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Have a Mary Christmas!

            This person is the only being, other than the Triune God, mentioned in all three Christian creeds. The ancient liturgical songs Gloria in Excelsis, Te Deum, and Magnificat all praise our saving God and include this person’s circumstances or very words. If Christmas cards picture only one profile it’s that of Jesus Christ, but if there are two then the other is assuredly this person. And nobody else will ever give birth to God like she did. I was surprised, when I counted the references to Mary, virgin, or mother in the 35 Christmas hymns in our hymnal, that 20 of them spoke nothing of her. All of them spoke of Jesus Christ. What, therefore, is the appropriate role for Mary in our Christmas celebration? How much is too much? Too little? Could a nativity scene have meaning without her? A Christmas hymn? A Christmas card? And what is her contribution to our Christian faith? Can a person be saved without her? Pray without her? Exclude her as altogether unimportant?

             The best place to find answers to those questions is neither Hallmark nor a Lutheran hymnal, but the Holy Scriptures. In celebration of the nativity of our Lord we’ll turn to a few places in the Bible that provide such answers, guided by Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Treasure up Christmas

            What about Christmas do you treasure? Family time? Seasonal food? Special music? Certainly Jesus. Like a locked treasure chest or a safe deposit box we protect whatever we value. So we create traditions that make sure we enjoy the valuable blessings of Christmas. We always go to grandpa and grandma’s house on Christmas Day evening. We always make toffee and give it to friends. We always slip and slide through the cold and snow to church on Christmas Eve. We value the meaning behind those traditions, and we want to protect that value from being forgotten by us or taken from us by others.

            When Mary “treasured up all these things” she was protecting what she valued: both the ordinary occurrences and the exceptional circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. The fear she felt when the angel first appeared to her and the fluttering in her heart when he announced she’d give birth to the world’s Deliverer promised through the centuries by the prophets. The wonder at how she could do this as a virgin and the worry about explaining her growing tummy to Joseph. Sharing her joy with Elizabeth and hiding her pregnancy from the public to avoid misconstrued scandal. The jolt of God kicking inside her womb and the unplanned, unappreciated journey to Bethlehem. The nervous but calm assurance of Joseph and the welcome sound of her baby’s crying then cooing as she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. The curious concern of the shepherds, and their worship that confirmed what she had been told: he is Christ the Lord. This birth was more than exceptional, it was divine. Holy. Its value came from heaven and wasn’t at all wrapped up in what she had done but what had happened to her … and through her … and even for her.

            Mary treasured up the value of Isaiah’s words, “To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6) as the receiver of that gift, not the giver. Mary treasured up the value of the miraculous virgin birth; this child of her womb had no human conception – and therefore no sin – so that he could fulfill the perfect obedience we cannot and save sinners by his righteousness. Mary treasured up the value of the angel’s first message to her, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you,” (Luke 1:28) blessed because God her Lord and Savior visited her with his grace.

             Let’s learn this from Mary, the mother of God, that as much as Christmas is about giving to others, it is first about receiving from God. So protect the treasure of receiving the Christmas gift, Jesus Christ our Lord. Mary was not holy, and I am not holy, and you are not holy, but the virgin born Jesus is holy and presented his holiness to his Father on our behalf that now counts us as the perfect children of God. Mary was not eternal, and I am not eternal, and you are not eternal, but the eternal Son of God became a moment in history, an occurrence in our time to bring eternal life to all who believe. Martin Luther put it this way, “We see here how Christ, as it were, takes our birth from us and absorbs it in his birth, and grants us his, that in it we might become pure and holy, as if it were our own, so that every Christian may rejoice and glory in Christ’s birth as much as if [we have ourselves] been born of Mary” ” (John Nicholas Lenker, ed., Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 1, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1905, pp. 144, 145). In God’s plan of salvation, Mary not only gave birth on Christmas, but was born herself through the redeeming birth of Jesus Christ. Have a Mary Christmas and value your birth, your newness of life, your rejuvenated hope, your fresh outlook by faith alone because through Jesus Christ alone you are completely forgiven and loved by God. 

Ponder Christmas

            Anderson Butzine turned five this year. He lives in Oconomowoc with his parents who have attended Grace, and he received a Christmas visit last week from Brett Favre. Anderson has a deadly tumor on his brain stem that, in spite of treatments, won’t stop growing and has stunted some of his abilities. He’s a big Favre fan, and Brett and Deanna found out so they visited him when the Vikings were headed to play the Bears. It made the press, but worthy of more press is the witness of Anderson’s mother, Michelle. No doubt she was gawking and groveling when Favre came to visit, as many of us would. But she knows that even the great Brett Favre cannot save Anderson. She writes on CaringBridge, “Lord, look upon Anderson with eyes of mercy. May Your healing Spirit rest upon him. It is through Your power that Anderson was created. Since You created him from nothing, You can certainly recreate him. May Your life-giving powers flow into every cell of his body and into the depths of Anderson’s soul … Amen” (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/andersonbutzine). Michelle cannot save Anderson. Brett Favre cannot save Anderson. Mary cannot save Anderson. But Jesus can save Anderson, physically and spiritually. The pain of a mother watching her son suffer is like a sword piercing her soul. Years later Mary watched her son suffer as he died on the cross. This destiny had to be part of her pondering at his birth. Perhaps she could save him? He wouldn’t have to die for sinners if only she could satisfy God for the sins of the world. But that’s not possible. Only God can save sinners. Her son was born to die, to rise, and to save.

            “Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? The child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you” (Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene). Like putting a puzzle together Mary started putting pieces of promises and truths, angel’s words and prophet’s predictions together as soon as she learned she’d give birth to God. She humbly admitted her sin and need for a Savior, that she couldn’t save herself or anyone else. And if the mother who delivered Jesus needs him to deliver her from sin, Satan, and death don’t you and I need him to deliver us too? We can’t save ourselves. We can’t make up for our sins. We can’t earn anything from God by anything good we do because the bad we do cancels the transaction with insufficient funds. So here’s what Mary said for herself and us: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior … for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation … He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:46-52).

            As if the virgin birth isn’t miraculous enough, the greater miracle of Christmas is that God would give salvation to sinners who have doubted him, hurt him, ignored him, mocked him, or run from him. Look in the manger. God came to us as a baby to reassure us that we don’t need to be afraid. He couldn’t speak or eat solid food or control his bladder. A mule could have stepped on him. He humbled himself; he came down to us because we could not – on our own – exalt ourselves to him. Have a Mary Christmas and ponder how the great God who thunders and destroys kingdoms and oscillates planets became small. Small enough for you to hold, to not be afraid, to believe that you find peace and hope and salvation in Jesus alone.

            Experts believe that situational awareness is a skill of split-second assessment for success in sticky situations. CIA agents spend years learning it. Teachers with eyes in the back of their head have mastered it. Captain “Sully” Sullenberger used it to land a commercial plane in the Hudson River. Mary practiced situational awareness when she scanned her surroundings, comprehended their meaning, and made appropriate decisions as a result. “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The best way to honor Mary and worship God is to do the same. Take in the sights and sounds of Christmas, comprehend their meaning, and believe in Jesus whose birth and death mean you live and die as God’s perfect child. Amen.

 Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on December 24, 2010

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church | 1209 North Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 271-3006

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