Advent Day 24 Luke 2:6-7

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 (ESV)

There is a popular and beautiful song titled “Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It really explores the wonder of the birth and life of Jesus and asks the question, “Mary, do you understand what has happened?” I believe the answer for Mary is yes and no. Yes, because Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, told Mary that, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” She was told that her son was “Immanuel,” which means ‘God is with us.’ She knew of the miraculous conception and that God himself was the Father of her precious baby. She had a basic understanding that the time had come for God to fulfill His prophecy and provide a Redeemer for the nation of Israel. But did she really understand all that meant? I think she grew in her understanding as she saw Jesus grow up as a child, throughout His adult ministry, but not until she saw Him suffer and die on the cross did, she really understand. Even the apostles, after spending three years traveling, ministering, and listening to Jesus’ teachings, didn’t fully comprehend what it meant to have the “Great I AM” among them.

Just knowing the facts about Jesus and who He is, what He did, and why He came to this earth, isn’t enough. Knowing facts, with our heads and not knowing Jesus with our hearts, misses the whole point of His coming and what He accomplished.

Isaiah, the prophet, also stated in 7:14 and is quoted by the Apostle Matthew in his gospel account, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name 'Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” God with us, what could this mean? Would the creator of this world and the creator of all life actually come down to this earth and walk among people? Would the God of this world actually leave His glory in heaven to come down to this sin-infested world? Could it actually be true that at this very moment in time, God Himself, in the form of an infant, would actually be born in this insignificant little town called Bethlehem? Would He be born of a young girl of no fame of her own, in a place that didn’t even have a room in which He could be born?  Would God actually choose to be born in an animal stall, and would an animal feeding trough be His first bed? That just isn’t the way I would introduce the world to God. But that is exactly how God showed the world that He was Immanuel (God with us).

God, through his prophets of old, told the Jewish people exactly what would happen, so they would recognize the promised Messiah when the time was right. And now the time was right. You see, with Jesus' birth and life, He fulfilled about 300 Old Testament prophecies, written about Him over a 1400-year period. The Jews were given many opportunities to put their faith in the promised Messiah, the Anointed One, to put their faith in Immanuel. All it took was their belief that God would provide a way of salvation to anyone who would trust that God is a promise-keeper.

Over 300 prophecies fulfilled about the birth and life of the Messiah, just amazing, isn’t it? Now, on the night of Jesus’ birth, multiple prophecies are being fulfilled in real time, with God giving the world evidence of what He has done.

Now put yourself in Mary’s place and answer this question, ‘Mary, did you know?’

Now, what about you, my friend, do you know what marvelous thing the God of our universe has done for you? Not just for the world, but for you individually? Do you know that for 1400 years God had been giving prophecies about how He would provide a way of salvation for everyone? Do you know that this baby that was born to a virgin, born in an animal stall, and laid in a feeding trough, was the God of the universe? Do you know that God has made a way, even when there was no way for you to have eternal life?

Have you taken the step to put your faith, trust, and confidence in God’s way of salvation to move you from just knowing the facts about Jesus to actually knowing Jesus and what He has done for you?

It’s not too late, you still have time to accept the free gift of eternal life that God has provided many years ago. Friend, do you know all that God has done for you? This Advent Season, if you know Christ, really focus on and meditate on the sacrifice of Christ and the implications of the Virgin Birth for the world. If you do not know the Lord, open your heart to Him this Advent and ask Him in, ask Him to save you from your sin.

"Living in Grace "Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"

Advent Prayer Day 24

O' God,

We cannot fathom all that you have done for us.

We are so limited in our understanding of You and Your love for us.

But Father, with all that we are, we are grateful to You and our Blessed Savior for everything we have.

You know what we need before we need it.

You sent your Son to save us and the Holy Spirit to lead us.

Help us to be faithful servants glorifying you to the world every day.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen