Many people throughout the world are celebrating today the birth of the Savior God in the flesh.  The narrative found in Scripture of Jesus’ birth cannot be improved upon.  It was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the writers of God’s Word.  

“Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 

And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:1-14 NASB).

The birth of the Savior came as no surprise to those who knew the Scriptures.  The Plan of God to redeem mankind from sin had originated in eternity past before man was created.  The incarnation merely awaited the perfect time in God’s thinking for its occurrence.  Since God would become flesh and still possess Divine essence, He would have the most unique birth in human history.  When the angel announced to Mary that she would bear the humanity of Christ, she wondered how this would come about.  Yet, as a believer in the coming Messiah, she was a willing vessel to bring the Savior into the world.  Dr. Luke gives us in one short sentence a glimpse into Mary’s soul … “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45 KJV).  Mary merely believed what the angel had told her.  It was a true expression of her faith, that of trust, simply believing what God had said. 

Scripture records Mary’s most inner spiritual thoughts in having been chosen, from among all the women on earth, to bear the humanity of Christ.  “And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever’” (Luke 1:46-5 NKJV).