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.
Make no mistake; Mary has good news about what God is doing in her life. And when you have good news, you want to tell others. Mary is just like everybody else; she wants to tell someone. But she is wise beyond her years because she heads off to Elizabeth’s home to tell her the Good News. It is no small journey because it is about 120 kilometers or about 80 miles, which would take about four days to travel.
But why Elizabeth? But why someone so far away? It had to do with what the Angel Gabriel told Mary when he appeared to her. The angel told Mary about her miracle, but he also told Mary about Elizabeth's miracle. In Luke 1:36 it says:
36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
Here is the point: if you tell people in whom God is not working in their life about what God is doing in your life, they will never understand what you are telling them. They may even think you are crazy. But if you tell a person whom God is working in their life what God is doing in your life, they will understand completely.
Mary didn’t tell the Roman governor; she did not tell the High Priest, nor did she not tell the Sandeherin. The Angel did not tell Mary not to tell certain people; in fact, the angel did not say anything about who she could tell and could not tell. So, why not tell them? If God is not working in their life and you tell them, first they will not understand, and secondly, they will put you down. I can hear the conversation now if she told them that she is pregnant because the Spirit of God overshadowed her, and now she is carrying the Son of God in her womb and all this was revealed to her by an angel. Their response would probably be: Mary, you are crazy.
Have you ever told someone what God is doing in your life, and they think you lost a screw because God is no working in their life. And we all got some type of putdown. You are crazy; you are getting too spiritual; you have been hanging out with those Christians too long.
Point #3
THE PACKAGES UNDER THE TREE DON’T CHANGE LIVES; THE PACKAGE FROM HEAVEN CHANGES LIVES.
If I buy a used second-hand truck, I would be proud of it until you drive up with a brand new truck with all the bells and whistles. The thought would cross my mind why couldn’t I have that. It is human nature. But when Christ enters your life, it changes things. You are genuinely happy for that person.
In our passage, some emotions could have shown themselves in our passage that didn’t and I know it is because the presence of Christ changes things.
Mary could have exhibited pride. She is a 13 or 14-year-old girl carrying in her womb the Son of God. But as we read our passage, Mary shows no pride because Christ changes lives.
Elizabeth, a woman in her seventies is carrying John the Baptist could have been a little envious that Mary is carrying someone greater than John the Baptist. Why couldn’t my child have been the greatest? You don’t see any of that because Christ changes things.
Elderly Jewish women pride themselves on being wiser than their younger counterparts. It is the custom that the younger woman is to pay respect to the older woman. But in our story, Elizabeth honors Mary when she says blessed are you among women. So, Elizabeth exhibits humility.
Let me tell you, the Christ of Christmas can change lives. Today, if your life needs changing you need to meet the Christ of Chri
