Updated Friday, Dec. 14, 2007

Formations lesson for Dec. 30: The Story of Christ's Coming

By Wayne Proctor

Focal passages: Galatians 4:1-7; Mt. 1:18-25

The two greatest miracles in life are the physical birth of a baby and spiritual birth, that which we call "salvation." The second can't happen without the first. Let me share with you some observations.

In the church I pastor are three couples who struggled to have children. One couple was into their 40's when their son was born this year. They affectionately call Kent their "miracle baby."

Another couple received reproductive assistance from medical science, and they have a beautiful three-year-old son named Brendan.

The third couple could not have children and their only option was adoption. What was a bit unusual was that they adopted three, not just one. Michael, Marie, and Amanda are brothers and sisters, and adoption allowed them to stay together and be raised in a fine Christian home.

As I've observed families over the years, I've come to some conclusions: 1) children are gifts from God, not accidents, 2) adopted children are usually loved just as much as non-adopted children, and they should be. In this Bible lesson, both passages proclaim the wonder and great benefit of Christ's coming.

The birth of Jesus came as a shock to Mary and Joseph. They didn't expect a pre-marriage pregnancy, but God obviously had other plans.

Although the prophet Isaiah predicted that a virgin would birth the Messiah, it still seemed improbable even when it happened. Impregnated by the Holy Spirit, Mary was filled with both joy and terror. Joseph, not so joyful, was contemplating options other than completing the marriage contract when God's angel convinced him to stay the course. This child was God's Son, and part of God's intended plan.

As contemporary Christians, we know the timeless story of Christ's coming. What we don't contemplate as readily, however, is our "inclusion" into the story. You see, Jesus was Jewish, and it was expected that Jews receive one of their own. Gentile inclusion was another matter. Until the advent of Christ, inclusion into Jewish salvation-history was accomplished by circumcision and strict observance of Law. Gentiles were second-class citizens. Included, but with strings attached. In Jesus Christ, the adopted children (all non-Jews) have received every right and blessing of birth and citizenship. Whatever barriers existed before that might make one group first-class and another "lesser than" were broken down by Jesus of Nazareth's coming.