Jesus is all the
glory of that fair realm where sin and the curse are
gone forever and His own are one forever!
That being the true
facts beloved, then it’s wise, very wise to make
much of Him here! That’s what these three wise
women did concerning the Saviour at the time of his
birth.
1. The First Wise
Woman Of The Christmas Story Is Mary!
A. Mary Was Wise
In Her Behavior: Luke 1 v 26-34.
Now in the sixth
month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city
of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to
a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgin’s name was Mary.
And having come
in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored
one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying,
and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then
the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favour with God. And behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son,
and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and
will be called the son of the highest; and the Lord
God will give him the throne of his father David.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Then Mary said to
the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know
a man?”
These sentences
constitute the boundaries of the matchless story of
the annunciation. The story is matchless, mysterious,
magnificent, and majestic!
This is the story
of the coming of the angel Gabriel to Nazareth; the
story of the messenger from heaven brings to earth
wonderful tidings of good news!
This is the story
of God from heaven to a little lass of tender years
on earth.
As we approach it,
let us do so in the attitude and spirit of the words
written by the apostle Paul to Timothy, when he said.
”Without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness”
Now let me point
out to you as we pass through this wonderful story!
It was Galilee, not Judea, Nazareth, nor Jerusalem,
the home where Mary dwelt, not even the temple.
Now remember, God
had chosen Judea to be the theatre of his operations
through the centuries. Jerusalem was, as the master
subsequently called it, the City of the Great King.
The temple was at the very center of that city and
was the dwelling place of God, as to his manifestation
and as to his communion with his people. So what on
earth is happening?
Well, God is always
and in all his actions in human history, independent
of his own institutions, when men degrade them.
The land of Judea
was blighted; the city of Jerusalem was blasted; the
holy temple was degraded; and God’s messenger
bypassed them all.
God left the land
of his own choosing, abandoned the city of his love,
and passed by the temple of his own appointment, and
went to a land of which Nathaniel said, “Can
any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Went to
the humblest of homes in that place and sought out
the most submissive lass in the town and from that
trinity of country, home and lass brought forth the
son of the living God!
Here was behaviour
indeed as becoming the person of submissive humility.
You see beloved;
it’s always those of low estate that God raises
to great blessing. God uses those who are blessed
in Jesus to be a blessing to others.
He that is down
need fear no fall; he that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.
A holy life is a
voice; it speaks when the tongue is silent and is
either a constant attraction or a perpetual reproof.
Archbishop Robert Leighton.
A holy life is not
an ascetic, or gloomy, or solitary life, but a life
regulated by divine truth and faithful in Christian
duty. It is living above the world while we are still
in it. Tyrone Edwards.
Holiness has love
for its essence, humility for its clothing, the good
of others as its employment, and the honor of God
as its end. Nathaniel Emmons.
B. Mary was wise
in her beliefs: Luke 1 v 35-38.
And the angel answered
and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow
thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And,
behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived
a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month
with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing
shall be impossible. And Mary said, behold the handmaid
of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word.
And the angel departed from her.
You see here was
a bright shining angel raining down on this innocent
lass, probably still in her teens, full of the flower
of youth and beauty, never having been very far traveled
from her home town. Totally unlearned in the ways
of this Old World, some of the greatest Biblical truths
ever heard! And what was her Response? How did she
react to God’s Holy Truth being spoken by a bright
shining angel? And what truths they were!
1. The Holy Spirit
shall come upon thee!
2. The power of the highest shall overshadow thee!
3. That Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall
be called the Son of God!
4. Your cousin Elisabeth in her old age is going to
have a son!
5. With God, nothing is impossible!
I hear folks say
today about their teenage children and how very difficult
for them it is to understand the preaching of God’s
Word and therefore they have no heart in coming to
the house of God!
Or I hear some of the young ones talk about how boring
church is! How very boring the sermon is, how boring
the worship is, if it were different I would come
more regularly!
Listen folks we
ought to take a long hard look at this little lass
called Mary. As this bright shinning angel rains down
upon her these great truths, what is her reaction?
Oh, Mr. Angel, I’m too young to understand what
all this means! Maybe when I am older grown I will
be able to grasp those truths better but you must
understand that just now I cannot take it all in,
after all I am but a young lass! Was that her response?
No! No! No! A thousand times no! “Behold the
handmaid (servant) of the Lord; be it unto me according
to what the angel says, no! Be it unto me according
to what my parents say? No! Be it unto me according
to what Joseph says? No! Be it unto me according to
my friends say? No! Be it unto me according to thy
Word” Oh, my word, Mary was wise in her beliefs!
C. Mary Was Wise
In Her Blessing! Luke 1 v 46-48.
And Mary said, my
soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded
the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
She blessed God!
She would be a blessing to the generations to come!
In 1962, the Sawi
people of New Guinea still lived in relative isolation.
They were headhunting cannibals. Their culture could
not be more different from that of Don and Carol Richardson,
and yet this missionary couple attempted to share
Christ with them. In fact, two rival Sawi tribes,
fascinated by the Richardson’s, moved their villages
right around the missionaries’ jungle home.
But Don became frustrated
by his inability to find a point of contact. He was
also discouraged by the 14 civil wars he had already
counted right outside his front door now that the
two tribes lived side by side.
Eventually, the
Richardsons decided to leave. However, the Sawi response
surprised them: “if you’ll stay, we promise
we’ll make peace in the morning.” The next
morning the Richardson’s awoke to see the most
amazing ritual they had ever witnessed. The two tribes
were lined up outside their houses, on either side
of the clearing. Finally, one man dashed into his
hut, grabbed his newborn son, and began to run across
the meadow towards the other tribe. His expression
betrayed absolute agony. His wife ran after him, screaming
and begging him to give the baby back to her. But
her husband wouldn’t stop. He ran over to the
other tribe and presented the boy to them. “Plead
the peace child for me. I give you my son, and I give
you my name,” he said. Moments later, someone
from that tribe performed the same agonizing sacrifice
with the same intensity and passion. Richardson found
out later that as long as those two children remained
alive, the tribes were bound to peace. If they died,
then literally all hell would break loose, cannibalism,
murder, and civil war.
While this amazing
scene unfolded before him, Don suddenly realized that
this was the analogy he needed to communicate Christ.
The next time he spoke to the Sawi elders he told
them of the perfect peace child, Jesus. Eventually,
droves of Sawi became followers of Christ.
Several years later,
on Christmas day, hundreds of Sawi from every tribe
that had warred and cannibalized each other for many
years, gathered together for a feast for the first
time. A Sawi preacher stood up and read in his own
language a scripture that few people in the history
of the world have ever understood so clearly: “Unto
us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the
government shall be upon his shoulders, and he shall
be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. Later, the Richardson’s
would write that it was the best Christmas they had
ever experienced. It was the best day the Sawi had
ever known. Adapted from peace child by Don Richardson
(Regal, 1976) Page 62-63.
2. The Second Wise
Woman Of The Christmas Story Is Elizabeth!
A. Elizabeth Was
Wise In Her Awareness! Luke 1 v 39-41.
And Mary arose in
those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judea; And entered into the house of
Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass,
that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost:
Elizabeth was sensitive,
aware of the Holy Ghost working in her!
You see this was
deep calling unto deep!
This was the deep
of the Holy Ghost speaking through Mary to Elizabeth.
Oh, the blessing
of that lovely sensitivity to the Holy Spirit speaking
to us and through us! You see if we go back in imagination
to that home of Elizabeth’s in Judea, six months
have now passed since the miracle of her son’s
conception. She dwells much on what she had heard
from the angel, on what her son will be, on what his
purpose on earth will accomplish.
Her heart beats fast with hope and anticipation!
Listen to what she
had been told by the angel. Luke 1 v 14-17.
And thou shalt have
joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he
shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his
mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel
shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall
go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and
the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make
ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Elizabeth, in the
quietness of her priestly home and city must have
been deeply aware of the power of God working in her
producing something for which she had long prayed
but by now must surely have given up hope. After all
she was past the years of child bearing, her prayer
had been made in younger days, in days of expectancy.
Oh, beloved, never lose sight of what God can do with
you and through you!
B. Elizabeth Was
Wise In Her Announcements! Luke 1v42-44.
And she spake out
with a loud voice, and said, blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence
is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for
joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall
be a performance of those things which were told her
from the Lord.
Directly Mary arrived
Elizabeth broke out into song. And this is interesting
indeed! Did you know that Luke is the only gospel
writer who records for us the outburst of poetry and
song in connection with the incarnation?
Matthew, Mark, John
make no mention of this fact, Luke alone, the Greek,
the artist, himself a poet as well as a scientific
man records for us these beautiful songs. And how
very special they are!
