Tracking The Package Series

Introduction:

Package shipping has come along way. Usually, you receive an email from the seller telling you that your package has shipped, and giving you your tracking number. You go to the carrier’s page and enter your tracking number, and most of them will ask you if you want shipping updates, and if you do, you just put in your email address. The day it goes out for delivery to you, you get an email saying your package is out for delivery. And after you have received the package a couple of hours, you get a final notice that your package has been delivered. We all know the routine of tracking the package. Right?

You may be asking, why are you talking about this when you should be preaching a Christmas sermon. Well, the passage today we have chosen to read if you are breaking it down and putting it in language simple enough for us to understand, it is telling us that the package has been shipped, and it's on its way to being delivered. But I have to say to you the Scripture is quite clear, this is no ordinary package, this is Christ the Lord.

So, let’s read our passage and see what we can learn.

Scripture:

Luke 1:39-46 (NKJV)

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,

Point #1

THE PACKAGES UNDER THE TREE SOMETIMES GETS MORE ATTENTION FROM US ON CHRISTMAS DAY THAN THE PACKAGE DELIVERED TO US FROM HEAVEN. BUT THIS PASSAGE CHALLENGES US TO PUT OUR FOCUS ON THE PACKAGE FROM HEAVEN THIS CHRISTMAS.

Mary, some days after talking with the Angel Gabriel, went to see her cousin, Elizabeth, in the city of Judah. When Mary arrived, John the Baptist, in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Why did he leap for joy? It was not because Mary came; it was that she was carrying the package from heaven.

The Scripture says that Elizabeth was excited. When people get excited, they talk with a loud voice. It is said that she spoke with a loud voice. Elizabeth is excited about something, but it is not about Mary coming to visit her; it is about the special package in her womb-Christ. Blessed is the fruit of your womb! And we know from verse 46, Mary is excited, but not because Elizabeth is pregnant or because the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped, it is because of the Christ child in her womb as she proclaims, “my soul magnifies the Lord.”

So, it is Christmas time, and in this passage, there are many things those involved in our story could have been excited about. Mary and Elizabeth could have excited about seeing one another; they could have been excited that Elizabeth is pregnant after being barren; they could have been excited about the baby leaping in Elizabeth’s womb, but they are excited about Christ coming into the world. In each one of our homes, it will soon be Christmas time, are we excited about Christ coming into the world?

At Christmas time, there are so many things that we could be excited about. Some may be excited about the gifts under the tree; some may be excited about the family coming all together; some may be excited about all the great foods that are being prepared.

We are challenged by John the Baptist, Elizabeth, and Mary to be excited about the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. You can show your excitement about Christ this year by reading the Christmas story before you open your presents. Maybe before you sit to eat lunch, go around the room and have each person say one reason why they believe that Christ is the greatest gift of all (and you can not use someone else’s reason). And finally, before you dive into those desserts, why don’t you sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Let’s make Christmas about Him!

POINT #2

THE SPECIAL PACKAGE OF CHRISTMAS REMINDS US THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING IN OUR LIFE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED GOD WORKING IN THEIR LIFE.