Everyday I woke up with joy in my heart. “Could this be the day?” I would whisper to the Lord in my morning prayers. The joy of the anticipation of my Messiah’s arrival was what fueled my devotion to my Lord. I lived in Jerusalem so that I could spend as much time as possible in the temple. I knew that when the Messiah was born He would be brought to the temple just like every other Hebrew child, and so I waited. I filled my days with joyful service to the Lord. There were always people to remind of our glorious hope. The consolation of Israel was coming. Soon He would arrive. I spoke to weary travelers I could see a joy come into their faces as they too remembered to long for our Savior’s advent.

My ministry went on for years, but my zeal did not wane. Even though year after year went by, I knew each day brought me closer to the one the Lord had promised would come. “How long oh Lord?” I would pray. “Soon” was always the response, and so I waited. I watched many of those I loved pass on to paradise before me. I knew that one day I would go to them, but I knew that day would not come until I saw my Lord, and so I joyfully awaited His arrival.

Then one morning as I asked the Lord, “could this be the day?” the Spirit told me, “yes.” I got up as quickly as I could, and, led by the Spirit, I made my way to the temple. I did not know what to look for, but I knew I would recognize my Savior when I laid eyes on Him. As I watched the worshipers begin to make their way into the temple I wondered who else the Lord had told, today was the day. I looked around me, but I saw no hint in the faces of those who passed that they had any idea what was about to happen. Surely others knew today was the day, but their faces all looked the same as any other day… mine did not. I could not hide my joy. I began to tell the people who came in, “the Messiah is coming here today!” Most gave me confused looks, some gave a half-hearted smile, but they continued on going through the acts of worship. Then I saw Anna, when I told her, “today is the day!” a knowing joy flooded her face seeming to beam from every pore. She stood nearby and began to scan the crowd as they entered.

I began to imagine what His entrance would be like. Would He be proceed by heralds announcing him? Would His parents be adorned in fine clothes for the special occasion? Would a joyful throng follow in His wake? I did not know what to look for, and I realized it really did not matter...my Savior would soon be here. I would see Him. Perhaps even touch Him and so I joyfully awaited His arrival.

Then I saw them coming around the corner. The Spirit revealed their identity. There in front of me. Walking toward me was the mother of my Lord and her husband. The bundle in her arms was my Messiah. I stood frozen in place. I could not move...I could hardly breathe. I lost all sense of my surroundings. Before I realized what I was doing I was running toward them shouting joyfully. I must of looked like a schoolboy at the end of synagogue school, but I did not care. His parents looked surprised at my outburst, but they were not shocked. As I drew near I was surprised to find myself taking my Messiah into my arms. My boldness surprised me. I had never taken a stranger’s baby from them before, but I knew immediately that this baby had been sent for us all, and the mother seemed to comprehend this as well as she willingly allowed me to take her little one.

I can not begin to describe the feeling of completion I experienced as I held my Savior in my arms. The tears of joy flowed freely down my face. My God had kept His promise. A promise I felt so unworthy to see fulfilled. All of my life had culminated in this one moment. My life’s task had been complete. I knew my Lord would welcome my into His presence and while my heart was filled with joy, I knew that day would be even better than this one. I prayed allowed to God, “Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.”

As I finished the praising God, I noticed the temple had become silent. All eyes were on the four of us. I did not care, my Lord was here. He was in my arms. I could feel His heart beating. I could feel His breath on my cheek. I could hear his soft coos. I turned to His parents and noticed the amazement on their faces. They did not seem so shocked at what I was saying, but simply that I knew. I began to speak a blessing over them, “the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD look with favor upon you and give you peace.” I could see in their knowing smiles that they realized they were blessed.

I can hardly describe in words what I experienced next. A stab of pain shot through my chest as the Spirit revealed to me the future of the Child in my arms. I turned trembling to His mother and said, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” I knew that a painful future awaited this family and my nation, but I knew that joy was coming. I could not help but hum joyfully as I gave the baby back to His mother. Yes, there would be pain, but joy beyond what I had just experienced awaited all of us at the right hand of our Lord. And so I joyfully awaited.

I was not surprised when Joseph asked for my hand in marriage, but I could not hide my grin when he gave me the coin signifying our betrothal. My heart was filled with joy and I constantly had a song on my lips as the day of our wedding drew near. I joyfully envisioned life with Joseph. He was a kind and hardworking man, honored by the elders in our little town of Nazareth. While I joyfully anticipated our pending wedding, I had no idea of the joy my Lord had in store for me.

