For this first Sunday of Advent,
begin by reading out loud Psalm 47: 7-9
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted. (NIV)
Scripture passage: Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)
Who is this Holy Spirit who impregnated a woman? Jewish people reading this Scripture back in the first century would know. In the first book of the Bible, in only the second verse, it states: “…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). And the Holy Spirit is mention on occasion as the Old Testament Scriptures continue, though sometimes the term “Spirit of God” is used. Yet the Holy Spirit is not in a spotlight in the Old Testament.
The Holy Spirit gained increasing focus during the ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). In quite the dramatic way there in the apostolic era, the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4). And Paul stated a believer’s body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Corinthians 6:19).
And going back to the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, this is drawn upon by the apostle Peter. He explained that the prophet Joel foretold the Holy Spirit would be united with people (Acts 2:14-21). And Peter clarified how the prophecy of Scripture, which included both the Old Testament and the New Testament books, involved people speaking for God “as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
Yet even in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is often the member of our Triune God who does work behind the scenes. Jesus gave the revelation that God is spirit (John 4:24), thus He is unseen. Yet in addition to unseen fruit from the work of God, including the work of the Holy Spirit, there is fruit which can be seen if someone is willing to see. For starters, as the special minister and author John Stott wrote in his book Evangelical Truth: “This truth that the Spirit delights to witness to the Son is much stressed in the New Testament…” (88).
And the Holy Spirit is the One who works in a believer’s heart to make her or him more like Jesus in nature, while not changing her or his unique personality (2 Corinthians 3:17-18), a process termed sanctification. The calling of a Christian is to be holy. Genuine followers of Jesus, though not perfect yet, bear the “fruit” of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), which blesses other people, and even blesses themselves.
Thus being humble yet all powerful, the Holy Spirit impregnates a virgin Jewish woman, which becomes the awesome event which starts our Christmas story. The third Person of our Triune God impregnates a woman so God could become a human being. Jesus was fully God, and Jesus was fully human.
Though disputed by some of my brothers and sisters-in-Christ, Mary’s reproductive organs were not involved in this process. Mary was not divine. Had Mary been divine, she would not have been greatly troubled by the angel’s greeting (Luke 1:29-30). Jesus was conceived fully by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did a “miracle” which alone is cause for all people to consider the Christmas story.
Question for pondering:
1.) What is an expression of a “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22) you saw this past week from someone, or the expression of a “fruit of the Spirit” which someone may have seen from you?
- Take some prayer time. The 2020 pandemic has impacted almost all people of the entire world. Considering our Scripture passage, let us focus on one group of people: women who are pregnant. The coronavirus pandemic has added severe stress and risk for pregnant women. If you know a woman who is pregnant at this time, please say one prayer for her and her baby. If you do not, please say a prayer in general for women who are pregnant now.
Conclude your time with God this first Sunday of Advent singing a song!
- The song suggestion: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
It is #245 in The Celebration Hymnal
Here is a link to the lyrics:
Here is a link to this song performed by MaryAnne Muglia:
I spent a long time looking for a performance which has a traditional rendering, and I was grateful to find this version by a gifted artist.
But she does change a line in the second stanza, so you have to roll over that.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Pastor Hunter
