by Pastor Dave McConnell

Let’s look at this child born, fully God yet fully human. But first, a brief view of the other two people in the stable that night.

Mary-Luke1:26-38 (NKJV) “ (26) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (29) But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. (30) Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.”
Mary ends up in a quandary three months before Joseph does. She probably would have been between the ages of 14-17—would be living at home—pure and virgin—honorable before God, and her parents. Note in scripture, her family is never mentioned. I believe that in her youth and innocence, she never worried too much about how the
details would unfold. Sure, she knew the Law—but she trusted God to see to it that things would work out exactly as God needed them to. Yet, in that society and time, she must have had concerns that only God could quell. Anything less and she would not have been normal, human.

Joseph- Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV)
“ (18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
(20) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
In his book “Wild at Heart”, John Eldredge describes the honorable masculinity of a man in three ways: 1) he needs a battle to fight. 2) he needs an adventure to live. 3) he needs a beauty to rescue. The surprise pregnancy of Mary put Joseph in his real quandary. On one hand he loved this young woman, yet, on the other he, being just, knew the commandment of the Law. Leviticus 20:10 (NKJV) “ (10) The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.” For her to be pregnant to someone else, during their engagement period was absolutely scandalous. She should by all rights be exposed and put to death. Put yourself in his sandals for a few minutes and think of their time and society, not ours.
The love of God, and His plan, rescues Joseph from doing the wrong thing. “Don’t be afraid to take Mary, your wife…” Now he begins the three things described by Eldredge:
1. The battle to fight – no one would believe them.
2. The adventure to live – he was embarking on the adventure of a life time.
3. The beauty to rescue – he had his beauty-Mary.

The Child- Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
“( 6) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”
The song: “Mary did you know?” Did you know that when you kissed that child you kissed the face of God?
God became flesh and dwelt among us to save us from our sins! He was/is Savior and Lord. His name is Jesus Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas to all.

Pastor Dave McConnell
Cody Park Community Church
0157 C.R. 27A
Cotopaxi, CO 81223