From Luke we have
received, and this will be of interest to those who
love music, the beatitude of Elizabeth, the Magnificent
of Mary, the Benedicts of Zacharias, the Nunc Dimittis
of Simeon, the Evangel sung by the angel of the Lord
over the plains and the Gloria of the angelic host.
Luke alone, the
artist, has gathered and collected, under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, the stories which reveal the fact
that when Jesus came into the world, poetry expressed
itself, and music was reborn.
This announcement
was like an ode to Mary v 42-45.
Although that was
not the deepest truth that came out of this song.
You see, its deepest note, is that of the homage to,
and adoration of the Lord.
Why did she honour
Mary in this way? “Blessed art thou among women,”
Why “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence
is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
unto me?”
Because Elizabeth,
the daughter of the Old Economy, was the first singer
of the New Economy. Hers was the first song of the
gospel; the first song of the new age that was dawning.
The entire blessing that she pronounced upon Mary
passed through to her son in the womb.
It was the last
poetic voice of the Old Economy, and it greeted the
New World that was breaking.
My dear people,
we live in an ever changing world. What kind of voice
have we as we move from this world we now live in
to the world that we will awake to come January? Have
we the song of the soul set free in our hearts? Have
we the song of the Saviour in our soul? Will we meet
this new age with the joy of the Lord which is our
strength rising up and calling him blessed so that,
in days to come others will rise up and call us blessed?
Elizabeth was wise in her announcement!
C. Elizabeth Was
Wise In Her Affirmation! Luke 1v45.
And blessed is she
that believed: for there shall be a performance of
those things, which were told her from the Lord.
What a wonderful
affirmation! What is that affirmation? Through belief
comes performance! We should take careful note of
the high praise, which Elizabeth bestows upon the
grace of faith “Blessed is she that believed”.
We need not wonder
that this holy woman should thus commend faith.
No doubt she was well acquainted with the Old Testament
Scriptures.
She knew the great
things that faith had accomplished.
What is the whole
history of God’s saints in every age, but a record
of men and women who obtained a good report by faith?
What is the simple
story of all men from Abel downwards, but a narrative
of redeemed sinners who believed and so were blessed?
By faith they embraced
the promises. By faith they lived. By faith they walked.
By faith they endured hardships. By faith they looked
to an unseen Saviour and good things yet to come.
By faith they battled with the world, the flesh and
the devil. By faith they overcame and arrived, safe
home to glory.
And of this godly
company Mary was proving herself one. No wonder Elizabeth’s
affirmation is so profound. “Blessed is she that
believeth”
Beloved, if there
is one thing we desperately need today, it is, believing
women that are a blessing in their family and in the
world.
What an affirmation
Elizabeth makes! Do we know anything of this precious
faith this Christmas time? Ladies do we?
Let us never rest
until we know it by experience and once knowing it
let’s never cease to pray that our faith may
grow exceedingly.
Better a thousand
times to be rich in faith than rich in gold.
Gold will be worthless
in the unseen world to which we are travelling. But
faith will be owned in that world before God the Father
and the holy angels. Then and then alone will the
value of faith be fully known. Blessed are they that
believe. Elizabeth was wise in her affirmation!
3. The Third Wise
Woman In The Christmas Story Is Anna!
A. Anna Was Wise
In Her Sagacity! (Keen in perception) Luke 2 v 36.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter
of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great
age, and had lived with an husband seven years from
her virginity.
Anna was a woman
of great discernment, keen in perception, shrewd,
having practical wisdom! In other words, she was a
godly and wise woman!
It is interesting
that the history of Anna is recorded only by Luke.
The wisdom of God
ordained that a woman as well as a man should testify
to the fact that the Messiah was born. In the mouth
of two witnesses it was established that Malachi’s
prophecy was fulfilled and the messenger of the covenant
had suddenly come to the temple. Mal 3v1.
The facts about
this dear lady are few but none the less, worth taking
note off and facts from which we may learn the best
of lessons.
After a married
life lasting only seven years she spent the remaining
eighty- four years as a lone widow. The trials, desolation
and temptation of such a condition were probably very
great. But Anna by grace overcame them all.
She surely answers
the description spoken of by Paul. She was ‘a
widow indeed’ 1 Tim. 5 v 5. Her keen perception
kept her in a continual, ever closer walk with God.