I was working alone in my home when suddenly a blinding light enveloped me. I felt like my heart had stopped and I could not contemplate what was happening, then I heard a voice, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” I turned and saw standing before me an angel. Though I had never seen an angel before, I could not mistake this messenger. He was glorious and blinding, but his greeting perplexed me. Why was he saying that I was favored? And how could he say that the Lord was with me? I was a no-one from a nowhere town. I had not accomplished anything great, and I did not anticipate doing anything noteworthy. I was happy to spend my days as a wife and mother in my tiny village, what was he talking about?

The angel, seeing my troubled expression, said, “do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

The angel’s words hung in the air as I contemplated their meaning. He knew my name and my lineage. I knew that one day a woman in my line would be blessed to be the mother of our Messiah, but I had never dared assume it could be me. Then, as my mind often did, I began to think about logistics. I asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing is impossible with God.”

As the angel finished his message a joy welled in my heart. All concerns about the logistics faded to the back of my mind. The wonder-working God was going to do a miracle unlike anything ever done before, and He was going to use me. I was His chosen instrument to bring His Son into the world. God would become flesh in my womb. I could not believe the grace of God that was being poured out on me as I joyfully exclaimed, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be done to me according to your word.” I can not describe the euphoria of presenting myself as the maidservant of the Lord. There is no greater joy than offering yourself to the Lord for His use. This is what I was created for. The Lord would use me to bring the second Adam into the world. He would gift me with the pleasure of joyful service to the incarnate Lord. He would be my child, but I would be His joyful slave.

Then the angel departed, and I was left alone in the same room I had been standing in before, but now everything had changed. My heart was still beating furiously, and I imagine my face was beaming as I contemplated this news. I had to share it with someone, but who? Even though my spirit was soaring, my heart sank. I would be the mother of the Messiah, but who would believe me? Their potential doubt could not shake my joy, I was the maidservant of the Lord. His joyful slave. I knew then who to tell...Elizabeth. Surely she would have faith in this miracle, after all, she had experienced one herself. I would make a trip to see her immediately. I began to plan my journey as my heart still overflowed with joy at the news I had just received.

My parents were confused at first when I told them I needed to see Elizabeth, but they gave in to my request. Soon I was on my way to Judea to see my cousin. As I made my journey toward their home the joy in my heart seemed to grow with the baby in my womb. I could already tell that I was pregnant. I knew that God had taken on flesh inside of me. Such knowledge seemed too marvelous to me. I hurried to reach Elizabeth. I knew she would share my joy. I did not know what I would say when I arrived at her home. I prayed silently, “Lord, please give me words.” When I entered the house Elizabeth was facing away from me, but as soon as I crossed the threshold and offered a timid “hello,” she exclaimed and turned to look at me. Before I could say anything joy flooded her face. She cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside of me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what He has spoken to her!”

Elizabeth knew! She knew and she believed. My joy grew again for now it was shared with another. I felt the Spirit come upon me in that moment, and the Lord began to fill my mouth with praise. I said,

"My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He spoke to our ancestors."

As I finished, Elizabeth embraced me. I could feel the joyful kicks of the little one in her womb anticipating his Messiah’s arrival. God’s goodness overwhelmed me as I wept joyful tears into my cousin’s shoulder. I stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then I knew it was time for me to return home. I knew that the people of Nazareth would be skeptical. I did not know how Joseph would respond, but those concerns did not end my joy. I was the joyful servant of the Lord.

The joyous reception I had received from Elizabeth was the only one of its kind. My family turned their head in shame when I told them my news. Joseph walked away crestfallen. I could not comprehend why they would not believe me. I knew that my news seemed impossible, but they knew me so well. They knew I was not a talebearer, they knew that I was in my right mind, but they all rejected me. I was an outcast in my own home. When Joseph arrived the next day, I thought perhaps he had come to his senses. That he would admit that he knew I would not fabricate such a story, but he simply gave me a pained expression and asked to speak to my father. As the two of them huddled together and spoke I knew what they were discussing. Though they did not believe me, they did not wish me dead. They were making plans for Joseph to divorce me out of the public eye. All my joyous expectations of a future with this kind man began to crash around me. I realized then, that if he would not have me, neither would any other honorable man. In the midst of the pain of that realization, I was shocked to find my joy at being the mother of the Lord had not been shaken. As I got my eyes off of the uncertainty of my future and contemplated instead the grace God had poured out on me to bring His Son into this world, I realized I could face any pain in this life and not lose my joy. I had the Word made Flesh in my womb. The God of creation would call me mother. Any disappointment over what I did not receive in this life seemed laughable when compared to what God had given me. I was the maidservant of the Lord. He would take care of me. I laughed at my fears, and my father and Joseph looked at me with startled, pitying expressions. Someday they would understand..but today..today was a day to rejoice. I went to bed that night with joy in my heart and a song on my lips.

