Who is This King of Glory?
Luke 1:46-55
Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan
You know we’ll be spending much of the next year in the Gospel of Mark, but when Mark wrote his book, either he didn’t have the oral traditions about the birth of Jesus or he knew the tradition but didn’t consider it crucial to his purposes. So no birth stories in Mark. Luke’s Gospel on the other hand, shows various events setting up for the preparation for the birth, and the birth itself. Luke puts Jesus in line with First Testament prophets, not as an equal but as something more. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at worship this evening, we rightly pause this morning to ask ourselves once again: Who are we getting ready for? Who is Jesus?
Our opening scripture told the story of the announcement from the angel Gabriel and Mary’s willingness to give birth to the new King of Israel, Son of the Most High.[1] Now we hear Mary’s song of praise when she goes to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth who is also pregnant.
From Luke 1:46-55, listen for the word of God.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Mary’s song tells us about God, so we should listen. If we are going to consider who is the Son of the Most High, we need to spend a few moments thinking about who God is. Luke carefully shapes his reports to help us know not just the visible events taking place, but the theological underpinnings. What is the divine purpose of this birth? Who is LORD Yahweh who, with an unpretentious young woman, begets a Crown Prince of Israel? Mary’s song tells us a great deal about God.. and about Mary. Amid a life changing experience when she could panic, instead we hear a young woman break out in praise of God, her Savior, the Mighty One, whose name is holy. Mary understands LORD Yahweh is the Mighty God, who is worthy of worship. For centuries of Israelite history, God has been the ongoing source of mercy and goodness, even when exile and foreign occupation have threatened to crush them. Mary sings that the LORD cares for the people Israel and she is one of those people. She knows God has chosen her for a specific blessing, even though she is no one special. Her willingness sets everything in motion.
What is particularly noteworthy is that her song boldly shows us a God who has already accomplished the divine plan. She sings that oppressive forces have already been removed from their thrones; lowly ones are already lifted up – even though we cannot yet see these results. We might think of an arrow shot at a target. When the arrow leaves the bow, the outcome is already determined. It either is or isn’t a bullseye; we just haven’t seen it hit yet. But Mary sees God’s victory accomplished. She knows God has determined a bullseye. The lowly will be cared for; the least will be treasured. The wealthy will experience hard times and the hungry will have plenty. Those who are suffering under oppressive systems will be free. God wills all people to have enough; no one will be subject to tyranny by governing forces. God desires all people to live in peace and wholeness in their lives together, and God will accomplish it. Mary can see it. The arrow has already left God’s merciful bow. Mary teaches us about God in her song.
So then, what about Jesus? Scripture gives Jesus various titles, but we use one most frequently: Christ, which means Messiah. But what does messiah mean? By definition, messiah means “anointed one.” In ancient Israel, monarchs were not crowned (no big coronation), rather they were anointed. Oil was poured on their heads to indicate a special choosing of the person by God. So when Gabriel reportedly told Mary her child would be Son of the Most High and would sit on the throne of David, she knew it meant he would be anointed – he was messiah. Christ.
But later, when people referred to Jesus as Messiah or Christ, they meant more than merely anointed king. He was greater than David. Jesus was born Son of the Most High, meaning Son of LORD Yahweh, Child of God. Some New Testament writers go so far as to claim that the coming of the Son is the presence of the Father. Some people today agree. Others may not want to go that far but still, clearly Jesus and LORD Yahweh were intimately connected. So, when Jesus followed the ways of God, people shouldn’t have been surprised. He lived God’s purposes. The lowly were to be lifted up; the rod of oppression was to be broken; and the proud needed to have their thoughts readjusted. We might agree that the power and presence of God were active in Jesus. If anyone wanted to know what God’s priorities were, they could look at what Jesus prioritized – feeding those who were starving, healing those who were suffering, speaking words of comfort to those who felt hopeless. Jesus, even though born among humanity and living in human flesh, was intimately connected to God. When we hear the stories of Jesus, we can sense something holy moving among humanity in the presence of the Son, the anointed One. Jesus, living in harmony with the ways of God, came to call to new life those who didn’t comprehend God’s desire for the world to be guided by God’s love. He taught that everyone should have enough, each person deserved to be treated with dignity, and no one should be exploited. Jesus was born intimately connected to God.
But there is more. Jesus continues in the world now. He is among us. Of course, Jesus gives us the perfect model of commitment to God’s purposes. We learn from his behavior the importance of generosity and a willingness to sacrifice. And his teachings can shape us into disciples, but those teachings are difficult. Think of the scary lesson in Mary’s song, that God has sent the wealthy away empty. We who have rooms overflowing with things and storage units for the excess, who have a second freezer for extra food, and full bank accounts and comfortable retirement accounts, what would happen if God sent us away empty?
We try to follow Jesus’ teachings, but most of us fail to be as faithful as we intend on just our own efforts, no matter how much we try. So how can we be faithful followers of Christ? Here’s a key. Jesus is still present, thank God. In the Holy Spirit of God, Jesus is eternally active throughout the earth. Scripture sometimes uses the term: Spirit of Christ.[2] In other words Jesus Christ is present among us through the Spirit. An amazing gift. The Spirit is the guiding power of Jesus active in the world, now. Celebrating the birth of Jesus each year reminds us anew, his companionship and power are always available to us. Which means, through Christ’s Spirit we can participate in the purposes of God, with more than our own puny strength. Through the power of the Spirit of Christ, we can share Mary’s vision of the Realm of God already manifest. The blind do receive their sight; the least have good news preached to them. The fulfillment of the Realm of God has already begun, and we get to participate through the Spirit of Christ.
So if we ask, who is this King of Glory? The answer is, he is Christ Jesus, anointed One, who lives now and forever in the glorious presence of God, who empowers us through the Holy Spirit to be connected to God and to live according to God’s purposes. So, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we open ourselves to receive him again. Come Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory. Be born in us again.
[1] You can look it up: Luke 1:46-55.
[2] According to Strong, see Rom. 8:2,9; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 3:16, 4:4; Phil. 1:19; 1 Pet. 1:11.