December is the month that many celebrate Jesus’ birth. I’m more of the persuasion Jesus was probably born in September or October during the “Feast of Trumpets”. If that be the case, then Jesus was probably conceived during this time of year. That perhaps is more miraculous than His birth. The Holy Spirit gives us the explanation in Luke 1:30-35 (ESV)
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy—the Son of God.
The Gospel of John gives the event from heaven’s perspective; John 1:1-4; 14-18 (ESV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
This the most incredible and miraculous event in all of history. God favors a young woman to carry the most precious gift that He could give man, His only Son. This event is as miraculous as it can get; her body would be invaded by the presence of one who spoke the universe into existence. The prophecy that was given back in the garden was fulfilled. God had finally sent a redeemer to redeem man from the curse. Jesus’ name was very important. He was called “Immanuel” (Matt 1:23) which means “God with us”. That is key! God desires to walk and be with His children. He’s looking for those who are quiet and available for His purposes. God’s ways are not our ways, and He often doesn’t seem to care how things affect us in the natural. He gets all the glory that way.
Fast-forward 30 plus years and Jesus makes a statement regarding the importance of His leaving; John 14:16-17 (ESV)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
As Jesus was being formed in Mary, so the Holy Spirit is in us transforming us into Jesus’ image. Like Mary, we must be available for His purposes and not rely upon our own understanding. As Mary did, just say “yes”!
This whole thing is the mystery of the Gospel as the Apostle Paul declares in Colossians 1:25-27 (ESV) “
I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
This is how God works, He’s always looking to glorify Himself through His children. That is the story of Christmas and the essence of the Gospel “Christ in us”!