Sermon Snippet – Home Alone: The Prelude
INTRODUCTION – We have spent the last couple of months touching upon the Prophet Elijah. Last week we saw that he had a prophetic place in the Christmas story, as John the Baptist became the fulfillment of the predicted forerunner of the Savior (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 17:10-13). Another aspect of Elijah’s life that connects not prophetically but thematically to the Christmas account is his extreme loneliness (I Kings 19:14); God kindly gave him work to do and people to help (I Kings 19:15-18). No doubt, these people helped Elijah, too. Loneliness at Christmas – that is part of the Gospel message.
1. MARY WAS AS LONELY AS ANYONE COULD POSSIBLY BE
The message to Mary was thrilling and chilling (Luke 1:31-34). We know what people are like. Many are unduly interested in the date of marriage and the date of the birth of the first child. I have never thought that such matters are any of my business, and I choose not to employ my limited math skills in such calculations. A better use of math would be to help a young couple learn how to budget – or to look at one’s own budget and see if there is any waste that could be better used to buy warm baby clothes, diapers, and other necessities. Behind Mary’s innocent question of verse 34 (“How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”) is a mature realization of the derision and even hatred that awaited her. An unmarried pregnant woman in that culture could be stoned to death. The angel Gabriel provided additional information and directed her to her cousin Elisabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist (verses 35-38). Mary needed someone who believed her – and in her (verses 39-45). It is also compelling that Mary found comfort and solace in worship (Luke 1:46-55). Not all of us can compose a song (I certainly cannot); but as soon as we begin to worship, we realize that we are never alone, that our Savior God is always with us.
2. JOSEPH WAS ALSO AS LONELY AS ANYONE COULD POSSIBLY BE
Joseph reached a logical conclusion: Mary had betrayed him (Matthew 1:18-19). Would any of us have thought differently under the circumstances? If you have been betrayed in any relationship, you know how lonely this good, gentle man (verse 19) felt. He received a miraculous answer (verses 20-25) and immediately acted upon it. This lonesome man was given a godly companion and soon a little family. We should note that even before Joseph was granted this grand insight he was praying (verse 26), indicating that he quickly turned to the Lord in his loneliness. Prayer is communication with God, and it is a reminder of His constant loyalty. Prayer is one of God’s great gifts to us.
CONCLUSION – Why did these two have so much hardship at the beginning of their relationship? The key is that the Virgin Birth of Jesus had to occur to fulfill the specific prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. This miracle was a necessary one, for mankind’s Savior needed to be fully human to be our substitute but also needed to be without sin – without a sin nature – and this had to be fully God. Even later, the couple would not have an easy life together. They would soon have to flee to Egypt to avoid wicked Herod. When they could safely return, the wicked wagging tongues in their hometown of Nazareth never ceased, even into Jesus’ adulthood. They were not exempt from the harshness of life. However, they found that they were never alone. Through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ, each one of us has the certainty of life eternal with Him and of His powerful presence each step of the way. Please trust in Him today – and never be truly lonely again.