Mary and Joseph traveled about 90 miles to Bethlehem to be registered for the census and to pay taxes. The engaged couple were not intimate but Mary was expecting a son. We have become so familiar with the narrative of Jesus’ birth that we can miss how scared, alone, and confused Mary and Joseph must have felt. Imagine if you were on vacation and had to give birth on the side of the road because there was no other option for you. Imagine having no family support for the first few days after you delivered your child. If we are not careful to read and understand the setting of the narrative we can wrongly assume that it was a peaceful, easy night. 

• The Savior of the world was born without a home. 
• The Savior of the world was born to young parents.
• The Savior of the world was born in the lowest place. 

Sometimes God’s plan begins in an unconventional way. 

The birth of Jesus is a celebration that the God of the Universe stepped into human existence and put on flesh so that He could put on our sin and shame. This mission of hope and restoration was promised to the nation of Israel throughout their history and became a reality for all humans when Jesus entered the earth. 

It was not a random event – it was perfectly planned by God. Jesus’ birth, life, and death fulfill the Old Testament prophecies and still His grace extends beyond the nation of Israel to all people. 

Jesus wasn’t the Messiah that some expected but he is the King that we all desperately need. 

God is in control. His plans are perfect. 

Live It: 

• Are you in a season that seems random, unconventional, or out of control? 
• How can you take steps to rely on God during that season? 

Christ Chronological: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-7

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Luke chapter one closes with Zechariah’s prophecy about how God will use John the Baptist’s life. The crowd surrounded Zechariah and Elizabeth when John was circumcised when he was eight years old. Zechariah was finally able to speak and he praised God with his first words then began to prophesy. John would grow up and prepare the way for the Messiah and be the first prophet that has come in over 400 years. Salvation was coming into the world and John would point people to Jesus. 

Zechariah finished prophesying about John’s life and Luke concludes the account with this descriptive statement: 

“The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” – Luke 1:80

Zechariah and Elizabeth would have to wait for John to mature before the prophesy would become true. 

• John had to grow up to accomplish the plans that God had for his life. 
• John had to spiritually mature to live a life of faith. 
• John had to become spiritually strong. 

God may be preparing you for something that is to come but this season of waiting is not void of action. You must continue to grow in your faith and be prepared for whatever God has in your future. Babies cannot accomplish God’s plans. Babies must mature, develop, and grow to become participants in the work of Jesus.

Seasons of waiting are seasons of preparation. 

Spiritual growth is a process called sanctification. Sanctification is being made into the likeness of Jesus. This process is a cooperative work between a Christian and the Holy Spirit that makes you more like Jesus.

“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deeper people.” – Richard Foster 

The Bible instructs all Christians to grow spiritually but each Christian matures at different paces. Jesus desires for His followers to be deeply rooted in their faith.

Below are a few resources I have used in the past to deepen my own spiritual growth. I wanted to pass them along to you. I don’t have any affiliate links in this post – I simply believe in the effectiveness of these resources to encourage Christians to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

If you are interested in learning more about spiritual growth, check out this post that highlights some of my favorite books on spiritual growth.

[Read: Best Books On Spiritual Growth]

Live it: 

• Are you in a season of waiting? 
• How is God preparing your faith for your next phase of life? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:67-80

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The time came for Elizabeth to deliver John the Baptist. 

It seems that Elizabeth stayed hidden during her pregnancy and only told her neighbors once John was born (Luke 1:58). Their story of infertility was well-known in the community. Zechariah and Elizabeth were unable to conceive a child but now, in their old age, God has shown them favor and blessed them with a son. Luke 1:58 tells us that the neighbors celebrated the baby’s birth and praised God. God’s hand was evident in this .

Elizabeth and Zechariah took the baby to be circumcised when he was eight days old, in accordance with the Law. The baby had not been named and the group of neighbors and friends who gathered for the circumcision asked Elizabeth what she would name the child. Zechariah was mute from his encounter with Gabriel, the angel of the Lord. Elizabeth named the baby with the name that the angel Gabriel instructed – John. The crowd was confused for it was customary to name the child after a relative. 

Needing to confirm Elizabeth’s decision, the crowd turned and asked Zechariah what he would name the boy. Luke 1:68 says, “He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: ‘His name is John.’ And they were all amazed.” Zechariah obeyed the Lord’s instructions and named the baby John. Once the baby was named Zechariah regained his voice and began to praise God! The miraculous events around this birth caused the people to consider the powerful impact that John would have for the kingdom of God.  

The crowd was confused by the name that was given to the baby. It didn’t match the family’s past. 

When a person becomes a Christian the Bible says that he becomes a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You receive a new identity and a new name. You are no longer a slave to sin, you are now a son or daughter of God.

Some people will try to label you with an old name but God has a new name for you. 

The crowd may question the new name and identity that Jesus gives you. They may point to your past and call you by your history. In Christ you have experienced a spiritual rebirth (John 3) and your Heavenly Father gives you an unshakeable name of redeemed, restored, freed, a friend, a co-worker, and beloved. 

Your identity isn’t based on your past sin, present successes, or future potential. Your identity is based on the finished work of Jesus. 

Live It: 

• Do you live with the awareness of your new identity in Jesus? 
• How do you respond when someone tries to label you with a name that isn’t given by Christ? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:57-66

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One of the first people to worship Jesus’ arrival to earth was an unborn baby. 