I had only just awoken the next morning when I heard pounding on the door. The sun had not even crested the horizon when I heard Joseph crying out, “Mary! Mary! open the door! Please let me in! I have had a dream! I can not wait another minute...” I pulled the door open and he nearly fell on top of me. The expression on Joseph’s face was inscrutable. It was seemingly filled with wonder, joy, shame, passion, and excitement all at the same time. He fell on his knees and raised his face toward me. Tears were streaming down his face when he said, “please forgive me for doubting you.” I responded immediately, “of course I forgive you, but what happened?” He responded, “I had a dream last night. In my dream the angel of the Lord appeared to me and he said; ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” As he finished Joseph broke into tears. I wanted to wrap him in my arms, but I dared not. He looked at me and I noticed then these were not tears of sorrow but of joy. “Mary,” he said, “the Messiah is coming. He is going save us from our sins. The Savior is here. He is in this room.” He looked at me quizzically then and asked, “can you feel Him? Can you feel God in the flesh inside of you?” I looked at him through joyful tears of my own and simply nodded. Joseph went on, “Mary will you marry me? Will you still have me after I have failed you? I understand if you can not trust me now to care for you, but it would be my joy to be the servant of the Lord as I care for you, the mother of my Messiah.” “Joseph,” I replied, “of course I will marry you. The Lord has chosen us for this task together.” My heart exulted at this gift from God. He had sent His angel to my betrothed as well. I knew that my Heavenly Father would take care of me even if men rejected me, but in His grace, He had opened Joseph’s eyes.

My family was confused to hear that we were going to go forward with the wedding. They were too ashamed to have the usual public ceremony, but our Rabbi agreed to perform the ceremony for us in private with only our immediate family present. The Rabbi and our families had somber expressions as they witnessed our wedding ceremony. Joseph and I could not hide our joy. It was not just the joy of being declared to be one flesh, but it was the joy of the task God had given us. I wondered if Joseph was thinking about the Messiah growing in my womb as the Rabbi recited the words of the marriage ceremony. I knew that he was when the Rabbi finished and gestured for us to enter the chuppah room to consummate our marriage, Joseph shocked both our families when he shook his head no. Looking at our witnesses he said, “the Messiah is to be born to a virgin, I will not consummate our marriage until after Jesus is born.” He then knelt down and sweetly kissed my growing belly. He broke tradition as he said, “Mary, I will serve you with all of my life, you are truly blessed among all women. I will protect you and provide for you as the joyful slave of my Lord.” Happy tears filled my eyes at the abounding blessings of my Lord. Our Rabbi stood back shocked that a newlywed couple would deny themselves the pleasures of the wedding bed willingly and joyfully. However, he could not comprehend the joy that we were privileged to herald for the entire world. I knew that this was not the joyful ceremony that I had imagined as a young girl, it was so much more. Without the feast and the procession, in the midst of a somber ceremony, Joseph and I experienced a joy beyond anything in this world. I let out a yelp of surprise as he swiftly stood to his feet and swept me up in his arms, turning his back on our marriage chamber he carried me to the home he had constructed for us. As he stepped across the threshold I saw that he had built separate beds for us. He would keep his vow, the Messiah would be born to a virgin. As he set me down he led me around and showed the many things he had done to make our house a home. My eyes filled with tears as he knelt in a corner and showed me a cradle he had been carving from a single piece of wood. I could see that it was crafted with loving adoration for his coming Messiah. He looked at me and said, “it is not done...I want it to be perfect for our king.” My heart filled with joy at the blessings of my Father as they fell upon me without a shadow of turning.

The next few days were filled with joyful preparation for the arrival of Jesus. We knew that those in Nazareth did not share our joy, but the fact that we both knew was enough. Our plans were waylaid when the news of the census arrived. Joseph came home with fear in his eyes for the first time since our wedding day. “Mary,” he said, “We must go to Bethlehem immediately for the census.” I began to think about the logistics of such a journey and my heart raced. “Joseph,” I replied, “I can not travel in this state...the Messiah’s arrival is just days away.” Joseph looked at me with tears in his eyes, “God will make a way Mary. He will care for His Son, and He will strengthen me as I protect you. We serve an unstoppable God. Nothing can hinder what God will do, not our relatives, not Herod, not Quirinius, not even Caesar himself.” Joy filled my heart despite my trepidation. The Lord would provide. I had His Son in my womb. No one could stand against us. And so we journeyed.

We traveled with little. All of our joyful planning was abandoned as we made our way to Bethlehem, but I was shocked to find the joy still burning bright hot in my heart. The travel was not easy on my pregnant body and as I alternated between riding in a wagon and walking along the road. I could feel the moment of Jesus’ birth drawing near. On the final day of our journey, I let Joseph know the baby would come today. I had never seen panicked joy before then. The mix of emotion on my husband’s face must have matched my own. I had no idea how we could finish our journey, find a place to stay, and deliver this baby boy all in one day...but the Messiah was coming. God in the flesh was about to make His appearance. The world would behold the face of their Savior for the first time in history. My heart raced as panic mixed with joyful anticipation. I did not know how I would find the strength to finish the journey. But I knew that I had to hold on, the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem to fulfill the words of Micah. The words of the prophecy became a promise in my mind and the joy of knowing the Lord would fulfill His word in me gave me strength. Suddenly I understood the words of Ezra all those years ago, the joy of the Lord was most certainly my strength...it was my only strength.

My heart soared as Bethlehem came into view. We had made it. Now just to find a room. My heart sank when there was no space with any of Joseph’s relatives. Would this trial kill the joy that had come awake inside of me? And, then shooting pain. It is hard to hold onto joy when pain occupies your every thought. “Joseph,” I exclaimed, “He is coming!” He is coming. With a grimace, I smiled. The unstoppable one. The Lord of all creation. He was ready to come. Into the midst of our chaos. In a moment of loss...He would arrive. I saw the panic in Joseph’s eyes. My stalwart protector fell to his knees and begged the Father of my Son, “Lord, please provide. I have nothing to offer. I am desperate for your help. Your Son is coming...please help!” he held his hands over his head silently petitioning the Father of Heavenly lights for provision on this dark night.

Then a door opened. A sliver of light fell across the dirty street and a voice called to us. “Come, there is room in my stable. I will clear out my animals. I will bring fresh hay and bedding. Let me help you.” Joy swelled in our hearts. The Lord heard our prayers. He would provide for us. This was not the joy we had expected to find, but it was the joy we needed.

I do not think that any life experience can prepare you for the birth of your first child. But there was nothing that happened that day as I had imagined. I tied to ignore my surroundings as I labored, but the straw sticking into my back was not the bed I was expecting. Joseph noticed me wincing and he removed his cloak to place under me. His action reminded me of my heavenly Father’s love and joy once again filled my heart. I set my eyes on the goal. I looked past the pain and I found joy in ways that I could never have designed for myself. And then He was coming. As the midwife announced His birth it felt like all of Creation stopped to watch. She quickly wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him on my chest. I peered into the eyes of the Ancient One, the One whose coming was from of old, and all the pain and panic of the last few days was swallowed up in the joy of that moment.

Such fullness would have never come from my designs. It was like listening to the voice of the worshipers in the temple as they swelled and lifted me to heights previously unknown. Like notes bringing me joy through a song, I did not know I needed to hear. The joy of the incarnation. The Word made flesh cried. He cooed. He felt. He loved. He snuggled. He held my hand. He needed me. I needed Him.

I reached out and grasped Joseph’s hand. We looked at each other knowingly. We shared a joy that was from heaven above. None of this would have been our plan for ourselves. None of this would have been our recipe for joy, and that is why it had to be a surprise. For we could have never formulated such joy for ourselves. Joy blindsided us like an unforeseen guest whose presence you can not after imagine living without. Like love awakened in one glorious moment. We turned our eyes heavenward and lifted our voices in joyful thanks. The Lord had come, just as He promised, and we would never be the same. We would be His joyful slaves forever.

