When the Lord Comes Near, He Lifts Up the Humbled (Luke 1:39-55)

4th Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021

First Lesson: Micah 5:2-5. The humble, tiny town of Bethlehem would be exalted with the birth of our Savior who would bring spiritual peace to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 85. LORD, in your mercy heart my prayers.

Second Reading. Hebrews 10:5-10. We cannot do enough good works or offer enough sacrifices to raise ourselves up to God, so the Son of God obeyed the law for us and by his sacrifice has made us holy.

Gospel and Sermon Text. Luke 1:39-55. When the Lord Comes Near, He Lifts Up the Humbled.

The Lord lifts up the humbled from four particular angles: It’s in his promise, his purpose, his present, and his pledge.

God promised to lift up his humbled world through the offspring of a woman. In the womb of the Virgin Mary, God was coming near to keep that promise.

It was God’s purpose that his Son, Jesus, would come to save the whole world and for all time from our sin and sinfulness.

At the present time, he is coming near to his people in Word and sacrament.

God’s pledge: The Jesus who once dwelled in the womb of a virgin in order to accomplish your salvation—-he’s going to come back.

He will raise up, lift up, all who have been humbled by their sin to look to him for grace and mercy.

He will lift you up never to be humbled by sin or pain or sorrow ever again.

Amen

Pastor Nathan Kassulke