Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: The Most Important Job Ever Given to a Woman

Hello, and welcome to Saturday Scripture Gold!

Not long ago a professor of psychology in one of our great universities gave a word-suggestion test to his class of forty students. He instructed them to write the word "Christmas," and all the class did so. "Now," said the professor, "write after the word `Christmas' the first thought that flashes through your mind regarding that day." When the papers were turned in, such answers were given as: tree; holly; mistletoe; presents; turkey; holiday; carols; and Santa Claus; but not one had written, "the birthday of Jesus."
-War Cry

What is the true meaning of Christmas? It is a perennial question. It is a question heard often during the Christmas season year after year, from pulpits, TV personalities, newspaper writers, and just ordinary people bewildered by the hectic pace of the season.

It seems a little strange that as popular as this season seems to be, we should continually have to ask that question. The meaning of Christmas seems to be forever in danger of being obscured by all the commotion and promotion of the season. Perhaps we continue to ask the question for fear that the answer will be lost, or already is lost, in the shuffle.

Historically, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth to a young maiden from Galilee. Theologically, Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of God in Jesus the Christ, the self-revelation of God to the world in human form for the reconciliation of humanity to Himself. All the details of the various accounts concerning Jesus’ birth revolve around that central truth.

I think that the true meaning of Christmas is about possibility in the midst of the impossible. It is not the kind of possibility that comes from a confidence in our own skill, knowledge, ability, or a positive mental attitude. It is possibility that comes solely from the fact that God is God, and that he is the kind of God who comes into our own human existence to reveal himself and call us to himself.

It is a possibility that is so surprising at its birth that we are caught unaware, and so are left with wonder at the simplicity of its expression in this infant child. It is a possibility that is easily symbolized by a helpless infant that has nothing of its own by which to survive; yet an infant that, because he is Immanuel, God with us, will forever change the world and all humanity. It is this same God who has promised to be with us, with his people, with the church and with us individually, as we live as his people in the world.

It is not just hope, as if it were wishful thinking that things will get better when they cannot. It is hope incarnated into flesh, a hope that can be held in a mother’s arms, a hope that expresses a reality that will live beyond endings and death itself. It is the hope, the possibility, that springs from impossible and insignificant beginnings, infused with the power of God through the Holy Spirit, that will blossom into a light to the nations.

It is this possibility, this God, that we celebrate at Christmas. And we do so with a confidence born, not of our own desire for it to be so, but from the birth of a child over 2,000 years ago, a child who was the Son of God!

God sent the angel Gabriel to prepare Mary for the birth of Jesus because she had “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). God chose the best woman possible to be the mother of His Son. God knew from her developed character that Mary would teach Jesus to love His heavenly Father and live according to the Law of God.

God gives everyone what is best, and God chose the best person to perform the most important job ever given to a woman—raising and training the long expected Messiah, God’s only begotten Son, to become the Savior of the world (see John 3:16).

Unlike Zechariah in the temple, when Gabriel appeared to him and foretold the birth of John the Baptist, Mary did not doubt the angel’s words or God’s plan for her life. However, she did wonder about how she was supposed to conceive God’s Son, saying to Gabriel, “I am a virgin” (Luke 1:34).

Naturally, she would have wondered if she was supposed to speed up her marriage to Joseph or choose someone else to marry who would father her son. Gabriel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

God expected Mary to wait for His timing and His ways to conceive and deliver her Son, Jesus. Rather than ask for a sign, Mary humbly accepted God’s will and replied to Gabriel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Scripture: Luke 1:31

“And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31 - NRSV).

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” (Luke 1:31 - KJV).

Prayer:

Lord, be Thou my constant Guide,
Lead me all the way,
Till I reach Thy home at last,
Nevermore to stray. Amen
-Special thanks to L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. and Dennis Bratcher

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi