We often get so caught up in our holiday traditions that we don't spend any time thinking about the real reason for our celebration. I know you've probably heard this before but the real question is, have you ever acted on it? Have you ever stepped back from the busyness and taken a moment to ponder the Christmas story?
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 1:4-5
Scripture tells us that Joseph (and Mary) were in David's lineage. This was an important pronouncement because it had been foretold that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David.
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on
it — one from the house of David — one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness. ~ Isaiah 16:5
Many years ago I realized that Jesus was not actually a blood relative of Joseph, and more recently it occurred to me that He probably wasn't biologically related to Mary either.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ~ John 1:1-2
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. ~ John 1:14
Jesus is the Word made flesh. If He has always existed - and Scripture tells us He was present at the beginning - then He could not possibly be Mary's biological child.
Am I the only one who never considered this before?
It makes perfect sense to me that if the Holy Spirit has the power to cause Mary to become pregnant, He also has the power to place Jesus in her womb, the Jesus who has existed from the beginning.
Am I the only one who never considered this before?
It makes perfect sense to me that if the Holy Spirit has the power to cause Mary to become pregnant, He also has the power to place Jesus in her womb, the Jesus who has existed from the beginning.
Have you ever stopped to imagine what this must have been like for God the Father? If Jesus was taken from heaven and placed in Mary's womb, wouldn't this be the first (and only) time in the history of the universe that the members of the Trinity were separated?
It puts John 3:16 into a whole new light. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
It puts John 3:16 into a whole new light. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
This is one of those verses that we as Christians can rattle off without even really thinking about it. Is that a good thing?
God so loved the world that He was willing to be separated from One He had never been apart from in all eternity. Many of us have suffered from separation and loss. Did you ever stop to think that God knows exactly how you feel?
God so loved the world that He was willing to be separated from One He had never been apart from in all eternity. Many of us have suffered from separation and loss. Did you ever stop to think that God knows exactly how you feel?
God so loved the world that He was willing to allow His Son to be born into poverty rather than riches, not only so we could relate to Him but so we understand that He can relate to us.
God so loved the world that He was willing to allow His Son to be persecuted and abused, to the point of death, to pay the penalty for our sins. I have to be honest, if the fate of humanity depended on me sacrificing my son, the world would be in big trouble.
We hear "the world" and it sounds so impersonal. It's important to remember that God doesn't think of a bunch of nameless, faceless individuals when He speaks of "the world;" He thinks of YOU, and me, and each one of us, whether we think of Him or not.
Instead of "the world," insert your name:
For God so loved me that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Father God, I pray for each one reading this, myself included. Help us to step back from the busyness that presses us from every side and stop to ponder the miracle that is the cause for celebration. May this be a Christmas like no other - one with Christ at the center!
Lisa
