A story is told about a family that gathered together during the holiday season for a big family reunion. All the kids came home with their families for the big event. It was the first time that they had all been together under one roof for several years. It was quite a get-together, and the meal spread out on the supper table was spectacular! After the meal, the celebration continued as everybody tried to “catch up” on the events of the past few years.
The father of the clan, however, decided to take a walk around the farmyard to help settle his food. It was dark and there was no moon, and suddenly he stumbled and fell into a ditch. When he tried to get up he realized that he was up to his waist in thick, slimy mud. He wasn’t in any danger – but it was dark, and it was cold, and he wasn’t very happy about what had just happened. Realizing that he might need some help to get out of the mud and climb up the side of the ditch, he stood and yelled – as loudly as he could – just one word: “Fire!”
Even when you’re blessed with a good volunteer fire department like we have here in Pana and Oconee, fire is still one of the most dreaded of rural disasters. Everybody in the house came running outside, frantic with fear. When they found their father stuck in the mud, one of the sons said, “Dad, you scared us half to death! Why on earth did you yell ‘fire?’” “Well,” the dad answered, “if I had yelled ‘mud,’ I’d have been stuck here until spring planting!”
The point is that what you hear makes a difference. Some things get our attention more than others. Some things call for immediate action, or immediate thought, or immediate reaction. Other things cause us to yawn and nod sleepily – no hurry, no big deal.
So try this message: “A virgin is pregnant and is going to have a baby.” Now those are words that make you sit up and take notice! “What did you say? I must have heard you wrong. I thought you said that a virgin was pregnant and was going to have a baby. Boy, that’s a good one!”
But that’s exactly the message we hear in tonight’s Scripture reading. And do you know what? The world never expected such a thing. Even though the prophet Isaiah way back in Old Testament times foretold it, still – who would have thought? You can just imagine the conversations down at the coffee shops in Nazareth and Bethlehem – even in Jerusalem. There had to be a lot of skepticism – you can only imagine what kinds of stories were being told. Two thousand years later the world still has that same skepticism and is still trying to explain away this amazing and wonderful miracle.
And who do think was the most surprised? How about Mary? The Bible says that she was greatly troubled by the angel’s words. “Greatly troubled?” That sounds like understatement to me. This certainly did not fit her understanding of reproductive biology, so she asked the obvious question: “How can this be?” And to emphasize her point she added, “I am a virgin!”
So the angel explained, and Mary asked, “Why?” “Why?” the angel responded. “Why not?” And then Mary proclaims: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”
What a proclamation! Shocking news to Mary – and to us. But then, we have a shocking God. We have a God who often gets our attention in shocking ways – just ask Mary!
But the real shock about Mary’s news really wasn’t about being a virgin. The real shock was even more profound. The real shock of this announcement is what the virgin birth is all about. The real shock is that this birth would deliver into our world God – God made man – God made flesh to dwell among us. The God who made heaven and earth – the God of the seen and the unseen – the God who is almighty, eternal and all-powerful – this God lowers Himself to our level to be born of a virgin, to clothe Himself with our flesh, and to walk on our ground. Why?
The shocking proclamation continues. The ultimate shock is that he is doing this in order to rescue and redeem sinful, lost and condemned men and women. He came to lead us out of the darkness into His marvelous light. The baby who will be born of the Virgin Mary – Jesus is His name – takes on our life so that He might give it up on a cross to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Why? Why would He do such a thing? Why would He love us with such amazing love? We still ask these same questions today. And all we know are the facts: He did it! He loves us! He saved us!
Sometimes it take a shock – a big shock – to get people’s attention. A virgin birth is pretty shocking – just ask Mary! But God, made man, is even more shocking! And God giving up His life for man is the most shocking of all!
Shocking news always gives us something to talk about. God tells us to do just that – to talk about it – to proclaim it! Tell everyone! Get their attention! Proclaim with Mary the good and shocking news of God’s love for His people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Note: This sermon was freely adapted from a sermon series entitled “Proclaim the Coming” – created by CTSFW Professor Rev. Jeffrey Pulse.
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