Christmas begins not with comfort, but with confusion. Incarnation- The Christian doctrine that the eternal Son of God took on human flesh without ceasing to be God. John 1:14 (ESV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Philippians 2:6–7 (ESV) “Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Hebrews 2:14 (ESV) “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.” Galatians 4:4 (ESV) “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman” • Faith That Trusts God Beyond Understanding Luke 1:26–38 (ESV) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Mary’s significance is not found in who she is, but in what God is about to do through her. Luke 1:28 (ESV) “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you” Divine favor often comes with divine disruption. Luke 2:31-33 (ESV) 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:34 (ESV) “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Faith does not mean the absence of questions; it means the refusal to let questions become unbelief. Luke 1:35-37 (ESV) 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:38 (ESV) “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Faith is not saying, “I see how this will work.” Faith is saying, “I trust the God who is at work.” • Faith That Obeys When the Cost Is High Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:22 (ESV) “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” Faith is not proven by what we feel, but by Who we obey. • When God’s Plan Collides with Ours Mary’s faith begins with surrender- she says yes before she understands how the story will unfold. Joseph’s faith is revealed through obedience- he acts even when the path forward costs him deeply. **Faith is not the absence of Fear, it is the decision to trust God in the middle of Fear. ** The kingdom of God always advances through surrender, not through domination. Luke 22:42 (ESV) “Not my will, but yours, be done” The surrender in Bethlehem finds its fulfillment at the cross. Christmas is not about sentiment; it is about surrender.