Dear Christian friends:

A famous tight-rope walker prepared to push a wheel-barrow across a wire stretched between two tall buildings. Many people stood below on the street watching and groups of people had gathered on top of the two buildings to watch the exciting event. The tight-rope walker turned to one spectator standing nearby and asked him, "Do you believe that I can walk across the wire pushing this wheel-barrow?" Without hesitation the spectator replied, "Sure, I believe you can do it." "Good," said the wire-walker, "get in and I'll push you across." But the spectator refused to do it. His faith was not strong enough. He said he believed that the tight-rope walker could do it and not fall, but his actions did not agree with his talk.

I think that we church members are often like that spectator. We say that we believe in Jesus, but when we are tested our actions do not prove our talk. We say that we are believers in Jesus Christ, but our life and deeds do not agree often.

Now it is Christmas again, and we say that we believe in Jesus. Indeed we must believe in Jesus or else Christmas will mean nothing to us. Christmas requires faith, just as much faith as riding in a wheel-barrow on a wire stretched between two tall buildings. Our text shows that


Consider the strange and wonderful things that the Christmas story asks us to believe! Our reason and mind cannot accept that strange and wonderful story. It is harder to believe than the stories about Santa Claus. We can receive the Christmas story only by faith. It is such a wonderful event, beyond man's reason and understanding.

The Christmas story from the Bible tells us that God's Son became a man! God become man? God hide all His great power and glory in one small, weak and helpless baby? That is beyond our understanding. The angel told Mary that her son "shall be called the Son of the Highest." (Luke 1:32) Paul said of Jesus, "In Him lives all the fullness of God in a body." (Colossians 2:9)

And Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, saying,"For us a child is born, for us God gives His Son; and He shall rule; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus Himself said, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) And the miracles which Jesus did during His life also show that God's power was hid in Him. Our reason and mind cannot accept this, and many, many do not accept this. We can accept this only by faith. Christmas is a celebration of faith.

Consider also how God's Son became a true human being! He was conceived in the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she will be the mother of the Christ, she did not understand how that could happen to her. She asked the angel. "How shall this be, seeing I know not any man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God."(Luke 1:34-35) also see (Matthew 1:18-25) Who ever heard of a baby being born from a virgin? Our reason and experience tell us that babies are not born from virgins. Only by faith can we accept that God's Son, Jesus, was born from a virgin. Christmas is a celebration of faith!

Consider also why God's Son became a man. This, too, our reason and mind cannot accept. Why was God's Son born? He was born to die! He was born to die on a cross! He was born to save us from our sins! The angel told the fearful shepherds, "Fear not! Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a: Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

This love and mercy of God is beyond our understanding. How can a holy God love sinners? His enemies? Those who despise and break His laws? How can He give up His only Son to suffer hell and die for us? This wonderful love and mercy our mind and reason cannot accept. It is beyond our understanding. We accept it only by faith! Christmas is a celebration of faith!

Without faith we have no real Christmas! Without faith Christmas is only another holiday like the Fourth of July. Well, we better ask: How do we receive such faith? How is faith strengthened?

Faith is a gift from God which we receive through hearing His Word. When we hear His Word, attend to the preaching of His Word, the Holy Spirit comes to our heart and enlightens our mind and reason and we can believe. (Romans 10:17)

Here in our text we learn from both Elizabeth and Mary that God gives faith through hearing His Word by the Holy Spirit. Both Mary and Elizabeth knew God's prophesies about the Christ and the Prophet who would prepare the way for the Christ. And when God sent His angel Gabriel to them to tell them that they both were in His plan for Christ's coming, they believed the angel's message. Elizabeth, although she was too old to conceive and give birth, believed that she will be the mother of John the Baptizer. Mary, although she was not yet married to Joseph, although she was a virgin, believed that she will be the mother of the Christ. Only by God's Word and the Holy Spirit could Elizabeth and Mary believe and be used in the Christmas events. Christmas is a celebration of faith!

We, also, can believe the Christmas story and really celebrate Christmas if we hear God's Word and promises about Jesus Christ. At Christmas we need to hear the preaching of God's Word. Then we can believe! This we have been doing and are doing again today. It is most necessary!

And our faith grows and becomes stronger also when we fellowship with other Christians. In our text we read how Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth right after the angel had told her that she will be the mother of God's Son, Christ. The angel had told Mary that Elizabeth was now six months pregnant with baby John. (Luke 1:36) Elizabeth gave much support to Mary and strengthened her faith. Same, also, Mary helped Elizabeth's faith to grow stronger. They were not jealous of each other like many cousins are often. The two women loved each other and helped each other have and keep their faith.

Same as Mary and Elizabeth, we must love each other, not be jealous, and tell each other God's Word. Have fellowship in Bible Class, church and in the Hall. This we need most! Christmas is a celebration of faith!

Amen.