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On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication.”
One of San Francisco’s greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd’s fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim’s shop. During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd’s fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. After 11 hours of deliberation, the jury found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd’s offer of 10 years’ servitude.
Gladys Kidd loved her husband so much that she was willing to sacrifice 10 years of her life in servitude. 10 years is a long time! What an incredible expression of love! But do you know that God loves you even more than Gladys Kidd loved her husband? Do you know that God loves you so much more than your parents, children, or even your spouse?
God loves us more than any human being! And even though 10 years of servitude is a noble expression of human love, God expresses his infinite love for us by becoming the ultimate servant for us! Today’s lectionary readings show us how God expresses his amazing love for us!
Micah 5:2-5a
Micah, in the first three chapters of his book, announces God’s judgment upon Jerusalem for the sins of evil rulers, false prophets, and immoral priests. These people, who had been given the responsibility to shepherd Israel faithfully had not done so, but instead, led Israel down the path of impure worship and social injustice. God was going to punish them for their sins.
In chapter 4, judgment changes to God’s promised restoration. Thus we are led to the text for this Sunday, where we are told of a new ruler who will come to shepherd Israel. He will not be like the wicked rulers of the past but “shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord.” This ruler will come not from Jerusalem or from one of the large tribes of Israel but from Bethlehem, one of the little clans of Judah. Bethlehem reminds us of the Israelite monarchy’s humble beginnings. God would send a good shepherd to restore his people to security and peace. This is a Messianic prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the good shepherd.
God expresses his love for us in judgment and restoration. We typically don’t think about judgment as an expression of love, but that is exactly what it is! Think about it deeply, God loves us enough to hold us accountable for our sins! And he still loves us enough to forgive and restore us. He expressed his love for us through the promise of his own Son. He would one day be born in the village of Bethlehem! Now that is an expression of love!
Luke 1:39-55
As for the Gospel of Luke, we’ve just heard three weeks of preaching from Jesus and John the Baptist, those prophets out of the wilderness, about world-shaking events, part judgment, part exhortation to get our lives turned around in preparation for what is to come. In this week’s unique situation, we have, in a sense, four unlikely prophets gathered not in the wilderness but on the front step of Elizabeth’s home, two of them not even born yet, and still John is already able to acknowledge the One who is greater.
The other two prophets are women, women with names and stories, women with voices and something to say, or in Mary’s case, something to sing. Women and babies: we’re definitely not at “the top of the heap,” here, especially not when there’s an actual priest in the house, Zechariah, a professional, licensed and learned, knows-what-he’s-doing expert in matters of faith. Ironically, though, Zechariah is the very one in this scene without a voice, literally, since he’s been struck speechless during his own angelic visit.
In this passage Luke tells the story of two miracles meeting for the first time. Both John and Jesus have now been conceived. John is more than six months along, we are told, and thus very capable of giving a swift kick or two to his mother, and Jesus has just been conceived. In fact, just prior to this text is the story in which Mary finds out about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and it is to rejoice with her kinswoman that she goes on this journey.
But the miracles don’t stop with the conception of these boys. A miracle of prophetic utterance and discernment is given to Elizabeth as soon as she is greeted by Mary. For her babe leaps in her womb, and at that she pours forth the ecstatic speech of one who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit. She is given knowledge of the amazing news of Mary, and the identity of Mary as “the mother of my Lord,” as well as the fact that there would be “a fulfillment of what was spoken by the Lord.” All this is certainly miraculous, for even Luke’s “orderly account” offers no explanation for their knowledge other than being filled by the Holy Spirit.
The Magnificat, Mary’s song in verses 46-55, is certainly one of the great pieces of poetry in Scripture, and it brings to mind the text from Micah. As in Micah when the “insignificant” town of Bethlehem produced the righteous ruler, here we are told that God has “looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” Like the Hebrew word for the “little ones,” the Greek word for “lowly ones” refers to one “who is of no account in the eyes of the world.” Also, just as the righteous ruler in Micah stood in the strength of the Lord, so it is “the Mighty One who has done great things for Mary.”
This whole passage is a great testimony to the fact that God chooses “what is low and despised in this world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are” (1 Cor. 1:26-31). In other words, God’s love is not dependent on our exalted status in the world’s eyes. God’s love is not dependent on being exalted in the world’s eyes. He not only loves men, but he loves women and children too. He loves both young people and old people. He loves those who live on the fringe of society. He loves the little and lowly people of the world. He loves all of us with an indescribable love.
Hebrews 10:5-10
The Epistle reading begins “Therefore,” begging us to look at the context of this passage. Earlier in Hebrews 10 we read that sacrifices according to the law and the first covenant cannot take away sin. After speaking again and again about sacrifices and offerings in this passage, finally at the end of the periscope we find out what offering is efficacious: “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.” This point is most effectively reiterated in the verses that follow (11-14) as the writer says that “by a single offering Christ has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”
William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child’s breath.
Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, “Momma, kiss me!” Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord.
Real love forgets self! Real love knows no danger! Real love doesn’t count the cost! This passage points to the ultimate expression of God’s love for us: Jesus’ death on the cross! Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, suffered on the cross so that we could have forgiveness from our sins and the hope of everlasting life. The blood that spilled from his hands, feet, head, and side made atonement for our sins and we stand justified before God. Jesus’ willingness to bear the pain of the cross and the weight of the world’s sins on his shoulders is greatest expression of love in the history of the world.
How much does Jesus love us? Enough to step out of heaven and come to earth—enough to become human flesh at Christmas—enough to live as a humble servant—enough endure the cracking of the whip and the thorns pressed into his skull—enough to stretch out his hands and be nailed to a tree—that is how much he loves us! By this single sacrifice of his body, he has saved us from hell and proved the extent of his love!
As we move into this final week of Advent, I want you to know that Jesus came to love you! I encourage you to take some time alone this week (away from all of the festivities) and simply reflect on Jesus’ love for you. May you bask in the thought of his birth and may you be lavished by his love!