Mothers of Sorrow & Joy: Elizabeth
St. John's Lutheran Church
Fourth Wednesday in Advent
Sermon on John 1:6-7
John 1:6-7: “6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.”
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Little Johnny was good all year long, getting good grades in school, obeying his mother and father, generally an upright good kid. Johnny really wanted that new video game system. When his birthday time came around, Johnny told his mom and dad how much he would love to have it and all of the good things about owning it. Sure, it is expensive, but he has been a good boy all year long! Johnny, on his birthday, did get many things that he liked and wanted; but the one thing that he really wanted that would make his life complete, so he thinks, he did not get that video game system.
Is this not how our lives feel like at times. We hope and pray to God about getting that new job, about getting good grade on a test – a test that you have not study for, about having money to repair the car, about healing your loved one so they would not die. Good that we pray, in fact we are command by God to pray to him. This does not mean that we will get the answer we want. Yes, God may choose to save your loved one from dying and He may not give you the money to repair your car – He might just set it on fire instead. What I am trying to point out is that God does answer our prayers, just not on our time or the way we expected.
Elizabeth was righteous before God, yet was barren. In a culture and society that expected a married woman to have a child, not have one was seen as God’s disfavor on you. What can Elizabeth and Zechariah, her husband to do? All Elizabeth can do is be faithful and pray to the Lord and accept the things God has done for her and accept the things He has not done for her, and she was counted as righteous before God.
In our text today we find Elizabeth advanced in years, possible around the age of 50 or older. Probably long ago stop prying for a child, accepting what God has done or not done in this case. Feeling the pain of failed expectations, of not having a child, not able to provide a heir for her husband, caretaker for her when her husband dies and not meeting the expectations of her society. Through this pain she did not turn resentful to God and/or hating woman who have children. Instead, we are told that she was “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”.
What we need to understand is that Elizabeth barrenness was not a result of God’s disfavor, but a reflection of Israel’s faithfully waiting for the Messiah. Elizabeth praying for a child mirrors Israel prayer for the Messiah. Elizabeth advanced age and barrenness parallels Israel’s long wait and suffering for the Messiah. In the fullness of time, God blessed Elizabeth with a son in her old age, so too did God bless His people with the Messiah after their long wait.
Elizabeth sorrow of not having a child has now been turned into joy of having a son. Her son would not be what people expect, just as the Messiah would not be as people expect. John would be a prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit and going before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing the way and pointing the people to the Messiah.
Elizabeth was blessed further when her cousin Mary visited. John still a babe in Elizabeth womb, jumped for joy at the sound of Mary, and filling Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit and allowing her to recognize the long-waited Messiah in the womb of her cousin, Mary. How much joy Elizabeth must have felt, first having first a child in her old again, and then seeing the fulfillment of the coming Messiah.
We can emulate Elizabeth by praying to God, accepting what He has done for us and for what He has not done for us. Our lives are in His hands rather than to persuade God to do our will We will desire even as we pray, his will be done. After all, his will for us is good. And the blessing He desire to give us is beyond or comprehension. Let us rejoice in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who’s coming saved the world through His death and resurrection. And whose promises return will exceed the desires of our hearts.
Amen.
