What a curious time of year. A time of year when some of us celebrate a very strange and unusual event, some even say unbelievable. An event that occurred over 2000 years ago. The birth of Jesus, our Lord. Hallelujah!
Although we celebrate on December 25 each year, we don’t know that that’s the date of Jesus’ birth. What we do know about the date of His birth is that it occurred most likely around 6-4 BC. Our calendars may be a little off with regard to BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini – which refers to the years after Jesus’ birth). They didn’t have birth certificates as we do today, however, genealogies were recorded (check out the Bible). We do know that it wasn’t uncommon for the Romans to require a census to be taken. When a census was taken, each person had to return to their hometown to fill out the forms for taxation and military draft purposes.
So, somewhere around 6-4 BC, we do know that King Herrod required a census and Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem to fill out the paperwork. We do know that that is when and where Jesus was born. And we do know King Herrod had heard about Jesus, was threatened by Jesus, and ordered all males in the land under the age of 2 to be killed (wow!). Herrod “The Great” died about 6-4 BC thus putting Jesus’ birth around that time. So, it appears our BC and our AD are off a little, but over a 6000+ year history, a few years isn’t too bad.
Again, I say, what a curious time of year. A time of year when some of us celebrate a very strange and unusual event, some even say unbelievable.
How can this be?
Luke 1:34
We too are curious like Mary because there’s so much we don’t know and we too recite that same question, don’t we?
And the angel answered:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Luke 1:35
Wow, that is some kind of powerful statement, isn’t it? Are we curious about it? Do we think on it? Do we ponder that thing in our heart? We must.
Christ was born through the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High. Christ was born so that we could be reborn. That is certainly worthy of our thought any time of year, but especially this time of year.
Luke 1:35 speaks to the manifestation of the Son of Man, Jesus, Messiah, Savior, Baby in the Manger coming to live in the world. But, in a very different way, this verse speaks to the manifestation of Jesus, Christ coming to live in us. The Holy Spirt and the power of the Most High will not overshadow us so that we birth the Son of God. But, because of the Son of God, the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High overshadowing us, we are reborn!
“Truly, I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
In a very different way, when our salvation comes, we receive the Holy Spirit and the power (dunamis – our word dynamite, force, power, strength, ability, might, miraculous power) of the Most High. We do not give birth to Jesus, or have any role in that whatsoever, that’s all God! But, because the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High overshadowed Mary, because of His birth we are born (again), we are given life (anew), we are new men and women (changed). When we’re born again – we do know we receive the Holy Spirit and the power of God.
The power of the Most High threads through the Word with the pulsating energy of God’s own life. The Word is alive! God is power – mighty, miraculous, wonder-working, dead-raising, forceful, power.
The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Luke 1:35
How can this be?
Luke 1:34
Are we curious about it? Do we think on it? Do we ponder that thing in our heart? We must.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
His name is called Emmanuel
God with us, revealed in us
His name is called Emmanuel.
Again, I say, what a curious time of year. A time of year when some of us celebrate a very strange and unusual event, some even say unbelievable. But we do know different.