Mary's Song

 What is the biggest surprise you have ever had? David Redding describes his surprise about a time in his earlier years when “coming home” meant so much to him. He had been away at war and was coming home after several years. When the bus dropped him a long way from home, he wondered if Teddy, his beloved dog, would still remember him.

So, coming home that first time from the Navy was something I can scarcely describe. The last bus stop was fourteen miles from the farm. I got off there that night at about eleven o’clock and walked the rest of the way home. It was two or three in the morning before I was within a half mile of the house. It was pitch dark, but I knew every step of the way. Suddenly, Teddy heard me and began his warning bark. Then, I whistled only once. The barking stopped. There was a yelp of recognition, and I knew that a big black form was hurtling toward me in the darkness. Almost immediately, he was there in my arms. To this day, that is the best way I can explain what I mean by coming home. [1]

That is the kind of surprise Mary received after traveling the 100 miles from Nazareth to Judea to visit her relatives, Zechariah and Elizabeth. When Mary entered the door, she received a reception she could not have imagined. The Holy Spirit was waiting for her: just six months in the womb, John leaped for joy. Then, Elizabeth prophetically announced that Mary was the mother of the Messiah. Mary responded with a beautiful song. Mary, with an unspeakable joy, sang the first song of the Incarnation. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46). Though none of us can make God bigger, we can enlarge how we see and experience him. We magnify God when we take him into our thinking and see new aspects of his greatness.  This is what happened to Mary. After her divine encounter with the angel Gabriel, she began comprehending his message, which enlarged her thinking about God. Her soul enlarged the Lord, and her mouth poured forth greater thoughts than she had ever felt.

Mary sang: “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). This is a statement of wonder and surprise that all future generations would call her blessed. It had to be an incredible thought; no wonder she surrendered it to God in praise.

Mary says that God fills those who are hungry: “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” Luke 1:53). Those who come with hunger for God will find something, and those who do not will go away empty. Spiritual hunger is the prescription for good spiritual health. Nothing could be a greater liability than a spirit of self-sufficiency. When we come hungry, we will find spiritual food from God.

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[1] Charles Swindoll, Joseph, (Word Publishing, Nashville, TN., 1998), p. 165-166.

 

The Sonrise

The closing lines of Luke’s first chapter describe the birth of Jesus using an incredible metaphor: a coming sunrise. Luke writes, “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven” (Luke 1:78).

I love to look at the sunrise with all its splendid colors. I stepped out of my office yesterday to watch the sunrise. I watched as the light started to come. I could see the backlit trees where the intensity was growing. Then suddenly, the sun appeared—that overwhelming ball of light. I immediately had to turn my eyes away. What a powerful metaphor describing God’s Son coming to this dark planet, which we call Christmas. Jesus’ earthly life began as he was born of a virgin in a lowly stable.

The night before that sunrise had been long and dark. As the centuries passed, his people waited and always hoped; only occasionally were there flashes of hope from God’s Word. The prophet Malachi said, “But, you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2).

Having been raised on a farm, I have seen the calves leap when they are released into the pen. It is quite a sight to see. They leap as if to say, “I am “finally free.” We can also be thrilled about this event like no other in the history of the world. Christmas brings us joy, not just for celebrating the traditions but for the long-awaited sunrise.

God waits for us to acknowledge that we need his grace. He is not moved if we depend on our own righteousness. However, when we recognize we are desperate and willing to repent, he receives us with open arms.

Once, while I was away speaking in California and my family was back in Puerto Rico, I received a call from my son, Eric. He said, “Dad, we have a serious problem. We locked the keys in the car. I know you have an extra set under the car, but I can’t find them. I don’t know what to do.” I told him where to lie down, which arm to lift, and in which direction to move it until he found the keys. That is the way it works with God. You start by saying, “I don’t know what to do.” “I” need help.” “I have a serious problem here.” God knows what to do but won’t until we acknowledge our distress.

God will allow himself to be found if we humble ourselves: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, (Jeremiah 29:13-14). When you play hide and seek with a small child, you let yourself be found. It is that way with God when we really want to find him.