Birthing Stories

Today's Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

I don't know if you have ever noticed this phenomenon or not, but almost every time women meet other women they don't know, it doesn't take long to get down to the birthing stories! There is something about those stories that seem to bond us together and help us get to know one another better. Guys don't get it. But we do.

Today's reading is pretty much Mary's birthing story. I'm not sure how often she told it for fear of being labeled crazy but it is her story nonetheless. It's also interesting to me because from this story of Jesus' birth, He goes on to become a great storyteller. We'll be looking at some of His stories over the next few weeks on the blog as we go through The Storyteller preaching series on Sunday mornings.

But today's story is the beginning....when Mary conceives, Joseph disbelieves, the angel relieves, and Jesus comes on the scene to receive. A baby is a grand thing but is probably a reasonably inauspicious beginning to the greatest story ever told. But there He is...Jesus...sent to earth as one of us to save us from our sins.

That is a pretty awesome birthing story!

- Holly Barrett