The Birth of Christ

This week in my New Testament class there were two main points that deeply impacted me – and they both relate to the physical birth of the Savior.  One point that Brother Griffin made this week was that the Savior gave up glory and power in the heavens to come to earth, be born, and grow up like everyone else.  I had thought about that before, but it never really stuck. However, my wife and I had a baby boy about a year ago, and so this time my appreciation was much greater.  There is nothing quite like holding a newborn baby in your hands and knowing that they are entirely and completely dependent on you.  They can’t even hold their head up for themselves.  Thinking about the Savior, about how he was on the right hand of the Father in heaven and how he was the creator of worlds without end, and how he gave all that up, came to earth and was born just like you and me taught me a powerful lesson about His profound humility and willingness to obey the Father.  I can’t even imagine what Mary must have felt, knowing that she was holding he Savior in her arms, and knowing that she was responsible for nurturing and helping him grow. He chose to not only submit himself completely to his Heavenly Father, but also to his earthly mother.

The second personal lesson I learned came from Luke 1:37, which reads, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” That scripture is very powerful in and of itself, but I think it is even more so once you know the context in which it was given.  Luke tells the story of Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and how she was barren and stricken with years – in other words, it was impossible for her to get pregnant and have a baby. However, through the power of God, she was able to conceive and have John.  Luke also tells the story of Mary, and how she was able to have Jesus even though she was a virgin.  It should have been impossible for both Elisabeth and Mary to have children, but “…with God nothing shall be impossible.” This teaching really hits home with me because I have a brother and sister-in-law that have been struggling to get pregnant for the past little while, but just a week ago they found out they were pregnant! It truly was a miracle for them and for our whole family.  I know that God can work miracles in our lives, and I know that He truly wants what’s best for us.  Sometimes, like in Elisabeth’s case, those miracles don’t come when we want them, but when the Lord needs them to happen.