Thursday, December 17, 2015

Sexless Scandal


John 1:1-5, Luke 1:26-55

Precious Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

The miracle of a baby is one of the most thrilling miracles of all.  Witnessing the miracle of birth is one of the premier soul-stirring experiences of life.  In the birth of my children, I witnessed the smallness of myself, the greatness of God, and one of the most significant contributions I can make to Your Creation!  I have held my own newborn infants.  I have cuddled them, changed them, and kissed their indescribably soft skin.  Miraculous!  And You created all of this!

The miracle of a virgin-born baby, Fathered by the Holy Spirit, is the scandal of religion!  Your plan to introduce God into humanity was one of the riskiest plans of all time.  You risked God being a baby in a world where infant mortality was high. You risked God being birthed by a virgin girl in a world that might stone her as an adulterer.  You risked Your Son suffering cruel rumors of illegitimacy throughout His childhood.  You risked Joseph’s reputation.

When You perform a miracle, You perform it in a big way!  Creating a bit of a scandal is not beneath You!  You can even use scandal to advertise Your miraculous act!

The miracle of a baby who would become the Savior of the world!  God made flesh!  He was born without the taint of sin.  He lived a sinless life that no other person was able to achieve.  He was perfectly holy.  His accusers said that He had to die for it!  You, Holy Father, said that He must die for it... for us... for the sins of the whole world.  He must be the blameless sacrifice, and the only way there could be any redemptive merit to His sacrifice were if He were the sinless Son of God, God made flesh.  He had to be born of a virgin–a sexless scandal.

Thank You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the miracle of the Virgin Birth.  I cannot wrap my mind around it all.  I cannot comprehend Your perfect plan envisioned in eternity past.  I cannot comprehend the Holy Spirit’s brooding over Mary and conceiving the Christ in her womb apart from physical copulation.  I cannot comprehend that You, my Lord Jesus Christ, would participate in such a humiliating plan as to be born as a baby.  I cannot comprehend all You gave up to identify with me and my kind... to save us.  I cannot comprehend an entirely holy life, without ever a sin.  I cannot comprehend the voluntary sinless sacrifice of Yourself.

Although I do not understand it all, I believe.  I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin girl.  I accept by faith all of the provision You make for me through that scandalous act.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment