Grace to you, and peace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

It has been a long journey. Over 15 months of awe-inspiring moments as our heavenly Father unfolded His plan of salvation. From the moment I appeared to Zechariah with the news of John’s birth, to my message to Mary about her Holy Child, and finally to Joseph, what a joy it has been to see God’s promises come to life.

What is most amazing is not simply that it happened, but how it happened. Our Father could have chosen grand armies of angels, or glorious displays of power. Instead He chose humility. He chose the ordinary, even the discarded. He chose to come into the world through a young girl, in a stable among “the least of these.¹” This is how He revealed His deep love and care for us. Not just the mighty, but the lowly; not just the wealthy, but the poor.

I want you to see yourself in these events. Think about the places where you’ve seen God working in ways you didn’t expect. Reflect on how His promises, though sometimes delayed, are always fulfilled.

Let’s start by going back to Nazareth, to a humble home, and a young girl named Mary. When I appeared to her, the look on her face said it all: fear, surprise, confusion.

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” She didn’t feel favored. She felt overwhelmed. I reassured her saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.²”

Mary asked how this could happen since she was a virgin. I told her this was the work of the Holy Spirit. Her Child would be the Son of God.

Then she said words that still echo in heaven, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”

What faith! What trust! Mary didn’t know how everything would happen, but she trusted God. Isn’t that what faith is all about: believing in what we cannot yet see?³ How often do we hesitate to say, “Let it be to me according to your word”?

Now fast-forward some months. Mary and Joseph are traveling to Bethlehem, a long, nearly 100 mile long and uncomfortable journey. Especially for Mary, who was very pregnant. Can you imagine the challenges they faced? The dangers on the road, the cold nights, the uncertainty of where they would stay when they arrived?

Joseph’s trust in God stood firm as he cared for Mary. Though he also did not fully understand why things had to happen this way, he knew God’s plan was perfect. Mary’s quiet faith was inspiring. She bore the discomfort, trusting God would provide.

How often are we called to walk difficult or challenging roads, uncertain of what lies ahead? As Mary and Joseph’s account shows us, God is always with us, guiding and providing. You don’t have to understand the plan to know God has a purpose.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they found no place to stay. The town was crowded, filled with people who had come for the census. There was no room, but God provided room, but not in a way they were planning.

It was a stable, humble and quiet. This is the place the Author of Life would be born into the world. The lives of so many people, most people really, are often not so profound or impressive. That was the point. God came for everyone.

I watched as Mary gave birth to her Son, wrapping Him in swaddling cloths and laying Him in a manger. It was so simple, yet so profound. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, entered the world in this way.

Isaiah’s words came to mind:

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.⁴

This Child in the manger would one day carry the sins of the world to a cross. He would grow up to teach, heal, and then sacrifice Himself for you. His birth was just the beginning of the greatest story ever told. It is important to reflect and remember the wood of the manger and the wood of the cross were both made to hold Him.

This news was not meant to stay cradled in a stable. It was meant to be shared, and with the whole world. Our Father sent me and my brothers to announce the good news to shepherds out in the fields.

Why shepherds? They were ordinary people, often overlooked, like so many people in small towns and boroughs. It is these people God chose to first hear the news of the Savior’s birth.

We appeared in the night sky, and I said,

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.⁵

The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, and when they saw the Child, they worshiped Him. They couldn’t keep the news to themselves. They told everyone they met. And isn’t that what we’re called to do as well? To share the good news of Jesus with the world?

As I look back on that night, I see a bigger picture than might first be apparent. Jesus wasn’t just a baby in a manger. Christmas is about far more than tinsel, glitter and nostalgic songs. Jesus is the Lamb of God, sent to take away the sin of the world.⁶ The manger points us to the cross, where Jesus would fulfill His mission to save you. The cross points us to the empty tomb, where Jesus’ victory over sin and death was completed. Today, we look to the empty cross as a symbol of hope, peace, and eternal life.

So what does this mean for you today? It means God’s promises are true and reliable no matter where you are, where you’ve been or where you’ve come from. It means even in your darkest moments, He is with you. It means salvation is yours because you believe in Jesus.

It is also a call to action. Just like the shepherds could not stop talking about what they had seen, we are called to share this love of Jesus, the care of Christ, with others. We, like Mary and Joseph, are called to trust Him in our lives and with our lives.

We are called to be part of His Church. A community where we can grow in faith, support one another through tough times, and live a life grounded in God’s Words given to you and for you.

So, how will you respond to God’s gift to you this Christmas? How will you share His love with others? Will you take it and go home. Or will you be brave enough to come back next week? Come back to hear more of this gift that was given for you. There is no greater gift than the Gospel. Without that gift, there is no gift worth having.

I pray you see the importance of this truth in your lives.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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