"So, You Believe In The Virgin Birth?"

In one chapter, of Luke’s Gospel, we have two stories that would cause eyes brows to rise in total doubt, and skepticism, today.  One is a story of an older — too old — woman named Elizabeth.  She has been barren all her life.  And is now miraculously “with child.”(Lk. 1:5-25)  Then, we have a teenager named Mary who in impregnated by the Holy Spirit.(Lk. 1:26-55)  

Try out those stories in todays sophisticated world!  

The response would be something like:  “Yeah sure!  Whatever!”

And yet!  Centuries later we still celebrate those to events as God’s intervention in two women’s lives. And, we celebrate the results!  

Elizabeth bares a son named John who goes on to be a crazy prophet who announces Jesus coming.  Mary bares God, to the world, in the baby Jesus.  

And the world has never been the same.  

Now think about this!  We don’t hear of one naysayer in any  accounts of these two births.  

Don’t you think that is extraordinary ?  

Two unlikely births!  Activated by The Creator God!  And it is just business as usual on the streets of Israel!  No big deal!  Angels speak!   Things happen!  No headline news!  No paparazzi clicking cameras!  No reporter rushing to the scene!  

I don’t know about you, but that is amazing to me!

All Jesus had, at his birth, were Angels dancing around heaven announcing his birth to the lowly shepherds, watching their flocks, in the dark fields.  And a star!  The angels could have made some noise!  But all in all a fairly uncelebrated occasion.  

Until!  Until John began to preach! Activity ruffling the feathers of most citizens of that day!   And, until Jesus began his ministry!  Making a huge commotion among the powerful ranks of the religious.

Only then did the world take notice!  And the notice taken was, for the most part, not all that popular.  Certainly not celebrated!   And yet!  Centuries later it is remembered as the greatest event in history.  An event that is the occasion for great celebration all over the world today.

True story!  A friend from the congregation was visiting his pastor, who was in a hospital bed close to death.  He asked his friend:  “Now that you are about to meet God!  Tell me, do you really believe in the virgin birth?”  The pastor laid there a moment and then replied, “I don’t know!  But oh what a ride! I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

I would have answered that question with a cautious  positive.  I do believe it!   But!  But I would be lying if I said I never wondered, a lot, about it.  However, the one thing I am absolutely sure of, in my mind and heart, is that God can, and does, do things that we will never understand. In ways that are very difficult to believe!   And, as you must know by now, I would never try to limit God in any shape or form.  I also think that any event, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost etc., that has lived in the live of millions all these centuries.  Carries an extraordinary truth!