I love all of the many crazy aspects of the Christmas story!! God coming as a wiggly little baby...God born in a barn...Lowly shepherds being the first called to see the King...But one of the craziest aspects is the virgin birth!!
You know the story...Mary...This teenage virgin girl...Is chosen by God to be the birth mother of Jesus. We've heard the story so much that we almost just think this story is normal...But it is anything but normal cause our God is far from normal!!
Do me a favor...Think of the most Jesus loving teenage girl you know. She loves God. She's a "good girl". She cares for others and has a great heart for both God and people. She is young and innocent and sweet. She is adored by the people in the church. She sings and helps out and volunteers etc.
If you have someone in mind, good. Now - Imagine her coming forward pregnant. Imagine her trying to explain that it is not her boyfriends baby. Imagine her trying to explain to everyone that God came to her and that the child she is carrying is the coming of the Messiah.
Now imagine the churches response...Imagine the towns response...Imagine your response...
You see, we've heard the story so much that we assume that we would just be cool with it and celebrate it...But we ALL know that there would be no celebration!! There would be sneering and accusations and assumptions and doubt and ridicule and gossip...LOTS of gossip!! She would be hidden away by family. She would be barred from singing and volunteering at the church. She would immediately go from being the great Jesus loving girl to the newest town harlot.
All this because God chose her to be something incredible - The mother of Jesus!!
Three things I love about this part of the story:
1 - God chose Mary. She didn't ask for it nor earn it...He chose her. You and I can make all the claims we want about US coming to Christ or about US finding Jesus or about US giving our lives to Him...But the truth always has been and always will be that HE CHOSES US!!
2 - I love that there was all kinds of drama around the birth of Jesus!! I love that there was gossip and lies and scandal!! I love that this EXTREMELY religious culture looked down on the way God chose to bring in His Son with scowls and doubt and denial and contempt!! It sets the stage perfectly for how Jesus will be received in His ministry as well by the Jewish people at large. It also reveals each of our hearts toward God before He chose us!!
3 - I love that this story is yet another example of God and His glorious love of saving sinners!!
"And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." -Luke 1:30
I love that the angel calls her specifically by name and tells her not to be afraid...Not just in that moment, but ever...Don't be afraid EVER!! Why?? Here's the coolest part to me....Why?? Because she had found favor with God!! Literally translated, favor means GRACE!! The angel told Mary to not be afraid because she had found GRACE with God!!
How are you and I saved?? Ephesians 2:8 says that every person throughout the history of creation (including you and me) have been saved the same way: BY GRACE!!Let's celebrate the truly amazing grace of God this Christmas!!
"Love one another." -Jesus
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