Imagine the scene that is described in Luke 1:39-56. Mary was recently visited by the angel Gabriel and was told that she would conceive the Messiah, carry him, and deliver him. This was an honor to be the mother of the Messiah, but how would she explain this to her family and to Joseph? Until this point in history, a virgin had never become pregnant – it was impossible. Mary was a virgin and explaining the theology of an immaculate conception would have been difficult. She was an engaged teenager carrying the one who would carry the sins of the world. When Mary agreed to be pregnant with Jesus she wasn’t positive that Joseph would stay with her. During those days a woman who was pregnant out of wedlock was publicly disgraced. She would have felt confused and isolated. 

In this moment of worry, anticipation, and confusion, Mary went to her relative Elizabeth’s house. Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age with her first child. As soon as Mary stepped into the presence of Elizabeth her unborn baby John leaped inside her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and understood that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah. Elizabeth and Mary followed unborn baby John’s worship and began to praise God for his mercy and favor.

I want to point out an aspect of this account that I haven’t noticed before. It is simply this: Mary needed community and encouragement. 

Since she and Joseph were alone during the delivery we can incorrectly assume that they were alone during the pregnancy. Once she found out that she was pregnant, Mary went to Elizabeth and, as Luke 1:56 tells us, stayed with Elizabeth for three months before he returned home. Mary needed someone who knew what God was doing in her life to encourage and support her during this confusing time. 

There are times in life where God is working in your life but you are not yet able to share the information publicly. Christianity is not lived in isolation but in community. You don’t have to tell everything to everyone, but there must be a few people who know everything that is going on in your life. These people will become a pillar of encouragement and support as they point you to Jesus during confusing times. 

Live It: 

• Did you view Mary’s pregnancy as being all on her own? 
• Who are the few people in your life that are your source of biblical and Godly encouragement and truth? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:39-56

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Do you worry about God being able to accomplish something? There are times in everyone’s life when they question the power or goodness of God as it relates to a particular situation. “Can God do this?” “Will God show up?” “How could God bring something good from this decision?”

In Luke 1 there are two miracle conceptions. The first impossible conception took place when Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist in her old age. Luke 1:7 says that she and Zechariah were unable to conceive because she was “well along in years”. God heard  their prayers and blessed them with a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah. 

The second miracle conception happened when the virgin Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. During this interaction the angel Gabriel  told Mary that she would conceive a son. Mary’s question is obvious: how? How could a virgin become pregnant? Why would God select her to deliver the Messiah? The news sounded impossible. But Gabriel revealed a truth about God that we need to remember. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

There are moments in our lives where we are faced with an impossible situation that requires us to walk by faith in God’s provisions and power. God fully provides for His plans. If God is leading you He will provide for you. 

God can do whatever God wants to do. Nothing is outside of God’s dominion. Because God is holy, every decision that He makes will be holy and good. 

You may be faced with a situation that seems impossible. The impossible could be a  physical, mental, relational, or financial issue. Regardless of the situation, the truth remains; if God is working in this situation according to His purposes then the impossible is possible. 

Live It: 

• How do you respond to situations that seem impossible? Do you have faith, questions concerns, skepticism? 
• How can you encourage someone else who is going through an impossible situation? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:26-38

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Why is the genealogy of Jesus important? 

As a child I wasn’t interested in family photo albums. When I would visit my grandparents I would notice the stacks of photo albums but I rarely opened them up. This past Christmas season my family traveled back to East Tennessee to spend time with my side of the family. One afternoon we went to my grandmother’s house to visit with her. In her small living room sits dozens of photo albums from Christmases past. I walked over to the bookshelf and started looking through pictures of our family. It was great to see how some things have changed and how other things haven’t changed all that much. As an adult, I realize how important it is to know your family,  remember the past, and celebrate how God has moved throughout the years.

As a teenager I was tempted to skip over the genealogies located in the Bible. The long list of names were confusing and seemed unimportant when I could flip a few pages and read about Jesus healing the blind or King David slaying Goliath. I didn’t realize the importance these passages play in reminding us about our spiritual family and causing us to celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout the generations.

Before Jesus is born we are presented with Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. Luke lists a similar genealogy in Luke 3 after he records Jesus’ birth.

The names listed in these genealogies accomplish two purposes. First, the genealogies trace God’s faithfulness to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. In Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abram out of Ur and promises to make him into a great nation. Abraham’s people would be more numerous than the stars (Genesis 15:4-5) and promises that they will live in the promised land (Genesis 15:7). God establishes this covenant in Genesis 15. When God speaks to Abram for the first time he says that all people on earth will be blessed by Abram (Genesis 12:3).

 How will all people be blessed by Abram?

That brings us to the second purpose of the genealogies. Jesus blesses humanity by his life, death, and resurrection which brings hope and salvation to all people – not just the Jewish people. Luke’s genealogy traces Jesus all the way to Adam. This is significant because God told the serpent “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Jesus is the one who defeats sin and brings humanity back to the perfection found in the Garden of Eden. The genealogies show us that God has been faithful throughout the generations to restore humanity by sending the King of Kings to earth on a search mission. Jesus is the King who will reign forever.

Each genealogy is rich with history and hope for a savior who would undo the curse of sin.

As followers of Jesus, we have been adopted into the Family of God and share in the glory of Jesus. It is important for us to look back and to be reminded of our family roots.

Live It:

• Are you tempted to skip through genealogies in the Bible?
• Which names in Matthew 1 or Luke 3 stick out? Are there names that you are surprised to see listed?

Christ Chronological: Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38

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