The Birth of Jesus. Part one: The Journey
“….God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
“The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register.”
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Luke 2: 1-5
Something to think about: Some people believe a virgin birth is impossible. Well… God has allowed us over the centuries to learn a little bit by bit; and one day we will understand it all.
Who, even 50 years ago, would have believed that a doctor could take the eggs from one woman and the sperm from a man and implant them in another woman? If man can do that, how can we question God’s power and will in the birth of Christ? He created the whole world didn’t He? He made Adam from the dust of the earth.
Carrying my first child over Christmas many years ago, we took a car ride to my mother’s which took only about 45 minutes; and when we got there I was aching all over and for the first time in my life, I considered Mary.
I finally identified with her. This Christmas, as we think about the wonderful story of Christmas, let us consider the human beings that God chose to play a part in the biggest event ever in the history of the world. We should be reminded that God still uses us to accomplish His will.
When my child was born a few months later, I thought about the doctor being there, the nice clean sheets, and the nice room. And then once again I thought about Mary – probably in labor many hours before on the back of a donkey; and then lying down in a stable filled with hay to bring forth her first born child. As I thought about that first Christmas morning, I actually cried... for Mary.
When it came time for me to deliver my first born child, my husband sat in the waiting room, as Dads did back in those days. He probably read magazines or took a nap waiting for his first born.
However, Joseph was right there with her through the whole thing; and that made me think of Joseph. Was it likely that he had ever delivered a baby before? Did he take off his mantle and wrap it around the baby? Don’t you think he was scared to death? Today when we hear about Dads delivering their babies at home (or on the way to the hospital), they will most always say how very frightened they were.
When family and friends began to come to the hospital to see our first born child and to bring flowers and gifts, it made me think of the three kings and the shepherds. It made me ask, "What gifts do I give to Jesus?"
I was only nineteen – older than what Mary was believed to be – but I thought about all the modern conveniences that I had 50 years ago; and how she had so very few. Back in the 1950's and 60's, women were given “twilight sleep” drugs; and you went to sleep and woke up; and like magic - there was your baby.
For the first time in my life, Christmas became humanized for me. They were not just little statues making up the nativity at Christmas; but they were real living people.
When I was in the grade school, I had never heard of a woman pregnant outside of marriage; and when I first learned that Mary was not married to Joseph – I asked how could that be? I remember when I read about it in the Bible, I thought I had discovered something that no one else apparently knew. When I was small, my mother told me that only people who were married should have children.
I didn’t even know what a virgin was. I was just disturbed to find out she was not married. Later in high school, I heard girls gossiping and making fun of some girls who had gotten pregnant; and it seemed like a really bad thing.
But as I grew older (and in the Word of God), the Word opened up my mind and my heart. I came to know just how wonderful the birth of Christ really was; and how God allowed human beings to be a part of His plan. Mary and Joseph were just plain ordinary people like me and my husband.
God taught me more about the Hebrew way of marriage and that being betrothed was the same as being pledged to each other as in marriage. And I learned about Joseph's great love for her; and how he waited for her to deliver Jesus before consummating their marriage.
Today we are still a part of His plan. As we face another unknown in the New Year in 2012, we need to be reminded that the birth of Jesus is not over with at the end of the December 25th celebrations; but the beginning… just like the New Year is a beginning.
Later, the child of my first child came for a visit and saw the Baby Jesus with Mary, His mother, and Joseph, His earthly father, under the tree. And a few weeks later when she came for another visit she asked, “Where is the baby Jesus?” I told her we had put him away in the closet with all the Christmas decorations. She looked aghast and said, “You should never put Baby Jesus in the closet!” This innocent little 3 or 4 year old child taught me such a lesson.
I took Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus out of the closet and the three of them had sat somewhere in my house 365 days a year for about the last 25 years. Sadly, many of us only take Jesus out for a few days of the year to touch our hearts; and then we put Him away for another year. We bring out the eggs and bunnies at Easter.
Wise men still seek and adore Him; and that is what we must do – we must seek Him, find Him, and then adore Him as we humble ourselves and make ourselves adaptable to the will of God as did Mary and Joseph. We must remember Him all year long; not just in our hearts; but in our words, deeds, and actions.
God’s timing is always perfect. Can you imagine if he had waited until Christmas 2011 to send Christ into the world? Would Mary have aborted the Son of God? They had the freedom of choice just as we do. They could have not followed God's will and where would we be today? Where will future generations be if we, in our time, do not follow the will of God?
All of the scripture above is found in Matthew and Luke. Take the time this season to read the whole story and reflect not just on the Babe, the wise men, the shepherds, and even the star – but on the reason and purpose that God chose to send His Son to earth.
He came to be “The Way” that would lead us to eternal life; just as the star led the wise men and shepherds to Jesus that long ago Christmas Day. God sent us His only Son… to do a onetime only sacrifice… for us to have a onetime only… way to spend eternity with Him.
We were born into a sinful world and bore the scarlet letter of sin written across our lives; and sin cannot enter God’s Kingdom in Heaven. So in order for us to be as though we were sinless – we had to have One who was sinless to make "The Way." That would be Jesus.
Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus are not just a beautiful artist’s rendition on a Christmas card; but were real people living in a real world; and following the plan of a real God.
Jesus said of Himself, “ I have come that you might have life – and have it abundantly.” God’s love will always be sufficient and abundant not because of the birth of a child in a manger – but because of the death that child would one day suffer on the 'Cross of Sacrifice' to save a lost world. And because He transcended death - so can we.
Christmas in not about presents under and tree – but the Savior who was nailed to one.
Next: Day 25 – The birth of Jesus
Comments