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In LUKE 2:1-7 we find the Christmas Story.  But there is so much more in these verses than just the birth of Jesus Christ.  As I was reading the setting of our Lord's birth, I noticed that the Bible said that when Mary was in the city of David, her days were "accomplished", which means come to full maturity.  Here in the verses that God uses to tell of His son's birth, He also shows us an example of Christian maturity.  For nine months Mary had Jesus in her, but when she reached full maturity, people could see Jesus through her, or manifested from her life.  Maturity is not just having Jesus in you (which happens when you get saved, in the person of The Holy Spirit), but it is others being able to see Jesus manifested through your life. Mary showed some outstanding qualities in her life before Jesus was ever made manifest through her.

She was FAVOURED. (1:28) Mary was picked by God Himself to carry His Son.  Could it be because of her life of separation?  God declared that she was a virgin.  She had kept herself clean and dedicated to the Lord.  We are living in times when even church people laugh at Christians that have a desire to live holy!  Self denial must take place in our lives if we are going to let Christ be seen through us. 

She was a FOLLOWER. (1:38) Even though Mary did not understand all that was going on, she told the angel she was a handmaid of the Lord and wanted His Word to be the direction for her life.  Total submission of will must be declared in any Christian’s life that is going to reflect Christ. She was one of FAITH. (1:46-55). Here we find Mary shouting the victory nine months before the miracle was ever completed.  She had no feelings, no dreams, no written letter; all she had was His Word.  Now this is getting us to the place where God can let Jesus be seen through us, when we will trust Him without anything except His Word to lean on.

She was one of FELLOWSHIP. (2;19) Mary was known for keeping her heart in tune with God.  My aunt that won me to Christ always taught me this: " He who talks to God much, speaks to man little.”  In order to have Jesus Christ seen in us, we must have a daily fellowship time with God. To be honest, the above notes don't seem to be a lot to ask for when it comes to reaching maturity. But you must consider what Mary must have endured before the birth of Christ.

SHE WAS LIED ABOUT. Do you really think people believed she was still a virgin?  Even Joseph had to have a dream to be assured that all this was true.  Can you even imagine the lies and tales that were being told on her while she was awaiting the birth of Jesus Christ. But she never defends herself, she never debates the liars and critics, she knew that time would tell the true story.  If your going to desire Jesus to be seen in you, the liars and critics will attack you and your character as well.  We must all learn that time will reveal the truth, just stay with God and focus your attention on Him.  Later, the same crowd that mocked Mary had to honor her for bringing Jesus into the world.  God allowed Mary to endure the false accusations so she would reach a mature level in her life.  I wonder if we are willing to be lied about so that we might learn and grow through it?  This is not easy or popular, but in some Christians lives, it must take place before God can use you to reflex Christ.

2. SHE WAS LAUGHED AT. Mary was a young lady, in the prime of her life, still single at the time.  No doubt the other girls wanted her involved in their activities.  But Mary would not go places that were in question, say things that were not of a refined manner, or act in a way that may produce doubt in her character.  She was very careful about every decision she made in her life- why- she had God in her!  Having The King of Kings in her made her life style different from those around her.  As she told the other girls "NO" don't you know they laughed at her.  They thought she was nuts, crazy, or insane.  Yet she knew she would give an account to God for where she took His Son.  I think we would all live different if we would consider the fact that we have God in us in the Holy Spirit, and we will give an account of where we take Him as well.  I have learned that if you live with this view in mind, you will be laughed at by those that call themselves your friends.  But we must take every precaution not to grieve The Holy Spirit, even if it leads to mocking and rejection.

3. SHE HAD TO BE WILLING TO LEAVE HOME. Just before Jesus was born, God allowed her to be taken from the shelter and protection of her own family.  They had to leave Galilee and travel to the city of David.  God had to get her to the place where all her dependency and trust was in Him.  This is a hard lesson for all of us to learn.  Allowing God to take all support and trust from us, and teach us that we have and need no one but Him.  We must trust in The Lord and not lean on our own understanding.

4. SHE WAS WILLING TO FACE A LONG ROUGH ROAD. Just before giving birth, Joseph loads her up on a mule, and tells her they have to make a 90 mile trip.  She looked down that long, rough road, and committed herself to the journey.  God never told her the road would be easy or smooth.  Neither have we been promised a life of ease, yet all sacrifices and suffering is worth it when we see the finished product, Jesus being seen through us.  After they arrive, there is no room for them to rest in, so without any complaints, they spend the night in the barn.  Good attitude is a must if Christ is going to be manifested through us.  Facing the toughness of life with a positive outlook.  Mary must have thought "Go ahead, make it rough, God is about to bless me".

          In closing I want to point this out.  No one came to see Mary when Jesus was on the inside of her, but the moment He was manifested, others began to make their ways toward Mary to see Jesus.  Maybe others would want what we have if  we could get to the place of maturity.  Merry Christmas.

Evangelist Phil Kidd,
Amory, MS