There are signs of the Christmas season everywhere. Even people who are not Christians or even of any deliberately chosen religion, practice gift giving on this day.
It must stir something in the human heart. All of my life I have heard both pros and cons regarding the Christmas celebration. Some are so enthralled with the holiday that they go into debt to make 'that' day one to remember. My home was like that. Every year Mom went into debt so that one day out of the year we would have great memories of presents and trees, pies and candy and visitors. She would have to pay for it a little at a time all year and then she'd start all over again. Mom would sacrifice for herself so that the rest of us had that one great day. The one thing missing though was the story of the Christ Child.
Santa Claus, shopping, baking, visitors, traveling, gift giving, putting trees inside the house - adorned with elaborate decorations and in some places, snow all created the picture of the Christmas season.
Too often, even in Christian homes, the real reason to celebrate Christmas get over looked. Those other things are not bad or evil or selfish in anyway, but we can lose perspective.
There are church suppers to go to and nativity sets on the lawns all lit up with colored flashing lights; lively carols playing in the back ground; often groups of people going door to door, singing "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty the Snowman" My favorite when we took the children out with the neighbors would be "Away in a Manger", especially when there would be big white snow flakes coming down sparkling under the street lights. Then all the carolers were invited back to our house for hot chocolate and home made donuts. When I was little, my favorite memory of the Christmas season was going shopping 'downtown' with my mother. We would catch the bus and I was allowed to put the token into the slot. When we would walk under the beautiful lights-I would be holding on to mother's one finger as we mostly window 'wished' or 'shopped' as they called it. It was such a joy to be with Mom and help her pick out presents...and I would dream of one day having some of those things. The memory is still fresh. Mom will be spending her very first Christmas with Jesus this year. How happy she must be! In my thoughts I still 'Window Wish' with mom.
Happy Memories
I believe that God wants his people to be happy. I believe it delights him to see all his creation, both believers and non, coming together in respect and peace. But I do wonder if we grieve the Spirit of God when we place so much importance and emphasis on the worldly pleasure and anticipation for that one day of the year we call the 'birthday of the Christ child." It seems to me that we are often celebrating our own life instead of His.
While we are so busy in preparation, how much real time do we put into thinking about the meaning of Christmas: Do we meditate on the "First Gift"? Do we even understand it?
Mary...the mother of our Lord, led an ordinary life until that day she had a visit from Gabriel. You see Luke tells the story because he was inspired by God to do so. That means God wants us to understand the emotion and importance of Mary and Joseph's part in all of this. This takes time...it takes thought...it takes heart and desire to know the one we sing about at Christmas time.
What would happen today if a young woman came forward and announced she was pregnant but hadn't been with a man nor to a doctor that could have done a medical procedure that would have induced pregnancy? Speculation...doubt? To say the least.
Don't you think that eyes would be rolling and gossipers whispering and spreading the news: "Mary's fine folks...tsk, tsk...where did they go wrong?" or "Poor Joseph, such a good and godly man-he should be putting her away instead of protecting her." Isn't it wonderful to know that what God puts into motion, he works out to the very last detail?
In the first chapter of Luke, starting in verse 26: "...the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be." ____________
It was not usual with the Jews - for a man to use any salutation to a woman; with them it was not lawful to be done in any shape or form; not by a messenger, nor even by her own husband - so Mary might well be thrown into concern regarding this greeting, especially, addressed in such a way and saluted as a peculiar favorite of God and blessed among women. ____________
It goes on to say: "the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou has found favour with God and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus." (26-31)
I wanted to point out these specific verses; to some-Christmas is an important time in their lives; to some-Christmas is the busiest and most costly time of the year and to some it is the loneliest time of the year.
To believers, all believers, it should be the most precious of events which leads to the most important and profound event - Easter.
The Holy word says that God sent his messenger, an angel named Gabriel to a woman he found to be worthy to bear his son. Do you know anyone like that? Mary must have been very godly and humble, with a pure spirit to be chosen to raise the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD (John 3:16) Think about that...the only son of God that would be born of a human and he chose this young woman...Mary.
Let's look at more specifics in verses 26 and 27:
1. God sent an angel: This particular angel's name was Gabriel; he was God's messenger 2. He sent him to a place called Nazareth located in a bigger place called Galilee. 3. God sent Gabriel to a specific woman: She was a virgin She was espoused (betrothed) to be married (a pledge of marriage had been made*) To break that pledge you actually needed a paper of divorcement even though the official wedding had not taken place 4. The man's name was Joseph of the house of David
* A pledge of marriage: At that time in history, in that part of the world an engagement was usually arranged by the parents or by professional matchmakers. The couple could be mere children at the time of the engagement, and they may never have seen each other. Then there was the betrothal: this happened when the couple approached a marriageable age. It was carried out with feasting and ceremony almost as elaborate as the wedding itself. It was binding and usually took legal action to break it. If the man died, the woman was technically his widow. About a year after the betrothal, there was the wedding. If was a festival. Everyone in the community joined in a procession to the home of the newly- married couple. The couple didn't go away on a honeymoon, but stayed home. They were guests of honor at a week-long continuous feast.)