Chapter 1: An Unforeseen Expected Wedding

I could not believe what I was hearing. It was easier for me to believe the messenger was lying than to believe Mary had been unfaithful to our betrothal covenant. Everything I knew of her was contrary to what I was hearing. So I went directly to her home and heard it myself. What she said to me shocked me even more than the news of her unfaithfulness. She said that she had not been with a man and that the child in her womb was the Messiah, the Son of God.

I knew then that Mary had lost her mind. She seemed so genuine in her profession and everything about her was contrary to such a moral failure, but what she said was impossible. How could God become a man, much less a baby? How could a woman become pregnant while still a virgin? Though I believed in the miracles of ancient Israel, nothing like this had ever happened. God had not sent a messenger to our people in 400 years and then suddenly my betrothed was saying that she had heard from an angel. This was too much, but I knew Mary was not immoral. I could not figure out what had happened to her mind, but oppression can do strange things to you. I did not believe it fair for Mary to be punished for losing her mind, but I also could not marry her after what she had done. So, I decided to divorce her quietly, so that she would not be punished. It broke my heart to do it, but I could see no other option. I could not take her sins upon myself.

Then I had the dream, and everything changed. Until that day I had never had a dream like that one. It was as if the world in my dream was more real than in my waking. I did not doubt at all that the angel who appeared to me was real. His message to me matched the one Mary had heard. She had conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel told me the name of the One who was growing in my betroth’s womb...Jesus. Because He would save His people from their sins.

When I awoke the dream did not fade away but hung in my mind as an unchanging event. I could not doubt its reality, and I had to rush to Mary to beg her forgiveness. What had seemed impossible hours before now seemed like the most real thing in my life. I asked Mary to forgive me for doubting her. I vowed to never distrust her again, I would take her as my wife and raise the Son of God as my own.

The wonder of being wedded to the mother of my Lord overshadowed the looks we received in our little town of Nazareth. I now knew what Mary had felt as my message of the coming Messiah was met by judging glares or questioning looks. Family and friends began to distance themselves from us. They started to question our integrity. Our wedding was not the happy occasion I had been hoping for. Most of citizens of our little town stayed home and did not join us to celebrate our matrimony. We made our way to the home I had built for our family and we slept in separate beds. The Son of God would be born to a virgin.

I had hoped and planned for our wedding for many months, it had come as I had hoped but not as I expected. I meditated upon my bed that night thinking of how I hoped that the Messiah would come in my lifetime, but this was not what I had expected. This was the wedding I hoped for, but not the one I had expected.

Chapter 2: An Unforeseen Expected Birth

I began to prepare for my Savior’s arrival the day after our wedding. My mind always seemed to work best when my hands were occupied. The Lord had chosen me, a carpenter, to be the husband of the Kings mother and I would use my skills to make sure he had a bed fit for a King. I found the best wood and began laying out my plans. Mary smiled as she watched me pour myself into my task. Preparing our home for the babies arrival occupied all of my time.

I was making steady progress when I herd the news, Caesar was ordering everyone to return to their home town to be taxed immediately. We had to hurry to leave Nazareth so that we could arrive in my hometown Bethlehem before Mary gave birth. We had to leave everything behind. We took only what we could carry. When we arrived in Bethlehem it was madhouse. People were everywhere. I went to every relative I knew of and asked if we could stay in their guest room, but everyone already had several family members staying with them. We had to travel so slowly that there was not a single room still available in all of Bethlehem...then Mary told me the baby was coming.

I had thought that the birth would go smoothly. This was the Son of God my wife was carrying. I thought that everything would just fall into place when we arrived in Bethlehem, but now it was growing dark and we stood in the road with nowhere to go. I went back to a relative we had already asked and I begged for accommodations explaining that Mary was about to give birth. He told me there was absolutely no room in his home but he could let us stay in his stable for the night.

I gathered fresh straw and tried to make Mary as comfortable as possible. My host sent for the midwife and I simply stood back and ran any errand she gave me to do. I had never witnessed a birth before, but watching the Son of God enter into our world brought me to my knees in worship. I was a good Jew and had spent my entire life refusing to worship any man born of a woman, but this was different. His presence simply required my adoration. The Psalms flowed from my lips in ceaseless praise. My king was born. The angel had told me that the Baby would save His people from their sins, and a new hope was born in my heart when I saw Him.

