zechariah believes later on, but initially wants some proof. For us, what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ?

There is an excellent definition of what it means to believe that is given by Brian Stoffregen (http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke1x39.htm). He says that to have faith is "to think and act as if something were true - whether or not it can be proven." Mary thinks and acts as if the angel's message is true. How do we think and act when we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, our Saviour?

First of all, when we believe in Jesus, we know that he has wiped out the power of sin. We come to God, acknowledging that we have sinned, and we receive God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Then, we go and sin no more. That means that we stop doing things that are harmful to ourselves or to others or to our relationship with God. There is no such thing as believing in Jesus and yet intentionally and consciously choosing not to live in love for God, for ourselves, and for the people around us. Believing in Jesus does not change our sinful human nature, but it does change the choices that we make in our lives.

A second thing that happens when we believe in Jesus Christ is that we think and act as if our future, our life and our death are in God's hands. This means that rather than succumbing to fear, we bring everything to God in prayer. Rather than worrying about what bad things might happen to us or to other people, we continue to live our lives in the service of others and to the glory of God, knowing that no matter what happens, our lives are ultimately in God's hands. And, when our time for death draws near, we approach it in quietness and trust, knowing that Jesus Christ has conquered death and will claim as his own all those who have put their faith in him.

Finally, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we think and act as if the material things of this world are only temporary. Certainly, we are living in this world, and we need a certain amount of food, shelter and clothing in order to be able to live. Yet, there are so many other things that are simply "window dressing" - things that may be nice to have but aren't really needed. When we believe in Jesus Christ, our greatest joy is to be able to give to God and to others. For love that is so deep and wide as what God has given to us is meant to be shared.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It means that sin and fear and greed do not control our lives. It means that we have left behind our self-centered approach to life and live instead with love for God and for the people around us. It means that we imitate Jesus, using our lives to glorify God through service to others. It means that, just like Mary (Lk. 1:45), we are blessed, for we have believed what God has promised: life in all its fulness, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Jn. 10:10). Amen. May it be so!

Advent 4(C) Luke 1:39-55 December 21, 2003 St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church

? 2003 Lynn Hutchison All Rights Reserved