Celebrating this Christmas season remembering the birth of Jesus, I want to think just about the impossibility of the whole thing.
First we have Mary, a virgin, probably a young teenager whom conceives the son of God.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will receive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” -Luke 1:30-31
Mary, obviously feeling a little confused responds with a question.
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” -Luke 1:34
This should be impossible by all our understanding. But not for God,
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” -Luke 1: 35-37
The birth of Jesus was just not a difficulty to overcome, it was an impossibility. Mary was a virgin so this could happen. But only God can breathe life into her womb.
Isn’t that amazing? God did not just do something that was difficult, he did something that was impossible. So there was no doubt that this was a miracle from God.
This quote from the Lord Coggan, who was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1970s speaks of this characteristic of God.
When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility.
God loves to work in the very wonderful. The impossible works that he does shows the power and glory of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -Ephesians 3:20-21
Just as God caused the impossible in Mary many, many years ago, so God can accomplish the seemingly impossible things in your life.
Merry Christmas everyone. May God bless you and show his power over the impossible.
Exceptional Christian 