Good morning,
God’s plan for Christmas.
When God laid out the plan for what we know as Christmas today, was very different from anything that we would come up with ourselves. It wasn’t all about gifts and goodness and family fun. Actually is was laid out based on waiting and pain that would finally lead to celebration. When the Father sent Jesus to earth he began by using two old people to get things ready for the promised Messiah to come. Zechariah and Elizabeth were good and godly people who waited all their lives for children, but had given up. When an angel came and told Zechariah they were going to have a son who would prepare the nation for the Messiah, Zach. didn’t believe what he heard and was given 9 long months when he was not allowed to speak. When Elizabeth found herself pregnant she hid for the next six months. When a young ordinary woman, Mary, was surprised by an angel and told that she was going to become a mother, she was surprised but accepted the assignment of becoming the mother of the Eternal King’s Son. But she accepted her assignment at a great cost to the reputation that would follow this part of God’s plan. God gave the two mothers three months together of joy and then Mary had to return to a totally overwhelmed fiancé. When he asked God what to do, the angel said,"do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”(Matt.1:20,21) Joseph did what he was told, but they were the talk of the town for the rest of their lives. She was in his house, but no sexual contact was allowed.
When Mary was ready to have her baby Joseph had to put her on a donkey for a long ride because he had to go back to his home town to pay the government taxes. When they got there, there was no place for them to stay so that Mary ended up having God’s son born in a stable. No family and friends. Animals and smelly shepherds showed up to see the baby. How humiliating. When they took Jesus to the temple as required, two real old people showed up to see Jesus, but the old guy, Simeon, after blessing them told them, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”(Lk.2:34,35) Then when the wise men showed up in Jerusalem and asked where they could see the new king, the town folks were troubled and the king, Herod, overcome with hate, did his best to find out where he was. The Bible scholars of their day knew the town, Bethlehem, and told the king that, but didn’t go looking for themselves. When the wise men went out that night a bright star lead them to the house in Bethlehem, and they worshiped Jesus and gave him valuable gifts. God told these men to go home a different way and told Joseph in a dream, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.(Mat.2:13) What happened then at Jesus birth is still alive and happening today. God’s standard is And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.(Heb.11:6) Then another promise God made, If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.(2Tim.2:12) Lord, please help us not to forget, First the pain and then the Celebration!
Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Roy Wisner
