Jesus Supplied His Own Birth Announcement (Tuesday, Week 2 of Advent 2011)

What Did Jesus Do?

Jesus Supplied His Own Birth Announcement
(Tuesday, Week 2 of Advent 2011)

And the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary…
behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31

Our youngest turned twenty-five last month, which tells you a couple of things about us. First, it’s been a long time since we’ve sent out a birth announcement. The second thing you can tell about us is that we are way too old to have had the opportunity to use email, social media, and other cool electronic “bells and whistles” to send out word about the birth of our children. I confess that I have not actually researched this, but I believe the earliest birth announcements can be found in Scripture.

There was the announcement to Abraham, you know the one that made Sarah laugh. (Genesis 18:9-15) How about Hannah, who, in the anxiety and fervor of her prayers acted as one intoxicated (At least that’s what Eli thought.)? The announcement made to her started off in the form of an old-fashioned scolding. (1 Samuel 1.12-18) Then, of course, there was Zechariah. When he received the announcement that he would have a son Zechariah cried out, “Why, shut my mouth!” or he would have cried out if that angel hadn’t already silenced him. (Luke 1:8-25) Did you notice something about all these birth announcements? They were made to the fathers and/or mothers to be. We think of the announcements sent out by parents, but God’s ways are not our ways. Now, the most important birth announcement ever was the one made to Mary, the angel Gabriel. Angels being in the exclusive employ of God we can actually say that Jesus supplied his own birth announcement. Actually, I guess I should say that the Lord supplied his own birth announcer.

How did these folks respond to the news? Sarah, some 90 years old, laughed. Hannah, the target of Peninnah’s mockery and scorn, and, who had gone about for years her face downcast because she had no children, went away beaming. Zechariah was, as I said, speechless, while his wife Elizabeth felt quietly vindicated. What of Mary?

Well, the poor girl was terrified at first, then confused, and, finally, resigned, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Eventually, Mary’s resignation would be transformed into a hymn of praise and rejoicing in God her Savior. (The Magnificat; Luke 1.46-55)

The Father, not the fathers, knew, and knows, his plan and purpose for every life. So it was that, the announcements of these births could reveal that Isaac would be the Promise, Samuel was the Prophet, John was the Herald, and Jesus was, just as his name proclaimed, the Savior. While all of us dream and wonder about who and what are children will become, we can be sure that, whatever else may be part of God’s plan and purpose for us and for our children, Christmas affirms just how important to the Father is our identity and life in Christ, because he sent the Son to us as a gift.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4