I had expected the Messiah to be born by conventional means. When I heard He was coming I thought His birth would be in the comfort of our home in Nazareth. But now I watched dumbstruck as Mary wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in amanger. I knew that the God who had sent angelic messengers, who had caused my virgin wife to conceive could do anything, and He had orchestrated the most humble and obscure birth possible for His Son. I had hoped for Messiah’s birth. I knew that someday He would come, but I had no idea it would be like this. This was not the birth I had expected, but it was the one I needed.

Chapter 3: An Unforeseen Expected King

Soon the Baby was sleeping, the Midwife had tended to Mary and she lay sleeping on a bed of straw. I peered into the face of my Creator and tried to understand what I was seeing. How was this possible? I no longer questioned what the angel had told Mary. He said that this Child was the Son of God. I understood this meant He was Yahweh, but he looked normal. He looked like any other human baby. I had never really noticed babies before but I could not see anything in His face that distinguished Him. His little fist was held tightly to his mouth and He made quiet sucking sounds. What surprised me most was how normal He looked.

Then I began to think, if the angel had been sent to Mary and I surely others had heard news of the Messiah’s birth. I looked around the sleepy town and I felt like I must have been the only one awake. Then I heard it. The sounds of feet running down the streets, followed by excited shouting. Mary and the baby began to stir at the commotion. Then suddenly running around the corner of the stable I saw a small shepherd boy. He peered into the darkness making out our little family huddled in the dark. He ran in as if he owned the place and peered into the manger at the Christ Child. He let out a shout of glee and ran out of the stable to his fellows yelling, “He is here!” “The one the angel told us about!” Come and see!” He soon returned with a troop of shepherds. They crowded around us a gazed at the Son of God. Several of them removed their sandals and they worshiped the Baby in the Manger. They cried out glorifying and praising God.

At first I thought to forbid the shepherds entry to our tiny natal stable, but then I realized the Baby was not for me but for all of God’s people. He was born as the Savior of the world. I welcomed the shepherds, I made room for the strangers who had come to see this wondrous sight. The King was born. He had not come in pomp and circumstance. I smiled as I came to understand the heart of my Lord more fully. He could have sent His angles to priests and kings, but He chose shepherds. He could have chosen a palace, but he set apart a stable. He could have chosen a family ruling in power, but he chose us trembling in a corner.

My hopes and dreams were met that night. The long awaited Savior had finally come. The One promised in the Garden was here. The Seed of Abraham. The Lion of Judah. The Branch of Jesse. Yes, my hope had been realized, but not in the way I had imagined. This was not the King I had expected, but He was the one that I needed.

Hope is often an earnest expectation realized in unexpected ways. Hope is anticipation of a future event. However, our Lord frequently fulfills our hope in unexpected ways. We must remember today to not let our hope be hindered by our human expectations, while also remembering to eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of every promise of covenant keeping God.

Max could hardly contain his excitement. His 13th birthday was just one week away, and his parents had promised him the biggest party ever. A shy 12-year-old Max never made much of himself, but he was excited that his parents wanted to make his birthday an event to remember. For most of his life, both of his parents had been too busy for him, amassing a large fortune through their law firm. Finally, though they had decided to settle down and focus on their only son. They told him that they would be taking the week off, just to plan his party and spend time with him.

Max arrived early at breakfast that morning to find both of his parents still in their pajamas at the table. He couldn’t believe it. They were really taking the day off work just to be with him. For the first time in his life, Max saw his parents wearing bathrobes and slippers on a weekday. Max sat quietly at his place and began to eat his breakfast. His parents’ animated conversation fell quiet when they saw him, and they both gave him their most mischievous grins. His father said, “Well Max, I hope you are excited about this party because we sure are. You just tell us anything you want and it’s yours. Any friends you want invited. Any events you want at the party. Anything. The sky is the limit! Actually, forget that there is no limit! Just tell us what you want and it’s yours!” Max shifted uneasily in his seat. He had never been given this sort of attention before. He responded by saying, “I am sure I will be happy with whatever you want to give me. I am just excited to get to hang out with you guys”. His Dad turned to his Mom and said, “see Honey, I told you he would like whatever we did for him”. As soon as breakfast was over Max’s parents told him that he could spend the day however he wanted, but that they needed to start planning his party. There was lots to do and only a week to prepare. Max asked if he could help, but his parents said that would spoil the surprises.