B. Anna Was Wise
In Her Service! Luke 2 v 37.
And she was a widow
of about four-score and four years, which departed
not from the temple, but served God with fasting and
prayers night and day.
This is evidently
a lady who loves the house of God. ‘She departed
not from the temple.’ She had high regard for
this place where God especially dwells. She felt she
was never so near to God as when she was in God’s
house, it was indeed for her, Holy Ground. She knew
the meaning of David’s wonderful words. ‘My
soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of
the Lord.’ Psalm 84 v 2. Anna was a woman of
great self-denial, she served God with fasting and
prayer, she was continually keeping her flesh under
subjection. She was absolutely persuaded, through
such practices she would be a vessel unto honour in
the temple of the Lord. Evidently she was never weary
in praying for others and praying for the fulfilment
of the promises concerning the Messiah.
C. Anna Was Wise
In Her Sharing! Luke 2 v 28.
And she coming in
that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and
spake of him to all them that looked for redemption
in Jerusalem.
Tradition says that
the tribe of Asher was noted for the beauty and talent
of its women, who for these gifts were qualified for
royal and high-priestly marriage! But add to those
gifts the gift of wisdom and you have yourself a group
of ladies powerful indeed for God.
Don’t expect
wisdom to come into your life like great chunks of
rock on a conveyor belt. It isn’t like that.
It’s not splashy and bold, nor is it dispensed
like a prescription across a counter. Wisdom comes
privately from God as a by-product of right decisions,
godly reactions, and the application of spiritual
principles to daily circumstances. Wisdom comes, not
from trying to do great things for God, but more from
being faithful to the small, obscure tasks few people
ever see. Charles Swindoll.
Anna was a woman
who shared things about the Lord and her house with
others, according to the text.
As soon as she saw
Jesus what did she do? ‘She spake of Him’
to others whom she knew in Jerusalem and with whom
she was on friendly terms. There was a very rich bond
between Anna and those of like precious faith. They
often traveled to the same house of worship and had
the very same hope and served the same master. Please
note dear friends, Anna received a rich reward for
all her diligence in God’s service even before
she left this Old World.
She was allowed
the wonderful privilege of seeing Him who had been
long promised and for whose coming she had often prayed.
Her faith was at last changed to sight and her hope
became a certainty. The joy of this dear lady must
have been unspeakable and full of glory.
It would be well
for all Christian women to ponder the character of
these three Wise Women of the Christmas Story and
draw great wisdom from them.
On May 24, 1965,
a thirteen-and-a-half-foot boat quietly slipped out
of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. Its destination?
England. It would be the smallest craft ever to make
the voyage. Its name? Tinkerbelle. Its pilot? Robert
Manry, a copy editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer,
who felt ten years at the desk was enough boredom
for a while, so he took a leave of absence to fulfill
his secret dream.
Manry was afraid,
not of the ocean, but of all those people who would
try to talk him out of the trip. So he didn’t
share it with many, just some relatives and especially
his wife, Virginia. She was his greatest source of
support.
The trip? Anything
but pleasant. He spent sleepless nights trying to
cross shipping lanes without getting run down and
sunk. Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless.
Loneliness, that age-old monster of the deep, led
to terrifying hallucinations. His rudder broke three
times. Storms swept him overboard, and had it not
been for the rope he had knotted around his waist,
he would never have been able to pull himself back
on board. Finally, after seventy-eight days alone
at sea, he sailed into Falmouth, England.
During those nights
at the tiller, he had fantasized about what he would
do once he arrived. He expected simply to check into
a hotel, eat dinner alone, then the next morning see
if, perhaps, the Associated Press might be interested
in his story. Was he in for a surprise!
Word of his approach
had spread far and wide. To his amazement, three hundred
vessels, with horns blasting, escorted Tinkerbelle
into port. Forty thousand people stood screaming and
cheering him to shore. Robert Manry, copy editor turned
dreamer, became an overnight hero.
His story has been
told around the world. But Robert couldn’t have
done it alone. Standing on the dock was an even greater
hero: Virginia. Refusing to be rigid when Robert’s
dream was taking shape, she allowed him freedom to
pursue his dream.
Ministries cannot
become great without dreamers who weary of only maintenance
year in, year out. We need more Roberts who have the
creativity and tenacity to break with boredom and
try the unusual. But even more, we need the Virginias
who won’t allow rigidity to rule the roost. Charles
R. Swindoll.