Vs. 28 The angel went in to her: where? Her house, her room? He said: Hail (greetings, Ave) You are highly favored by God and you are blessed among women...
Gabriel brought a personal message from God to this unknown young woman. She had been chosen above ALL women to bear his son. To carry, bear and raise the Son of God - how awesome is that!
Surely Mary didn't understand what this was about. She must have been frightened. I know that because of what Gabriel says to her in verse 30 & 31. He said to Mary - "Fear not, Mary: for thou has found favor with God, and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
What things must have ran through Mary's mind? Before she accepted this path, she reminded the angel that she was a virgin, not understanding that it was her moral purity, along with her spiritual, mental and emotional purity that set her apart.
The angel then (vs 37) acknowledges Mary's concerns and informs her "with God nothing shall be impossible."
Once Mary accepts and believes this message from God, then the angel left her.
Luke 1:39: And Mary arose in those days("and went into the hill country with haste")...The Ethiopic version renders it, "in that day"; directly, immediately, as soon as the angel was gone from her. Why? perhaps partly to know the truth of things, and to make use of the sign which had been given her, for the further confirmation of her faith, which was very right and proper for her to do; and partly to converse with Elisabeth about the great things which God had done for each of them, and to praise his name together. Imagine the communication between the two women; the awe - the comparisons that must have been made. God in his wisdom gave these two women someone to relate to, how much more difficult it would have been to live out this miracle feeling alone or at the very least, misunderstood.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for a time of 3 months. Is there a significance to that? She would be fully assured at this time that she was with child. This space of three months is a term of time fixed by the Jewish doctors, to know whether a woman was pregnant or not.
Looking at Joseph
Matt. 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost (KJVR) 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being just and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.*
*Joseph did not 'put her away'- and not willing to make her a public example = in other words he chose not to deliver her, i.e. to the civil magistrate According to Munster's Hebrew edition, the Greek word signifies to punish by way of example to others, to deter them from sinning; and with the ancients it denoted the greatest and severest punishment. Here it means either bringing her before the civil magistrate, in order for her to be punished according to the law in Deut. 22:23 which required the person to be brought out to the gate of the city and stoned with stones, which was making a public example indeed; or divorcing her in a very public manner, and thereby expose her to open shame and disgrace.
was minded to put her away privily (privately): Joseph deliberately consulted and determined within himself to dismiss her, or put her away by giving her a bill of divorce, in a very private manner; which was sometimes done by putting it into the woman's hand or bosom, (see Deut. 24:1). In Munster's Hebrew Gospel it is rendered, "it was in his heart to forsake her privately."
Matt. 1:20 But while he thought on these things behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. -Matt. 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. -Matt. 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, -Matt. 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. -Matt. 1:24 THEN Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife* -Matt. 1:25... and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. * Joseph publicly married her, whom he had before espoused.
There you have it. God works everything out - His Son would be born on earth via human parents. But the time has come to give birth...and like so many other things, there is a hitch in the gittie-up because as hard as it was to birth at that time, it would get worse before it got better.
Back to Luke, Chapter 2-
2:1-5 It was time that all in Caesar's world was to be taxed or registered. Everyone went back to there own city which meant that Joseph had to leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem because he was from the house and lineage of David.
6-17 While they were in Bethlehem Mary's time to deliver had come and she bore the child and wrapped him in swaddling clothes. (Wrapped in swaddling clothes: this was one of the first things done after birth, once the child was covered it would be washed and the cord would be severed.)
The Christ child was laid in a manger or animal trough because there was no room left to be sheltered at the inn.
The angels make an announcement! The angels appeared before the shepherds of the field and announced "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
The heavenly choir joined in the announcement by praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
2:17 ...and when they had seen they (the shepherds) made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 2:18 And all they that heard wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And so...we introduce the babe...Jesus
Warmed by the arms of his mother in the chilled night with nothing but a few wraps and a roof over their head - I don't think so.
God was there through every step. He watched as his Son was born, he watched as Mary travailed in birth. Perhaps she was protected from the pain...perhaps. Whatever the case or issues, there were not alone for the Angels were waiting, waiting to give the announcement that the SON OF GOD HAD BEEN BORN! THE SAVIOR - WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD!
(12/07 revised)
Introducing...Jesus
The angels took their place, waiting for the Master's cue; They waited and hovered unseen- ...for in a moment the Son of God was due.
The air was heavy with anticipation- Then suddenly a newborn's cry- And all of heaven rang out with excitement as Songs of rejoicing filled the sky.
Joseph lifted up his boy child; Mary then held him near- As she looked into the eyes of the Savior And wiped away a tear.
His little face so innocent, His pulse beating oh, so fast; The one she was protecting, was her protector- Her time to guide him wouldn't last.
The Father's plan had been set in motion- In just a few short years the Christ would die- He came to bring the gift of life... Praise God, He came right on time!
S.Puff 12/2007
Walking in Peace / division of C.O.P.E. Women's Ministries Sue Puff, author