Joseph and Mary’s Christmas Story
“And the angel (Gabriel) answered and said to her (Mary), ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. ‘And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. ‘For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
Luke 1:35-38
“But when he (Joseph) had considered this (See Matthew 1:18-19), behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ‘And she will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
The account of Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus is a miracle of both history and heart! Jesus’ birth was miraculous for it was of the Holy Spirit’s power. And the wonderful news of Christmas announces not only God’s coming to earth, born in flesh in an animal’s feed-box, but also that any person who repents of sin and turns to Christ at the cross will be miraculously born from above to eternal life and given abundant life now for all of life’s challenges. The Christian’s heart becomes God’s Bethlehem for Jesus is born and lives there through the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ! And the God who came to and cared for Joseph and Mary when life was everything but easy and uncomplicated for them, cares for you, too! Nothing is impossible with God!
Pastor Louie