Five-minute read.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18-21
Have you ever wondered about the virgin birth? Raised in a Christian home, I never questioned it. Both Matthew and Luke affirm the “virginal conception” and God’s extraordinary role in the birth of Jesus. Writing this devotional, I had a new revelation about Christ’s birth: His virginal birth affirms His preexistence.
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John 8:58
My mind can’t comprehend how everything works: Jesus’s preexistence, immaculate conception, resurrection. I don’t have all the answers. Faith means believing what you can’t see. The Lord doesn’t expect us to understand everything but to trust Him, even when we don’t fully comprehend. Having followed Jesus my entire life, He gives me plenty of reasons to trust, even when my flesh wants to doubt. God makes a way when I can’t see one; he always has and always will. Just like the miraculous birth of His Son, the divine made flesh so we could understand our need for a Savior.
“Birth” means “genealogy” and marks the beginning of the Messiah’s earthly life. Love creates life; Jesus’s entrance into the world exemplified the Lord’s love for us. Living a sinless life, the Savior gave us an example to follow. Through close connection with His heavenly Father, Christ revolutionized the world by revealing His truth. We can find life in abundance in Him, no matter our situations.
Mary and Joseph had visits from the Lord’s angels, who helped them understand and prepare for their roles in Jesus’s life. Both had fears and anxieties, but God reassured the couple and encouraged them on the journey. When our Creator asks us to do something we don’t understand, He will equip us for the journey, just as He did the young couple. We don’t have to understand to obey. Often, the revelation doesn’t come until after the obedience.
God walked with them at every step of their journey. Following the Lord’s direction and riding on a donkey to arrive at an inn without room for them doesn’t sound like a luxurious trip. Mary had little comfort in the late stages of pregnancy, but the Lord gave her the strength to complete the journey and fulfill her destiny.
God doesn’t promise us a rose garden, but He does promise us strength for the journey and a reward in heaven. A common saying around our church always makes me smile:
“The first hundred years are a struggle, but the rest is all glory.”
Stop expecting an easy life; you will never find that among God’s promises. Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this life, but take heart; He overcame the world. With Christ, you can face the mountain, defeating the challenge. And one day, you will receive your reward in heaven, spending eternity in His glory.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the miraculous birth of Jesus, who brought salvation to the earth. As we celebrate His arrival, give us new revelation into our Savior’s life and ministry. Draw our hearts closer to Him this Christmas season.
IJNIP. Amen
