Scripture: Luke 1:30-31; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 60:1-2 Series: Advent
An Advent sermon on Luke 1:30-31 (with Isaiah 52:7 and 60:1-2) whose refrain is ‘God is here for you.’ It proclaims Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us, who crossed the infinite distance between Creator and creature by taking flesh through Mary. Because God is present, we need not save ourselves, exact our own justice, or feel alone in the darkness. The incarnation is framed as divine self-emptying: the all-powerful Word gives up omnipotence to come as a speechless poor child rather than as king or warlord. The sermon closes by assuring hearers that God is not finished with them but has a plan, purpose, and life for them.
Illustrations: god-comes-as-weak-child
December 15
Waiting on a Miracle
God is here for you. This is the heart of the Christmas story. One of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel, which means God with us. God is here for you. You have received an invitation to a miracle The miracle is that God is here for you. And not you exclusively, God is here for us all.
The songs we’ve sung today all point to this. “Your Light Has Come.” “My soul rejoices.” The scriptures we’ve read today all point to this.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”” Isaiah 52:7 NRSV
The Good News is that God is here for you.
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.” Isaiah 60:1-2 NRSV
The Lord will arise upon you because God is here for you.
“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31 NRSV
God did not find the impossible distance between the infinite and the finite tolerable and so the second person of the Trinity took on flesh through Mary to be with us.
God is here for you. Whatever your history with God, your history with the church, your history with the Bible, God is here for you.
What this means is that you don’t have to save yourself. You don’t have to exact justice in this world, God will. You are not alone, even when the world feels only of darkness.
When God comes into the world, God doesn’t come on a chariot or in power as a king, a warlord, a rich tycoon, no, but as the weakest among us: a poor child who cannot speak. The word of God out of which all creation was made gives up the omnipotent Voice to be with us. God, the source in whom we live and move and have our being, who created everything from nothing the all powerful gives up that power to be with us. This is why we sing. This is why we pray. This is why we celebrate.
In this Advent Season, as you prepare for the coming of Christmas, may you remember the God is there for you; that you are not alone. As well, may you remember that God is not finished with you, God has a plan for you, a purpose for you, a life for you. May you hear this good news at Christmas. May you hear this good news this day.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.