WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024 - MESSIAH II

 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024 - MESSIAH - PART II

(One week to Christmas)

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.” (Isaiah 7, v.14; Matthew 1, v.23)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9, v.6)

These two parts of Handel’s Messiah Oratorio tell of Jesus’ birth.

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The first one - “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.

I understand that language difficulties can happen.  From what I have heard, “virgin” can mean a young girl - or a girl/woman who has not had intercourse.  And mostly, those two can overlap.

There is no definitive answer to what Mary was doing at the “Annunciation.”  I picture her out in the hills picking herbs and flours - on an errand from her mother Anne.

From Proverbs 31:10- 28

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff   and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; he is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

While these verses are generic about a hard working wife and mother, I’m applying them to Anne - the mother of Mary.

And, so, Anne has sent Mary to gather the various flowers, seeds, and plants to color the linen and wool that she works on.  

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Mary has a couple of bags with her as she picks the items for dying the plants.  Anne has taught her well, and she quickly fills her bags with flowers that will make the scarlet, purple, and other colors.  

Ahead of her, she sees something bright - is this a new flower?  She walks toward the light - and the angel appears and tells her she will be the mother of the Messiah.  (Luke 1: 26-38)

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I can only imagine the dinner table that night as Mary tells her parents she is pregnant.  Maybe her parents also were visited by angels, or they had visions and dreams.  I can’t really picture my daughter at about age 15 telling me “I’m pregnant - and I have not been with a man”!!

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A brief aside.  Sexual intercourse is to be a great pleasure for both men and women, Ecstasy as both parties reach a climax.  Was it such for the Holy Spirit and for Mary?  Luke 1:35 - “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”  I have experienced a few times, the Power of the Spirit coming over me - and yes, it was ecstasy.

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And, the second verse from the Messiah for today:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

(Aside and kind of a joke.  An elderly aunt received a Christmas Card from one of her nieces.  The couple had selected this verse to be on the Christmas Cards that year - “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”.  Not thinking of this as a traditional Christmas verse, the aunt says to herself - “Oh my, my niece and husband had a baby” - and she sends them a baby gift!!)

So, Isaiah, writing about 700 years before the birth of Jesus says prophetically that the child will be the Messiah (putting all the parts together, wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace).  

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Monday, I wrote about ancient man and their search for God - for meaning - and the concept of creation.  Today, I’m writing about the approach to bridge that gap between the infinite, all-loving, all-merciful God - and us lowly humans. 

In the Christian tradition, that perfect, infinite being sends part of himself - as a man to build that relationship.  

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LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, December 18, 2024