Christmas Road Trip 1 // Mary
Today we kicked off our December message series, “Christmas Road Trip.” This series will help us explore some of the journeys that key Biblical figures took in obedience to God in order to bring Jesus to us. Here are the points, passages, and ponderings for the first installment in this series.
- Our December series is called, Christmas Road trip.
- We’re going to look at some of the trips made as recorded in Scripture that show how God came to us in Christ at Christmas.
- Along the way, consider your own spiritual journey.
Let It Be…
Luke 1:35, 37-38 (ESV) | 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- Mary was a passive conduit of God’s grace
- She surrendered and said, “Let it be.”
Filled with the Spirit
Luke 1:39-45 (ESV) | 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
- Mary started the road trip to be with her cousin, Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth asked about why Mary should come to her?
- John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb in Jesus’ presence. (I think a clue by Luke is given just prior to that in that the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth – and John, too, I’m sure.)
Are you leaping for God’s presence?
Take-Aways
- Surrender to God’s powerful presence
- Allow God to fill your life with the Holy Spirit
- Leap in and for God’s presence
Reflection Questions
- What memories do you have of family road trips? Fond ones? Sad ones?
- What does it mean to surrender to God? When Mary said, “let it be with me…,” how do you think she felt? Why do you think God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?
- A major aspect of these encounters is how God deployed the Holy Spirit. Mary, Elizabet, and preborn John all experienced it. What does this say to you about the powerful moving of God’s Spirit?
- What comes to mind when you think of leaping in and for God? Where do you need to leap to see God at work in your life?
- What take-away will you hold fast to this month as we get ready for the glory of Christmas?
