The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Got any problems you think are unsolvable?
Got any situations you think are unbearable?
Got any obstacles you think are insurmountable?
Well, my friend, let me tell you about our God.
Here’s a pretty significant problem. About 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Micah prophesied that the Lord Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Here’s the problem. Before too much longer, Mary would deliver her baby. She and Joseph were living in Nazareth (Luke 2:4) which is over ninety miles away from Bethlehem. From a human perspective, my friend, that is a problem! But not with God!
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1-7).
The key to the answer is what the Lord did. Dr. Luke called it, “And it came to pass!” Joseph and Mary were in Nazareth. The prophecy declared Bethlehem to be the place of the birth. This was no problem to our awesome, all-powerful, sovereign God. He simply set the Roman world in motion to get Joseph and Mary to the right place at the right time.
I am in awe. What an incredible Lord to Whom we belong. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is impossible for Him. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever keep Him from being true to His Word. You and I can trust what we read from His Word.

“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” (Luke 1:39-41).

The Angel Gabriel announces the miracle of the virgin birth to Mary. He explains how this will happen and why it would happen (Luke 1:30-35). He explains that her cousin Elisabeth is also expecting a baby in her old age and that she was in her sixth month (Luke 1:36). Mary instantly obeys and says YES to the will of the Lord (Luke 1:38).

And now she leaves town to go and be with her beloved cousin. Think of what happens. Conception has just taken place in Mary’s life. She enters the house of Zacharias and Elisabeth, and immediately it came to pass. Pre-born John responds to the presence of the pre-born Son of God and leaps in Elisabeth’s womb. What a response! He was leaping in the presence of the One Who would become his Savior.

As you are on your way today: Be assured that life begins at conception. Be assured that our Savior is incredible. Be assured that we too should be filled with joy at the presence of Christ in our lives.

And it came to pass!

That special little phrase literally pictures an event coming into existence, a situation taking place or even something which appears on the stage. This phrase is found well over 400 hundred times in the King James Version of the Bible. We’re thinking just of a couple of times that phrase appears surrounding the coming of the Lord Jesus to this world.

Yesterday we thought of Zacharias being interrupted in his precious ministry of burning incense in the temple. The Angel of the Lord announced to him that he and Elisabeth would become the parents of a boy who would be named John. This boy would grow into a man who would be mightily used of the Lord to prepare the way for Christ Jesus (Luke 1:13-16). Now think of that phrase And it came to pass.

“And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house” (Luke 1:23). Though he would not be able to speak until after the birth of his boy, there still must have been wonder, amazement, excitement and almost bewilderment for this dear couple. They were childless. All those childbearing years had come and gone, and there were no sounds of a child in their home or in their arms. The disappointment was great. Now everything was going to change.

I can’t help but think of a couple of lessons that strike me. First, righteous people have disappointments. Second, God’s plan is not the same for each of His people. I know some folks who very much want a child and can’t have one, while others have a house that is filled with children. Third, sometimes the Lord sends the unexpected into our lives and the entire direction of our lives turns. Fourth, we always need to trust the Lord’s plan for us even when we don’t understand. And always be open to God’s amazing And it came to pass.

I am thinking of a phrase. You’ve read it many times in the Scripture. Perhaps many of us have read so quickly through the passage that we were not struck by this phrase! I was awake in the night and talking with the Lord and thinking about people and situations. Memories took me back to previous ministries with the busyness of the Christmas season.

Then seemingly out of nowhere as I was thinking about Scripture came the special phrase I’m sharing.

“And it came to pass.” I know you have read this phrase. It is found over 400 times in the King James Version of the Bible. “Came to pass” in the New Testament is one word, ginomai (GHIN-om-ahee). This conveys the picture of a situation taking place, of something coming into existence, to happen and even that which appears on the stage!

For the next few days, let’s camp on that phrase just in the area of Scripture that has to do with the events of our precious Savior coming into the world.

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in the commandments, and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went in the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense…The angel said unto him, Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John” (Luke 1:5-13).

What an “And it came to pass” it was for elderly Zacharias! What a mission for his baby boy who would become known as John the Baptist who would prepare the way for the Messiah, Christ Jesus! What great reminders for us.

1. Sometimes even though we are living righteously, the course of our lives is not necessarily what we would choose for ourselves.

2. Always the Lord’s plan is absolutely the best.

3. Consistently we will be wise to obey what the Lord says (read the rest of the story in Luke 1).

Well now, think of this. Our “And it came to pass” will definitely be nowhere as dramatic as it was for Zacharias. But whatever the Lord brings to the stage of our lives today, may we be quick and consistent to obey Him.

I know that we have thought many times about these wonderful words spoken a long time ago by Gabriel to the virgin Mary. Christmas is drawing near and probably if you are like most folks I know, things were busy before but now they are only getting busier by the day.

Don’t lose sight of these wonderful truths.

You can never think too highly of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of what Gabriel told Mary.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32-33).

He shall be great speaks of His authority and ability.
Shall be called the Son of the Highest speaks of His deity.
The throne of David speaks of His royalty.
He shall reign over the House of Jacob speaks of His majesty.
Of His Kingdom there shall be no end speaks of His eternality.

A challenge. Be intentional about your state of awe at the Person of Christmas! Make it all about Him because truly IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!