Found to be With Child

Matthew 1:18 - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Found to be with Child Doug Partin - The Christian Church - 12/06/20 Given the right circumstances, "found to be with child" can be fantastic news. There are lots of people for whom this sort of news is absolutely wonderful. They even take care to "reveal" it these days in dramatic and surprising ways in order to share their joy with their families and friends. I knew that some of these moments would have been captured on video and uploaded to YouTube, so I did some searching and spent some time watching some of the best pregnancy reveals at Christmas Time. One of my favorites warned, "This may make you cry." The video began with a young family getting into a car after loading up some presents. They stopped by a mall where a church group was singing Christmas carols, they were obviously connected to the group. Then they drove to their parent's house where everyone was gathering to exchange Christmas presents. They exchanged warm greetings, and enjoyed some tasty looking snacks, then they settled down to start opening presents. They were simple gifts, but well thought out. After several took their turns opening a gift, and showing it off to "ooohs" and "aaahs," it came to the couple's mother's turn. It was a photo frame with places for two photos. One had their son, her grandson in it, and the other one had the sonogram announcing that they were "with child." Before anyone else got a chance to see what she had received, her eyes welled up, she clutched it to her chest, and a long, uncontrollable, "oooooh" spilled from her lips. She tried to stop herself by covering her mouth, but that didn't work, it just kept escaping. Those who didn't know what she had opened, scrambled over to see what had elicited such a response; and when they saw it, they grasped each other, and then the young couple was pulled into the middle of it and they were all hugging and crying. It was a precious moment, full of raw emotion. But given the wrong sort of circumstances, this sort of news might bring tears for an entirely different reason. For some, the news of being with child is horrific. It is the worst thing they could possibly be told. And it is often news that is proclaimed by a store-bought pregnancy test to the mother to be. It is news that is kept quiet until she decides what to do. Either way, whether "being with child" is considered good or bad news, the reality of it proclaims that these new mothers' lives are about to change dramatically for the rest of their days, not to mention the impact it will make on the rest of their family. As I've said, it is welcome news for those wanting to begin or enlarge their family, and not so much for those who had other plans, who were not ready or did not want to start a family. For them, anything that will get rid of the burden and life changes that raising a child requires is worth considering, be it adoption or the death of the child. It is a choice that many women face today because there are many who are "found to be with child," but do not want to be a mother. That is why I am thankful for all those who faithfully work to give these devastated moms a better choice, even if they don't end up taking it. They need to hear that children really are a blessing from God, even to those who have been told otherwise. It is a tragedy when these newly conceived children are seen as a problem that needs to be dealt with. I've seen a lot of mother's lives change for the better because they decided to raise their child. That doesn't mean that it wasn't difficult, but their lives are much better for it. And I've known some who have decided that adoption was the best choice for them and their child; as well as witnessing the joy that those wanting to adopt a child and get to do so experience; but there are many in our country who choose to have an abortion instead. And the news of having been with child becomes a personal secret that gnaws away at them over their lives. No hugs, no celebrations, but lots of tears. A few of these mothers have shared their misery, but most keep it locked away. It becomes something that you just don't talk about. We should be gentle with those who have made this choice in the past and are broken over it today. They need the grace of our Lord, just as much, if not more so, than anyone else. We all know what has to transpire in order for a woman to be found with child. It is no mystery. It is, given the right circumstances part of the blessing of those who embrace God's way of living. It is part of the beautiful intimacy that those who have been bound together as one enjoy. And for those betrothed, like Mary and Joseph were, it is something to which they eagerly anticipate. It will be, at the right time, an important expression of their love for one another throughout their lives. But if someone else does enter into the picture, it can, and usually does, "put asunder" what God had joined together. Luke said that the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: Mary was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit, not Joseph. It was the very best of circumstances, but we all know that this is not how things usually work. We are not told how or when Mary revealed this news to Joseph, only that she did. We will take up Joseph's response to it next week, for today, we'll focus on what happened to Mary. When Mary asked Gabriel, the announcing angel, how she could possibly conceive in her womb and bear a son, who she would name Jesus, since she was a virgin; she was told, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. It is for this reason that the holy Child will be called the Son of God." (Cf. Luke. 1:30-35) We have to take this explanation of how Mary could conceive a child given her circumstances, just as she did, by faith. Trusting that God can keep His Word even if that requires Him to do the impossible. But, to be perfectly honest, if it wasn't a God thing, then it had to be a man thing, and we know what that would mean. It would mean that Jesus was not the Son of God. But I have no reason to doubt what Mary said. But there are some modern scholars who do. They say that, "historically" speaking, the virgin birth story was a cover up for Jesus' illegitimate birth. But these scholars dismiss anything that does not have a "natural" explanation. If that is your