Merry Christmas from The Kedge Anchor

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! As I celebrate the birth of Jesus, I like to read Matthew’s account and Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. Two perspectives, one event. And if you haven’t seen Christmas with The Chosen – Holy Night, it’s ok, you can see it on Prime and eventually it will be in the app if you don’t have a Prime account. I highly recommend it.

When I stop to think of the implications of how the community at the time would have or could have judged Mary being young, unwed and pregnant … that had to be scary in itself much less being met by an angel. That was huge back then. The scorn, the shame. But she was willing. But God protected her. I wonder if in Luke 1:39, where it says “Mary … with haste…” went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, I wonder if that was part of God’s protection? Mary and Joseph were betrothed, they were engaged. But after their engagement they went back to their own homes, where it sounds like Mary went directly to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary arrived and Mary stayed for three months before returning home. So, when she arrived back home she may not have been showing at three months, but she would shortly. So maybe her making haste to see her cousin decreased the scorn and increased the accountability of her virginity??

The virgin birth could only explain what God can do. Jesus had to be born as a human, He had to be made flesh, pure, righteous, holy, blameless in order to be the perfect sacrifice for us. Only God. I was reading a devotional today by Alistair Begg “Wonder and Mystery”. Alistair points out that our salvation isn’t something we can do for ourselves, it’s all God. Just as Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Mary did nothing but accept the call.

Only God. We can do nothing to save ourselves. God has provided a way. All we need to do is accept His call. Jesus went to great lengths to save us from the cradle to the cross He gave His all because He loves us. He is the only way to Heaven, Jesus is the only way to God. John 14:6 -“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (NLT).

What are your thoughts about the birth of Jesus? What do you think about this miracle? Leave your comments below.

Got some new things coming for 2024

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!