Joy and Light to the World
Mike Jeffery
By this Sunday excitement is almost at high fever pitch – Christmas is nearly here. Hopefully, all cards have been written and given, posted, or delivered, presents bought and carefully wrapped and labelled, food bought and ready to be prepared and cooked. Even in Church the excitement is palpable and in normal times decorated and prepared and today would see (at least in Hadleigh Baptist Church world) the Nativity and in the evening a festival of carols and readings.
Reflection suggests a more calm and measured approach. It is therefore appropriate that we stand or sit still to know what the meaning of this Sunday is about.
For the last few years, I have been using definitions from the internet of the 4 Sundays in Advent plus Christmas Day and placing these in the Newsletter and on the Church web page. These definitions have been linked to the lighting of the advent candles.
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Mary the mother of Jesus – The Candle of Joy
Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.
In our bibles Luke 1 is a long chapter and weaves together the introduction and background to the births of the two greatest and most important characters in the New Testament – John the Baptist and Jesus himself. It is worth noting the introduction to the chapter.
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
If we were in any doubt – this chapter is to remind us of the importance of the background.
There are clearly two main elements to this week’s definition – Mary the mother of Jesus – the way she deals with this awesome event and the candle of joy which is like a light shining in a dark place.
Today, we remember and celebrate Mary, the mother of Jesus – and in this rather long passage we are told of
- The appearing of the angel to Mary
- The wonderful story of Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth
- Mary’s song of joy (Magnificat)
The appearing of the angel to Mary
This event viewed in human terms would seem to be incredulous and in recent years has been the subject of debate even in the Church of England as has the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
Commentators have suggested that Luke’s account is a faithful and accurate summary of eyewitness accounts even suggesting that Luke had interviewed Mary when she was a lot older.
This suggests strongly to us -particularly in view of verse 4 “that so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
The Angel introduces himself with “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Not unsurprisingly Mary is shocked, and her immediate reaction is not rejoicing but fear. She would not have any idea of what is coming next. Both the presence of an angel and the content of the greeting would be enough to upset her.
Gabriel then drops the bombshell that
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Commentators have suggested that the language used would have pointed to elements of the Old Testament -she will conceive and bear a son (cf. Isa. 7:14). Other references to “The Most High” and the lineage of David would have suggested to Mary that this birth was very important
Mary’s reaction is typical – wouldn’t you think the same way?
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The Angel’s answer is reassuring in verses 35-37. Whether it is the actual words or Holy Spirit that convince Mary we are not told but clearly her reaction in Verse 38 is affirmation that she accepts God’s will.
Yes, this part of the story does seem incredulous but to dismiss it undermines the “miracle”. Note this is Luke’s account given that we should know its certainty. Given that Luke was a physician and would have known something about childbirth – I know I am on the “Miracle” side.
The wonderful story of Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth
If there is any doubt why this week’s Advent definition is as stated, then the account of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth tells us in no uncertain terms.
Mary clearly wanted to share the good news and hurried to Elizabeth’s home
A bit of context here – no telephone, no internet, no transport of note – this was apparently 70 miles away! This news was massive!
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth turned out to be one of great encouragement for her. If ever there had been any doubt in her heart, of which we do not read, that doubt would certainly have been taken away by the greeting she receives from Elizabeth.
Mary greets Elizabeth upon entering the house, probably by saying ‘Shalom.’ Upon hearing Mary’s voice, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, as is, evidently, the unborn baby within her. Unborn John may have leaped and kicked earlier, since babies do so during that stage of pregnancies. But the filling by the Holy Spirit and the simultaneous kicking of the unborn baby at the sound of Mary’s voice, provide Elizabeth with a clear insight of the situation. Since Mary had not heard about Elizabeth’s pregnancy before the angel told her, we may assume that Elizabeth was, up to that point, unaware of Mary’s experience. All this is revealed to her instantaneously.
Elizabeth recognizes Mary as her superior in the sense that the baby she carries will be greater than the one in her own womb. She calls Mary the mother of my Lord.’ Elizabeth was the first woman in the New Testament who recognized Jesus as her Lord.
A final encouragement for Mary is in the confirmation Elizabeth gives her about her faith in the message Gabriel had given to her. Earlier, Mary was called heroic because of her surrender to the will of God for her life.
Here, the Holy Spirit gives her the encouragement she needs in the words of Elizabeth.
Mary’s song of joy (Magnificat)
Mary’s song of praise is in answer to Elizabeth’s greeting in which she expressed to feel honoured by the fact that Mary came to visit her.
Mary’s song of praise is a piece of poetry. We can hardly imagine how a simple uneducated teenage girl from Nazareth could come up with such a piece. It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is the actual poet in her.
It is a beautiful piece and one can only imagine how pleased she was to be chosen and although seemingly uneducated the words are probably a true reflection of her faith – there is nothing that tells us that she was not a devout Jew.
It is a real shame that the Roman Catholic Church has chosen Mary to revered in the way that she has been – seen as an Intercessor with God. Rather she should be regarded as humble – yes, she says she is Blessed but not in an arrogant way – but in the way of a servant.
The whole song is mind blowing – it is a joyous outpouring of praise. She says in a relatively few words all we now believe – God is all powerful and full of mercy and grace.
AMEN and thanks Mary
Prayer
In this time of excitement and apprehension please quieten our minds to ensure that we don’t forget the “reason for the season”. However, fill our hearts with the same joy that Mary experienced as she anticipated your birth
AMEN
Lyrics
Joy to the World
Joy to the World
Joy to the world!
Joy to the world! Oh, woah
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world!
Joy to the world! Oh
Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the earth receive her King!
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the angel voices ring
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the men their songs employ
Joy to the world then we sing
And repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove (And makes the nations prove)
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the earth receive her King!
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the angel voices ring
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – full lyrics
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.