“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (Luke 1:25 ESV)
If we aren’t careful, we can miss out on the incredible, rich emotion behind the Christmas story. Sometimes I fear when we read Scripture, we forget these are historical moments happening to real people, with real feelings and emotions, real fears and frustrations, and real, radical encounters with God. The Christmas story doesn’t just impact our lives today, it has been changing the destinies of countless people for millennia.
As the four hundred years of prophetic silence came to an end in Israel, we are reminded that God not only heard the desperate pleas of His people (see Luke 1:13), but He was preparing to pour out incredible blessings on His chosen people and the world. As the angel Gabriel appeared to the old priest Zechariah with the wonderful proclamation of the coming birth of the forerunner of Christ, John, we see the raw humanity of this moment. Zechariah struggled with doubt at the promises of God because on the surface it seemed impossible. Today, I hope you rejoice knowing that with God nothing is impossible (see Luke 1:37).
As the words of God through the angel Gabriel were fulfilled, Zechariah and his precious wife Elizabeth after waiting what must have seemed like a lifetime, conceived a child. Elizabeth’s worship is instructive as she joyously proclaimed: Thus the Lord has done for me… When you and I look at the incredible truth of the Christmas story, I pray our hearts would be just as full. Look at what the Lord has done for me! The incarnation isn’t just God’s rescue mission for mankind from our sin, it is His ultimate proclamation of love (see John 3:16).
As I sit typing, I am reminded that sometimes there is great pain, grief, and a swirl of emotions that strike us at the Christmas season. This season is hard for me because of the death of my daughter Brynleigh and my late wife Cassie. As so much joy bursts fourth at this time of year, my heart aches because they aren’t here. Yet, my life is a living testimony of all the Lord has done for me. My prayer for you and I is that nothing and no one can cloud the unsearchable love we find wrapped up in this season.
Let Christmas forever be a reminder that as He did with Elizabeth, God has looked on me. God graciously refused to allow us to perish in our sins and this Christmas season we celebrate Him stepping into this world He created to rescue us and draw us close into His loving arms. Today’s focal text reminds me that even when I feel like I am crying into the abyss, that my prayers are falling on deaf ears, that truly the God of compassion, grace, and love hears my prayers. Trust today that just like Elizabeth, that God sees you, He hears you, and one day you will look back and rejoice knowing all the Lord has done for you!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible joy that comes because of what You have and what You are doing. Thank You for the beauty of Your plan of redemption. Thank You for giving us an intimate look into the raw humanity of Your servants, their desperate pleas to You, and the way that You do what only You can do. Thank you Jesus for being the God of impossible. We praise You and thank You for the true meaning of the Christmas story. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