The next several days could not have gone slower for Max. His parents were busier planning his party than they would have been if they were still working. Strange packages arrived at the house every day, and the entire estate seemed like a construction zone. Dance floors were being built all over the property. The main house was being completely changed around to accommodate the large crowd that would be coming. Two days before his birthday Max noticed huge tents being set up on their spacious lawns. He quietly snuck inside one and saw a large stage being assembled. He asked one of the workers what it was for, and he responded, “it seems the owner has booked some top label band to perform here for his kids birthday. I even heard that the band is writing special songs about the kid just for the event”. Max wondered how someone could write a song about a person they had never met, but he kept his thoughts to himself and snuck off to see what was in the other tents. He couldn’t believe everything he saw, and his birthday couldn’t seem to come quickly enough. In one tent he saw a miniature roller-coaster being assembled. In another, he saw a go-cart track being put down. There was a miniature golf course, a huge arcade, a man-made pond with bumper boats, a laser tag arena, and a gigantic outdoor movie theatre. There was even a huge waterslide set up next to his family’s already impressive pool area. The tents seemed to be scattered all over the entire estate, and Max wondered how he would be able to experience it all in one night. Then he realized he didn’t care. All that mattered was that he would be able to finally spend a day with his parents.

Finally, the big day arrived. Max woke up at 5:00 am and rushed downstairs. The butler wished him a happy birthday and told him that his parents had been up all night and were just now making the final arrangements for his party. He then proceeded to tell Max that all of the staff was busy on the grounds, but there was some breakfast for him in the kitchen. Max went to eat breakfast alone as he was accustomed to doing. After all his parents were doing this for him, he told himself. After he finished Max went to his room and got dressed. He could hardly contain himself as he imagined riding the roller coaster with his dad and playing miniature golf with his mom. For the few holidays that Max’s parents had been around, he had always waited in his room till they sent for him. So Max sat on his bed and waited, and he waited, and he waited. He could hear quite a ruckus coming from all around the estate, and as minutes turned to hours he decided they must want him to come to them.

Stepping out of his room and going downstairs Max saw that there were people everywhere. There were more people than he had ever seen. And he didn’t recognize a single one of them. Max set out to find his parents in the crowd, and he soon grew confused and anxious. All of the tents looked the same, and with people all over the place, Max soon last his way. He eventually found a gate where it seemed everyone was entering the main tent. As Max watched he noticed that as each partygoer entered they were given party favors that topped anything he could imagine. One little boy was handed an Ipad Pro as he entered, another kid was given a Nintendo Switch, some were simply handed $100 bills at the gate. Max’s jaw dropped. If these were the party favors, imagine what the gifts must be like. Max ran to the gate to find his parents. When he tried to enter the guard asked who he was. When he said he was Max, the guard replied, “Yeah right, every kid here wants to be Max. Now, this is an exclusive party so if you’re not on the list get lost.” “Yeah, so exclusive not even the guest of honor gets in,” Max thought to himself, but he walked away nonetheless.

As Max wandered about he heard music coming from the tent with the stage. He figured that if the concert was starting that is where his parents would be. As Max arrived at the front doors the ushers told him the auditorium was full, he was only allowed to stand outside and listen. As Max wandered around the tent he heard the band inside sing about him. They talked about what a great kid he was, and added his name to all sorts of songs. For some of the songs Max thought that they had probably just put his name in the place of the name of some girl one of the band members had once liked. He wasn’t sure if that should make him feel good or bad. As he listened on the outside he heard them say that this night was all about Max, and the irony made him cry. They were so excited about making him feel good, that they wouldn’t even let him in to his own birthday party.

Eventually, things began to wrap up. People started to file out, and it was obvious that the party was over. Max wandered into the tent and onto the stage, and finally found his parents. They didn’t even notice him at first, but when they did his Dad let out a “how ya doin’ buddy?” Max said he was okay but a little tired. His Dad said “how’d you like the party”. Max, didn’t know what to say, so he simply asked, “now that the party is over, do you think we could hang out.” To this his Father responded sternly, “Max we have spent the last seven days exhausting ourselves for you. Tomorrow we both have to be back to work. We have done everything we could. Given you a bigger party than any 13 year old has ever received, and still you ask for more? The answer is no Max we can not spare any more time for you. Now go to bed!”

As Max wandered off to bed he wondered if his 12th birthday party had been better, when his parents promised him nothing and gave him nothing. Somehow it was harder to be promised the greatest celebration a boy could have, and instead have to stand outside and watch.