The Visitation
Text: Luke 1:39-55
I was recently speaking with some school parents, and they were describing the maps they purchased for their children. One map was so the children could track all the places they had visited throughout the world. The other map was to mark the places they visit here in the United States.
It's quite something to see all the places children travel to today.
Growing up, I believe I was one of the unicorns; I was never blessed with an 8th-grade trip to the great and powerful city of Washington, D.C., like so many children throughout the country today.
What must it be like to be a student or child or one of the over twenty million (According to 2019 statistics) people, a year, who visit Washington, D.C., and see the magnificence of the buildings and monuments of this great city on a hill?
The “City on the Hill.”
John F. Kennedy echoed these words of John Winthrop in a speech as he said,
Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us--and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state, and local, must be as a city upon a hill--constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities.
Is that the city we live near? A place “constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and great responsibilities?”
You know, in the verse before the Gospel today, Mary responds to the angel Gabriel’s announcement of the Christ child she will bear, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
How often do you who dwell near this great city join Mary’s confession, “I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word?” You can just hear these words flowing off your lips, right?
Alright, probably not. Truthfully, this confession by the mother of our Lord can't be further from your lips.
We live near a city where everyone angles not for servitude but to be served. Our hearts, our minds, and the words of our lips reveal where our trust truly lies. In man, in ourselves.
Still, as we observe the Feast of the Visitation today, the Savior is found within the womb of Mary; she now represents the Church – a Church where Jesus not only visits but dwells within so that He would humbly take upon Himself the form of a servant, you.
Isn't this something? He came into your lowliness as He grew within the womb of Mary, taking upon Himself your corrupted flesh. In doing this, Christ Jesus took your sin of mistrust and failings to the most magnificent cross.
Not really the self-sacrificing image of your lives today, is it?
But here is the image of a true city on a hill because it is a city and Church whose foundation is in the cross of Jesus Christ alone.
A little later in the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist sent His disciples to Jesus to ask, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)
“Are you the Coming One,” this is the definition of a visitation. It’s as if these disciples are asking Jesus, are you the One that has come to visit us from on high?
Jesus would send the disciples of John the Baptist back to his prison cell with a message regarding His earthly visitation:
“Blind are seeing again, lame are walking around, lepers are being cleansed, and deaf are hearing, dead are being raised, poor are proclaimed the Good News.” (Luke 7:22)
God has come to His people and brought the reign and kingdom of heaven with Him - the true and beautiful great city on a hill.
So often, we travel and visit incredible places throughout our country and the world. In fact, some of us become consumed with going places and seeing things. Sometimes even placing our trust in the great and magnificent buildings and monuments made of men.
However, no great and mighty city on earth, nor its inhabitants, will ever save you.
Instead, the One who came and continues to visit us from high saves you, the child in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
He gives you true sight when faith falters, He shows you how to walk through life's trials and tribulations, He cleanses you from sin, and opens your ears to faith, that you might be raised from death to life.
My friends, I urge you never to stop coming to this place where Christ dwells to nourish you with the Word and the holy meal of His heaven. Here you can be certain He comes to visit and abide with you.
And when He abides in you, you, as Mary, are blessed because you have confessed with her, “I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word?”
What greater joy is there than this? This joy might even cause you and your heart to leap for joy in the womb of Christ’s blessed Church.
May we, like children, never fail to look upon the cross of Christ Jesus with fervent faith and awe, for He has come to visit and redeem us this day. +INJ+
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Associate Pastor, Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
