‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me.’

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The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old, ‘You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth from me one who is to be the ruler of Israel.’

For we, who are rebellious, need a ruler, yet there is not one among us that can rule in wisdom and in truth. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people a ruler.

The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old, ‘When she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of God’s people shall return.’ ‘And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.’

For we, who are lost, need a shepherd, yet there is not one among us to shepherd us. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people a shepherd.

The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old: ‘I will raise up a prophet from among thy brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth. And he shall speak all that the LORD commanded of him.’

For we, who are blind, need a prophet, yet there is not one among us to speak to us the consolation of the Father. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people a prophet.

The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old, ‘A child will be born unto us, a son given unto us: and dominion shall be upon his shoulder.’ ‘For on the throne of David shall his kingdom be established.’

For we, who are lawless, need a king, yet there is not one among us to reign in majesty. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people a king.

The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old, ‘Truly, the Lord will build His own temple, and he shall bear the glory and dwell upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon the throne: and the counsel of peace shall be within him.’

For we, who are sinful, need a priest, yet there is not one to purge our flesh by the blood of sacrifice. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people a priest.

The God and Father of our ancestors promised of old, ‘On the mount of God, the LORD will provide the sacrifice.’

For we, who are damned, need a sacrifice, yet there is not one among us who is blameless and without spot. This the Lord has known; so it is His desire to give to His people the sacrifice.

‘Hath the Lord said, but will not act? Hath he spoken, but will not fulfill?’ ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither a son of man, that he should repent.’

The Lord shall keep his word. ‘For he hath remembered his covenant forever, the promise he commanded for a thousand generations.’

Holy Mary asks: ‘How shall this be?’ And the Lord said: ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son.’

Holy Elizabeth asks: ‘Why is this granted to me?’ And the Lord said: ‘In this manner have I loved the world.’

Holy John asks: ‘Is this the one that is to come?’ And the Lord said: ‘Behold your God, the LORD of angels.’

Holy Mary conceives a child. Holy Elizabeth rejoices. Holy John leaps for joy within his mother’s womb.

Now the Lord speaks to this one within Mary, yet unborn, and says: ‘I delight not in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, nor do I desire burnt offerings. But obedience is better than sacrifice, to hearken to my word better than the flesh of lambs.’ ‘Therefore keep my commandments, and live; write them upon the table of thy heart.’

The unborn Christ replies:

‘A body you have prepared for me. Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’

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Preached by Pastor Fields

Sermon Texts: Micah 5:2-5; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45.