23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). — Matthew 1:23 ‍‍

‍More than any other season, Christmas is full of wild tales and unbelievable stories. Flying reindeer, animated snowmen with corn cob pipes, an angry green monster who lives in a dump, and a hidden magical city located up north are just a few examples. We love these silly tales. They make us laugh and give us joy. But nobody expects us to take those stories seriously.

At the very center of the Christmas story is the unapologetic claim that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin and that her child was conceived of the Holy Spirit.

The real Christmas story is not like that. It simultaneously claims something incredible and expects us to believe it. At the very center of the Christmas story is the unapologetic claim that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin and that her child was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). To emphasize the prophetic, miraculous, and historical nature of this event, Matthew reminds us that this was foretold by Isaiah, the prophet, some seven centuries before Jesus’ birth.

If we’re honest, the virgin birth claim sounds ridiculous, perhaps even unbelievable. Maybe people way back then were more susceptible to those kinds of stories, but we live in the scientific age, and we all know that a virgin birth is impossible in our world. And therein lies the problem.

This is God’s story. He created everything out of nothing.

We do not live in our world. We live in God’s world. This is not our story. This is God’s story. He created everything out of nothing. He created humanity from the dust; Eve from Adam’s side. He is the God who parted the Red Sea; the God who caused bread to rain from heaven and water to flow from a rock. He is the God of Christmas—the God of virgin birth.

Don’t let the virgin birth be a stumbling block for you. Instead, let it be the door to understanding that God is God and that he is able to do anything he wants. May God remind us again and again this Christmas season, that nothing is too difficult for him.

Nothing.

Liturgy

Almighty Triune Creator God,

Out of nothing, you brought forth the world.
Out of darkness, light.
You said, “Let there be” and there was.
And it was very good.

Ages ago, you promised a virgin-born king.
A sign for those patiently waiting.
A light for those walking in darkness.

To the virgin Mary, you announced a child,
conceived by the power of the brooding Spirit.

Out of the virgin’s womb, you brought forth our Savior,
that by him, we might be brought forth out of slavery.

At the manger, O Lord, you took upon yourself our flesh,
trading heaven for earth,
angels for shepherds,
the throne for a manger.

That on the cross, you might take upon yourself our sin.
Trading your righteousness for our wretchedness.

That from the grave you might rise, so we too might
become sons of the living God.

A gift too costly.
A work too marvelous.
And yet, you have done it.

Eternal Incarnate Word,
We praise you in endless awe and wonder.

Amen.