by Daniel B. Wallace
The year 2024 is one for the books. It has had all the twists and turns, ups and downs, heartburns and heartaches, and dramas and traumas of a cheap novel. The screenwriters in Hollywood could not have come up with a storyline so bizarre. Never has the adage “Truth is stranger than fiction” been more apt.
But put yourself in the sandals of a young teenage girl living 2,000 years ago when she received a visit from a heavenly messenger with an unusual message. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!”, he began.
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:29–38, NIV)
Mary understandably had questions. From her experience, post-menopausal women and virgins can’t bear children. Traditional, rational sources of information conflicted with the announcement of an undeniably supernatural messenger. Her response was one of puzzlement and faith. When she was challenged to sort information from misinformation, she defaulted to the Word of God.
Mary’s response can be summarized this way: “Mary was greatly troubled.” “How will this be?” “I am the Lord’s servant.” “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Ironically, on 21st century planet Earth, where individuals have unprecedented access to information, humanity is more confused than ever. Information mixed with misinformation abounds. That’s why, having access to the Word of God, preserved from the time it was written, is vital.
Permit me to summarize the angelic message to Mary and apply it to us today. “The Lord is with you.” “Do not be afraid.” “The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” “No word from God will ever fail.”
In a year marked by misinformation, confusion, and the obstruction of truth, I am especially grateful to reflect upon this truth—Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was born to die that we may live, is now seated with the heavenly Father on high. This truth—the Truth—is the reason we celebrate with friends and family, give gifts, and join in the praises of saints past who have worshiped and celebrated Christ as Lord since His ascension.
Today, we celebrate Christ’s birth because faithful generations of scribes and saints dedicated themselves to preserving and copying the written witnesses of Christ’s life. And together, we are continuing their work in a very tangible way. Because of your connection to CSNTM, people around the world are able to read the most accurate account of Luke’s Gospel and marvel at how our sovereign Lord has preserved this message through countless scribes for fifteen hundred years.
Let us celebrate the true reason for Christmas—the birth of Christ the King!