Every little Jewish girl (and the boys as well) in Israel had heard about Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.  Isaiah lived 700 years before Jesus was born.  People had been talking about this event for a very long time.  For generations, actually. Some had lost that hope, I am certain. 

During the last four hundred of those seven hundred years, there was no more prophecy. There was no indication of a movement of God among His people.  There was only silence.  He had not abandoned His people but God was working His plan.  Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.  A hope was building in the nation of Israel.  The hope was a messianic hope.

Isaiah had presented the word from the Lord with definite clues of what He planned to provide to accomplish salvation of those who would believe.  There will be a miraculous conception.  A virgin shall conceive.  She will give birth to a son.  His name will be called Immanuel which means God with us.  

The Old Testament story had been filled with miracle births.  God acted in the lives of His people to keep all of the covenant promises He had made to them.  Abraham and Sarah gave us Isaac, son of the covenant. Rebekah gave birth to twin boys named Jacob and Esau. From Jacob would come the twelve tribes of Israel.  Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph would save the nation from famine after being sold into slavery by his own brothers.  Manoah and his wife gave us Samson one of the judges.  Hannah gave birth to Samuel who would be the last judge and the first prophet of God.    

Just before the birth of Jesus, there would be yet another miracle birth.  Zacharias (which means God remembers) and Elizabeth (which means my oath or my promise) would have a baby boy named John. We would call him John the Baptizer.  He would be the promised fore-runner of the Messiah (see Malachi 3:1 and 4:5).  God had long proved to be the Author of Miracle Births. As their names confirm, God remembers to keep His promises!

While we watch and wait and walk and wonder and work and worship, God is weaving.  Thank goodness both Mary and Joseph were “ponderers” and God watchers.  When the angel Gabriel made the birth announcement to Mary, she was willing to become the female slave/servant to the Lord Most High.  When Joseph heard the news of the pregnancy, his shock over the situation was one proof that this baby was not his own.  Their relational purity during this time of marital engagement was also proven.  Joseph’s heart was open to hearing the angel of the Lord speak to him in a dream.  This dream calmed all his fears and put aside any plans he might have had to put Mary away quietly and cancel their marriage. 

One of the most beautiful sections of the story of the birth of Jesus would have come in a conversation between Mary and Joseph AFTER that dream.  Matthew 1:24-25 records the response of Joseph to the angel’s message from God.  He arose from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife.  He had no relations with her until after she had given birth to Jesus.  

Maybe I have watched too many Hallmark movies, but I picture it just like this in my mind and heart.  Joseph might have embraced Mary until he felt her relax in his arms.  She had no idea what he was about to say.  Maybe he placed his hand over her womb like we have all seen new daddies do.  Then, I think he looked into her eyes and said, “Mary, I am here.  I’m not going anywhere and neither are you.  We will do this together.”  Mary’s name meant bitter sorrow or sorrowful bitterness.  Now you can stop wondering why Jesus was birthed by and surrounded by people named Mary.  Joseph’s name meant add to me.  The mother of the One who would be completely forsaken was…NOT!  

Mary did have a miraculous conception but the birth of Jesus was as normal as any human birth.  Nine months of womb time.  Waters broke.  There Jesus was, umbilical cord and all!  Matthew 1&2 and Luke 1&2 combine to record the story.  I can’t prove this, but I believe that Mary and Joseph were alone in that birthing moment.  I believe that Joseph said, “Mary it’s a boy!” I believe Mary said, “Well, honey, of course it is!”

Immanuel.  God with us.  The prophecy of God given to us through the life and the quill and ink and scroll of Isaiah had come to pass in a manger Bethlehem.  In Sierra Leone West Africa, the language of KRIO says it this way, “God de wit we!”  God is “de” means dwelling, present, abiding forever.  God is “wit” means with, staying, side by side, in us.  God is “de wit we” says that God is with US!  I hope I never get over the fact that God became us and came to us so that we might be able to be with Him for eternity.  That is salvation.