When the unborn baby heard of the coming of Messiah, he jumped for joy! “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’”
Just as a ‘young’ John the Baptist was excited two thousand years ago, a nine-month-old John celebrates now! As our friends Pete and Mary led worship Sunday, John stood and danced and tapped his foot. A smiling mother watched her growing son, and I’ll bet an all-seeing Father laughed with delight.
He created us to worship… to sing… to dance… and to present our gifts to the Savior. No matter how young or old or how rich or poor, Jesus came to bring joy to the world. How wonderful the news!
But He also came to bring a sword. Conflict is inevitable when Light penetrates darkness. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
And those who love Him most may have hearts pierced with sorrow as true goodness is scorned and rejected. Simeon prophesied to Mary, “This child is destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Why would we crucify the only good man that ever lived? But history’s most horrible injustice brings the best news of all! “My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought – my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, oh my soul!”
Leap for joy and dance to the music! God is with us! Immanuel!
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” Job 37:1-5