The Team Work That Made Christmas Possible
God had a great plan: To send His Son Jesus Christ into the world to save the world.
But He needed people to cooperate with His plan.
God has a great plan for your life too, but He needs your cooperation and you will see the impossible become possible just like the story of Christmas.
A quick glance at the Christmas story, tells us about the amazing teamwork of people, who were aligned by God for ‘the great plan’.
Let’s begin.
Who were the members of the team? What was their attitude?
1. Mary: Surrendered to ‘the Plan of God’
God was looking for a virgin for Jesus to be born in this world.
Why virgin? The plan was that the conception of baby Jesus Christ would take place with the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore God chose Mary, a virgin from Nazareth.
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 26-28
The angel of God explained to Mary how Jesus would be born to her being a virgin.
Mary responded: May your word to me be fulfilled!
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1: 38
What is the lesson that we can learn from Mary?
There was no argument, no rebellion but a simple surrender to the will of God, referring to herself as the Lord’s servant. Amidst the challenges that she was going to face, she still chose to submit to the divine will.
2. Joseph: Obedience to align with ‘the plan of God’
Joseph who was engaged to Mary came to know that she was pregnant. Joseph was confused and was about to secretly divorce her.
God sent an angel to Joseph to explain the plan of God
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1: 20, 21
After which Joseph decided to take Mary as his wife.
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matt 1: 24, 25
What is the lesson that we can learn from Joseph?
Against all odds, Joseph simply obeyed God
When Mary did her part in surrendering to God, convincing Joseph was taken care of by God.
See how the cooperation of human beings play an important role in the smooth execution of God’s plan.
3. Elizabeth: Supported Mary during her first 3 months of pregnancy
Elizabeth, an anointed woman of God was Mary’s relative. In this time of need, Mary badly needed great support. God provided Elizabeth to Mary for strength, encouragement and support.
Elizabeth’s response upon seeing Mary: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Luke 1: 39-42
Then Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months. (Luke 1: 56)
What is the lesson that we can learn from Elizabeth?
Encourage and support others so that God’s plan be fulfilled in their lives.
Now, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth are aligned to God’s plan. Who’s next?
4. Wise men: Feared God more than King Herod
When Jesus was born certain wise men saw a star on the same night and followed the star to find Jesus and worship Him. They first enquired from King Herod about the Son of God. Then Herod called the wise men secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
But the wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and they obeyed the message from God.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Mat 2: 12
What is the lesson we can learn from the wise men?
They feared God more than the king! They obeyed the voice of God.
5. Shepherds: Spread the good news about Jesus Christ
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The shepherds found Jesus and spread the good news about Jesus Christ.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2: 16-18
What is the lesson we can learn from the shepherds? Hear and spread the good news about Jesus Christ.
6. Simeon: Encouraged the new couple
Simeon was a righteous man in Jerusalem who was waiting to see Jesus Christ because God had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah face to face.
When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.
Then Simeon blessed the couple and prophesied to Mary about Jesus Christ.
What was the role of Simeon?
Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and prophecied to them about Jesus Christ. This would have encouraged and strengthened them to pursue the will of God in bringing up Jesus.
What is the lesson that we can learn from Simeon?
Let us pray and encourage others to fulfil their call and purpose in life.
7. Anna: Spoke about the Saviour to all who came to the temple
The last person we discuss in this post is Anna.
Anna was a prophet who became a widow after 7 years of marriage. She was 84 years old when she met Jesus Christ.
She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
What was the role of Anna?
Being a prophet she spoke about the Saviour to all who were looking forward to the redemption.
What is the lesson that we can learn from Anna?
Anna, being the prophet of God fulfilled her duty even at a very old age by speaking about Jesus Christ, her Saviour to all the people who came to the temple.
As life goes on, know fully well, that we are all a component in God’s great master plan. Knowing or unknowingly we all align to His plan when we surrender, submit to His divine will and obey His commandments.
