Congratulations, Joseph! It’s a God!

This is from http://johnedmathison.org/blog/ and needed sharing.

A very creative children’s Sunday School teacher asked her class to write and act out their own version of the Christmas story.  It had some traditional parts, but a very unexpected ending.

There were familiar members of the cast – Joseph, the shepherds, the star, the three wise men, the animals and the angels, propped up in the background.  But Mary was nowhere to be seen.  Suddenly, from behind some bales of hay, they could hear the moaning and groaning of someone in pain.  Evidently, Mary was in labor!

About that time, a doctor arrived dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck.  You could see the relief on Joseph’s face as he took the doctor straight to Mary, then started his pacing back and forth.  A few minutes later, the doctor emerged with a big smile on his face and said, “Congratulations, Joseph!  It’s a God!”

This is the meaning of Christmas.  Christmas isn’t about parties, trees, gifts and family gatherings.  It’s not a holiday – it’s a holy day because God came to be a part of our situation.  God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will never perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Christmas is about the giving of His Son to you and me.

The Bible says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).  Jesus was called Emmanuel – “God With Us” (Isaiah 7:14).

Luke sums it up when he said, “Behold I bring you good news which is for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).  Break that down for a moment. 

1.      It’s positive – Luke says, “I bring you good news of great joy.”  The world has enough bad news.  We need some good news!  Jesus’ birth is the best news the world has ever heard.

2.      It’s personal – The Bible says, “Unto to you.”  Christmas is extremely personal because God loves you so much that He gave His Son to you.  He wasn’t just offered to “humankind,” or people in general – but to people specifically.  “Unto you.”

3.      It’s a plan – The birth of Jesus was prophesied in Micah 5:1-2 with the place that He was born, and the time it was to happen.  His coming to us was always part of God’s divine plan.

4.      It’s a Person – A “Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus is not an idea, an ideal or an idol, but a Person who has come to save us and empower us for everyday living.  That’s the meaning of Christmas.

One day an English diplomat said, “Congratulations, USA, on the Fourth of July – the second greatest day in history.”  He was then asked, “What is the greatest day in history?” He replied, “December 25.  If there had been no December 25 – Christmas – there would be no Fourth of July.” 

One day a Sunday School class was talking about the importance and meaning of Easter. One little boy asked the teacher, “Is Easter the greatest day of the year?”  Another little boy interrupted and said, “No.  Christmas is.  If it had not been for Christmas, there would have been no Easter.”

My dad used to quote a newscaster who would sign off on Christmas Eve with these words – “That night as the sun bent low to kiss the earth goodnight, God reached down and placed a kiss of love on the brow of humanity and gently placed in the waiting arms of Mary His love-gift to the world.”

Congratulations, Joseph – It’s a God!