standard for determining whether something is historical, then we'd have to throw out all of the miracle stories in the Bible, which they do, but I don't. I believe in a God who can do the impossible, and so did Mary. And besides, Mary would never have accepted Her own Son's claims to be the Son of God if there had been another person involved. And she would certainly know. Mary simply doesn't seem like the sort woman who could live a lie about something so important. We are not told how the Holy Spirit "came upon" Mary. However, it is the same word Luke used when recounting that the apostles were to wait until the promised Holy Spirit would "come upon" them, which happened on the day of Pentecost. On that day, it came with the sound of a rushing wind, it descended like a dove, and it rested on each of the apostles like a flickering flame, and they were inspired to proclaim the wonders of God in languages that they had not learned. It was the same Spirit, the same coming upon, but drastically different results. I'm sure that you've noticed that none of the apostles turned up pregnant after their experience. Such is the mystery of this miracle that transformed Mary into a mother. It was a God thing. We are also told that God's power "overshadowed" Mary. This same word was used by Matthew and Mark to describe the "cloud" that formed around Jesus when He consulted with Moses and Elijah up on a mountain. The disciples who were with Him reported that Jesus' face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. And that a voice came from the cloud proclaiming, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him." (Mt. 17:1-5) The disciples were so impressed that they wanted to build three altars to commemorate that event. But Jesus told them "No." Again, it was the same Most High, the same overshadowing, but Jesus didn't turn up pregnant either. We are not told of the time when Mary was over-shadowed by the power of God, but it did happen. We don't know if she changed in appearance in the same sort of way as Jesus did. All we are told is that the result was a miraculous conception. I don't know if anyone can begin to grasp the wonder and amazement that Mary must have felt when that holy child began to move inside her womb in a discernable way. At that time, her faith, which had been one of "not seeing," became the faith of experiencing the result of the "Christmas" miracle. Mary, Luke reports, went to see Elizabeth. Seeing someone else in a similar situation would be an encouragement to her. It would give each of them an assurance that they were not crazy; that God was doing the impossible. We are told that, like in a grand musical, Mary burst into song after Elizabeth's baby leapt when she greeted Mary upon her arrival. If you recall, Elizabeth's husband had received the news that his too old, barren wife, would have a child from an angel too. The same sort of miracle Elizabeth was experiencing happened to Sarah, the mother of Isaac (Gen. 18); and Minoah's wife, the mother of Samson (Judg. 13); and to Hannah, the mother of Samuel (1Sam. 1). Elizabeth was six months further along in her miraculous pregnancy than Mary. And we are told that she was filled with the Holy Spirit when her baby leapt at Mary's arrival. Elizabeth cried out, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Then she asked Mary, "Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?" Mary responded in what has become known as the Magnificat. Mary, by the way, wasn't the first to breakout in song over a miraculous child. Elizabeth's husband, once their son, John was born, would do the same; but so had Samuel's mother, Hannah, before he was born. And these songs were, like Mary's, very prophetic songs of praise. Mary sang, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty handed. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors." (NIV Lk 1:46-55). Then, we are told, that Mary stayed with Elizabeth and Zacharias for the next three months before returning to Nazareth. This was Mary's story, part of her "treasure," as we discussed last week. She bravely welcomed the impossible into her life. And we bravely welcome it into our lives when we celebrate the birth of God's one and only Son, an impossible child who came to do an impossible thing: Express God's love for us, that we might be saved through Him. And there is a miracle that happens to us when we are transformed by God's love. An impossible thing happens us. Just prior to the 2006 Christmas season, Larry Stewart, fifty-eight, a successful businessman from Lee's Summit, Missouri, revealed that he was the Secret Santa who had been doling out hundred-dollar bills to the needy every Christmas for the past twenty-six years. Stewart said he decided to go public after it became apparent that a tabloid newspaper was going to reveal his name. He wanted the whole story to be told, that it might inspire others to call on God to do the impossible in their lives. In the winter of 1971, Stewart was working as a door-to-door salesman, when the company he was working for went out of business. Stewart quickly ran out of money. He hadn't eaten in two days when he went to Dixie Diner and ordered a breakfast that he had no way of paying for. But he was starving, and the trouble would be worth it. Ted Horn, the restaurant owner, was a compassionate believer. He realized what Larry was doing, and acted like he found a twenty-dollar bill on the floor underneath Stewart's chair, and said, "Son, you must have dropped this." Stewart said, "It was like a fortune to me." It was God doing the impossible, and he vowed, "Lord, if you ever put me in a position to help other people, I will do it." Over the years, Stewart estimates that he had given away about $1.3 million, for which he had been amply rewarded. "I see looks of hopelessness turn to looks of hope in an instant," he said. "After all, isn't that what we're put here on earth for-to help one another?" I hope that as you celebrate Christmas, you are given the opportunity to tell someone that the mystery of Jesus' birth has been solved. God did the impossible. And that His love is still doing impossible things today. Changing lives. And who knows, you might be the one through whom God expresses His impossible love this Christmas. And when He does, I hope you shout it from the roof tops. Prayer: We rejoice in You, our God, who specializes in the impossible.