In The Manger

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

Yes, this great event in history really did happen. You may not read about it in the secular texts or even hear much about it in the mainstream media but it did happen and it happened as Isaiah said it would about 600 years prior. Mary was a virgin as the Christ child was conceived by the Holy Ghost. "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Matthey 1:20 The King of Kings was born in a manger as he became "God with us." One must believe that the Son of God came to earth as God's son, born of a virgin else he can't be a Christian. To deny the virgin birth is to deny his diety, thus denying his death on the cross for mankind.

Mary was a virgin when Christ was born. Mary was blessed but in no place does the scripture tell us to pray to her or worship her. She does say to her cousin Elizabeth, "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." Luke 1:48 The word blessed means "happy." That she was. We know that Mary followed Christ even to the cross and was a follower after his resurrection. She was a wonderful woman.

The Jews, in all of their intellect seemed to miss him completely. The Priests knew the scriptures and the prophets well. They even told Herod where the Christ child would be born but somehow they missed it. Even though the scripture told about a servant King and suffering King, they preferred the prophecies the depicted him as a reigning King. They were looking for him to establish world rule then and get the nation of Israel out from under the hand of the Romans. Even the disciples were looking for it. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:6-7 The Jews as a whole were not looking for inward salvation nor did they feel they needed to examine themselves. They were people of fasting but for the wrong pretenses. They gave many alms to support the poor but only for show. They were intellectuals and studied much but couldn't humble themselves to let Jesus in.

Let him in your hear this Christmas. Let him be your Lord and follow him. Read his word and yield yourself to him. John 4:23 says, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." We cannot keep his words without his continual help, but with him, all things are possible.

Merry Christmas and may God find your soul in peace with him.