Last Sunday, Erik made the statement, “Even the Son of God needed an earthly father.” God the Father provided an earthly father to play a role in Jesus’ developmental years, no doubt helping him grow “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).” Even more so, the Son of God needed an earthly mother.

In order for Jesus to be made for a little while lower than the angels so that He could suffer and die and taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9), “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman (Galatians 4:4).” And not in the usual and natural way. The angel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God (Luke 1:35).”

Our Advent and Christmas carols are packed with attempts to describe the wonder and glory of this great miracle and mystery.

King of kings, yet born of Mary…

Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the virgin’s womb…

True God from true God
Light from Light Eternal
Humbly He enters the virgin’s womb…

Rise the woman’s conquering seed
Bruise in us the serpent’s head…

This Sunday, we will return to Matthew 1:18-25 as Rob Price helps us consider the role God gave Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary, to play in bearing a Son who will save His people from their sins. Kenny Clark leads our sung worship. Would you pray for them as they prepare?

And we encourage you to join us again on Christmas Eve at 5pm for our one-hour family worship service. Children of all ages are welcome (as always!). We all know that the little Lord Jesus, some crying he must have made (contrary to the much-loved carol), so the voices of babies will provide a welcome air of authenticity to our memorial of Jesus’ manger birth! We will retell the Christmas Story A to Z, sing lots of carols together, and give a short devotional encouragement as we head off to celebrate Christmas with friend, family, and neighbors.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

Once in Royal David’s City sung by Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and meek, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.