Luke 2:4-6 (NLT) And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

What an amazing season it is when you are expecting a baby! While the experience for a soon-to-be mother and father are completely different, the anticipation is the same. You wonder who the child will look like. Will he look like mom or more like dad? Will it be a combination of both? What will his character be like? Those questions and many more swirl around in expectant parents' hearts until the baby is born.

Given all of that, what must it have been like for Joseph and Mary? While they were waiting in anticipation for the baby to be born, their questions must have been completely different: “Who is this child? How can this be happening? What will Baby Jesus be like? How can we, with all of our human frailty, care for the Messiah who will be the Savior of the world? How will we discipline Him? Will He listen to us?” Those are just some of the questions that come to my mind from the outside looking in. But Joseph's and Mary's hearts must have been exploding with questions, excitement, and holy fear.

In the passage of scripture above, Baby Jesus was about to be born. They were waiting not only for Him to arrive, but also for the Messiah to come into the world. When He was finally born, they learned that He was just like a normal baby. He was fully human in every way yet fully God at the same time. Although they couldn't see the God part yet, they knew what the Angel Gabriel had told them. There in that stable, they each took turns holding the Son of God in their arms. One day soon, He would hold them in His everlasting arms.

Today, many that don't know Jesus are waiting for the Messiah to come into their lives. They don't know that they are waiting for Him, but that's what their souls have been searching for since childhood. Just as the world remained spinning on its axis and people all over the globe continued their busy lives without missing a beat when Jesus was born, so it is today. Many are unaware of the greatest event in the history of the universe that happened that day that Joseph and Mary shared as a reward for their waiting. But what about us who do know Him? Are we waiting with anticipation for Jesus to return for us? Do we think about Him constantly as parents do while they wait for the baby to be born? We are the recipients of the greatest gift ever given. Let's be caught up with Him as we eagerly wait for His second coming! (Hebrews 9:28)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Pastor Joey Vazquez