Advent | Meet Him At The Manger by Stuart and Jill BriscoeSample

A Time for Giving

When God the Father scattered the Milky Way and hung Saturn's rings in place, He thought about Christmas. As God the Son, working in unity with the Father, fashioned the lumbering oxen and the gentle cow with His creative power, He thought of the day when the Father would speak and He'd become flesh. On that day He would gaze with "baby eyes" upon the very creatures He had made. 

God the Holy Spirit, moving as a shadow upon the face of the waters in Genesis days, knew one day it would be necessary to move again. This time He would overshadow Mary's womb, that "the Holy One" to be born of her should be called the "Son of God."

Isaiah told us that God's gift would come via special delivery, a son born of a virgin. This son would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Four hundred years later, as an elderly Elizabeth was thinking about this promised gift, God was busy wrapping His Christmas present from heaven in human flesh. And Christmas came early for Elizabeth. When Elizabeth welcomed her cousin Mary, the outcast, ostracized, pregnant girl, God pulled back the wrapping to let her have a peek at His present. Elizabeth's own baby leaped in her womb for joy, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit, saying: 

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:42-45)

Encouraged and strengthened by her cousin, Mary also prepared. She knew the anointed One was coming soon—as she was the earthly vessel for God's divine action.

God couldn't have a Christmas without a Mary. He needed more than just a devout person—someone who attended synagogue and said her prayers. The child Christ needed a body to live in! So Mary offered the gift of hers:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38)

Christmas is a time for giving. The prophets gave their promises. Elizabeth gave her praise. Mary gave her body; Joseph, his reputation. The innkeeper gave his stable; the shepherds, their time. And God gave His Son. Tell me, do you see your present there?

What are you giving for Christmas?