It's on Christmas Eve that I reflect on the birth of Christ...

How must Mary have felt?

Would I believe an angel?

How strong and humble was Joseph?

How persevering was Herod?

How scared was Herod?

How tired was the donkey?

How uncomfortable it would be to give birth in a barn?

What family who just had a baby would believe an angel and travel to another country?

And, as I can't wrap my mind around it, I realize it's more important that I wrap my heart around the love story of God. God fulfilled many prophecies by becoming flesh and coming to Earth to live amongst us with no sin that he may take our sin. And, my heart yearns for this love.

Prophecy:

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

God's fulfillment:

Matthew 1:18-2:1 (NIV) 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. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 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." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

Moral of the Story: It was a birth that changed everything.