#195. The Christmas Story We Don’t Usually Hear: Faith,…

About this episode

The Birthday that Changed the World Podcast Episode regarding December 25th.We often picture the birth of Jesus as peaceful, beautiful, and serene.But when we read Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2 carefully, we discover something different.Jesus' arrival was miraculous—but it was also dangerous, disruptive, humble, and difficult.Mary faced the possibility of public shame. Joseph had to surrender his reputation and plans. Jesus was born in profoundly humble circumstances. Simeon warned Mary that sorrow would pierce her own soul. Wise men arrived seeking the newborn King, Herod responded with murderous jealousy, and Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to protect their child.And yet, through every unexpected circumstance, God was faithful.In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox meditates on the birth and early childhood of Jesus through Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2. As Christian moms, we often research, plan, protect, and hope for the best for our children. But the Christmas story reminds us that faithful parenting does not mean controlling every circumstance.Sometimes following God means surrendering our expectations and trusting Him when His plan looks very different from ours.In This Episode, You'll DiscoverWhy Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the King of Kings and promised MessiahThe significance of Matthew's genealogy and the women included in Jesus' family lineHow Jesus' name means “the Lord is salvation”Why Joseph's obedience is such a powerful example of faithfulnessWhat Mary's willingness to surrender her reputation can teach Christian mothersWhy the Christmas story may have been much less comfortable than our traditional nativity scenes suggestHow God used Caesar Augustus and a Roman census to fulfill His promise that Jesus would be born in BethlehemWhy God repeatedly used humble and unexpected people to announce and honor JesusWhat Simeon and Anna reveal about recognizing God's salvationThe possible significance of the gifts of the wise menWhy Herod's response demonstrates the world's opposition to the rightful KingHow God protected Jesus by sending Mary and Joseph to EgyptWhat Jesus' childhood teaches us about wisdom, growth, obedience, and favor with God and peopleHow Christian moms can surrender the desire to perfectly control their children's circumstancesWhy our ultimate goal in parenting should be children who place Christ on the throne The King Who Came in HumilityMatthew begins by establishing Jesus' royal credentials.He traces Jesus' genealogy through Abraham and David, demonstrating that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the rightful heir to David's throne.But there is a remarkable contrast.The King of Kings leaves heaven and enters the world in humility.The One who owns everything is born into poverty.The One who deserves worship is rejected.The One who is worthy of a throne is laid in a manger.The One who created the world becomes Emmanuel—God with us.This is the pattern we see throughout Scripture: God's purposes don't always look impressive by worldly standards.And that matters for mothers.We can spend enormous amounts of energy trying to create the perfect circumstances for our children.We research.We plan.We protect.We worry.We try to anticipate every possible problem.But Mary and Joseph remind us that faithfulness is not the same thing as control.Mary: Surrendering What You Can't ControlMary's pregnancy brought her extraordinary privilege—but it also brought enormous uncertainty.She knew what God had told her.She didn't know exactly how everything would unfold.And now, as Jesus' mother, she would experience circumstances no mother would choose.She would give birth in humble surroundings.She would watch strangers arrive to worship her newborn Son.She would hear Simeon tell her that a sword would pierce her own soul.And eventually, she would watch Jesus suffer and die.Mary couldn't control the circumstances.But she could remain faithful.That is an important lesson for Christian moms.Our calling is not to guarantee our children's comfort. Our calling is to faithfully point them toward Christ.Sometimes God's work in our children's lives will look different than we expected.Our children may face disappointment, difficulty, rejection, or circumstances we desperately wish we could prevent.We should protect them from what God calls us to protect them from.But we also have to resist the temptation to make comfort and control the ultimate goals.Jesus Himself entered the world through suffering and humility.Joseph: Obedience When It Costs You SomethingJoseph is another beautiful example of faithful obedience.When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he intended to divorce her quietly because he was a righteous man who did not want to expose her to public shame.Then God intervened.An angel told him that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he was to take Mary as his wife.Joseph obeyed.He accepted the social consequences.He surrendered his reputation.He took responsibility for a child who was not biologically his.And later, when an angel warned him that Herod wanted to kill Jesus, Joseph immediately obeyed again and took his family to Egypt.Joseph's example challenges us:Are we willing to obey God even when obedience makes us look foolish to everyone else?Christian parenting begins with parents who are willing to surrender themselves to Christ.The Christmas Story Wasn't ComfortableOur Christmas traditions can sometimes make the birth of Jesus look almost effortless.But Scripture gives us a more complicated picture.Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem.Jesus was born in humble circumstances.Shepherds arrived after receiving an angelic announcement.Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.Wise men eventually came seeking the King.Herod responded with murderous jealousy.Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt.And after Herod died, they eventually returned and settled in Nazareth.This wasn't a simple one-night story.It was a series of moments in which ordinary people had to keep trusting God.And perhaps that's one reason the story is so encouraging for moms.Mary and Joseph had to walk by faith one step at a time—just as we do.God Uses the HumbleOne of the themes running throughout these chapters is God's tendency to elevate the humble.Look at the people He draws into the story:A young woman from NazarethA carpenterShepherdsAn elderly man named SimeonA widowed prophetess named AnnaPoor parents bringing the least expensive sacrificeForeign wise men coming from the East The world's powerful ruler, Herod, responds with fear.But the humble recognize the King.This is a beautiful reminder for Christian mothers that faithfulness is more important than appearing impressive.Your ordinary work matters.Your quiet obedience matters.Your prayers matter.Your willingness to serve your family matters.And your children don't need a mother who looks impressive.They need a mother who knows and worships Jesus.Simeon: Blessing and Sorrow Can CoexistSimeon recognizes Jesus as God's salvation:“For my eyes have seen your salvation.”But then he tells Mary something difficult.Jesus will be opposed, and “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”What a reminder that God's blessing does not always mean the absence of pain.Mary's greatest earthly blessing—being the mother of Jesus—would eventually become the source of unimaginable sorrow as she watched Him suffer.Yet God's plan was still good.This is an important truth for mothers who are walking through difficult seasons.A difficult circumstance is not automatically evidence that God has abandoned you.Mary's story shows us that God's presence and God's purposes can coexist with suffering.The Wise Men Worship the KingMatthew then introduces the wise men who come searching for Jesus.We don't know exactly who they were or exactly how many traveled to see Him. Scripture simply tells us that they came from the East, followed the sign God provided, and eventually found Jesus.And their response is striking:“They fell down and worshiped him.”They brought costly gifts:Gold, fitting for a kingFrankincense, associated with worshipMyrrh, pointing toward suffering and death While Herod is threatened by the arrival of another king, these foreigners rejoice.They recognize what others refuse to see:Jesus is worthy of worship.Herod: When the World Rejects the KingHerod had been appointed “King of the Jews,” so the announcement of another king threatened everything he wanted to preserve.His response was not worship.It was violence.Matthew's Gospel repeatedly emphasizes this tension: Jesus is the rightful King, but many reject Him.That remains true today.Following Jesus means recognizing His authority over our lives.And as Christian parents, we aren't simply trying to raise children who are nice, successful, educated, or well-adjusted.Our deepest desire should be that they recognize Jesus as King.What Jesus' Childhood Teaches Us About ParentingLuke 2:52 gives us one of the most beautiful verses to pray over our children:“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”Four areas stand out:Wisdom — May our children grow in understanding and discernment.Stature — May they grow physically healthy and strong.Favor with God — May they learn to love, obey, and delight in Him.Favor with people — May they learn to love and serve others well.And Jesus Himself provides the perfect model.Though He was the Son of God, He willingly returned to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and was submissive to them.The Lord of the universe humbled Himself.That should shape how we think about both parenting and discipleship.Biblical Parenting: Don't Make Comfort the GoalOne of the most challenging questions this passage raises for Christian moms is:What if I'm trying too hard to make my children's lives easy?Mary and Joseph didn't have an easy road.Jesus didn't have an easy childhood.And Scripture never promises that faithful families will be protected from every hardship.Our goal isn't to engineer a painless life for our children.Our goal is to raise children who know who is worthy of sitting on the throne.That means we can pray for protection without making protection our god.We can pursue wisdom without demanding control.We can prepare our children without believing we can guarantee their outcomes.And we can trust that God is able to work even through circumstances we would never have chosen.Bible Study for Busy Christian MomsIf you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, these chapters are an important reminder that the Bible is one unified story.The promises made to Abraham.The covenant with David.The prophecies of the Messiah.The promise of a Savior.The hope of God's presence.All of it is moving toward Jesus.And now that we're reading the Gospels, we're watching those promises unfold.As you read Matthew and Luke, don't simply ask, “What happened?”Ask:What does this reveal about Jesus?What does this reveal about God?What does this reveal about faithfulness?How should this change the way I live in my home?And perhaps most importantly:Am I willing to surrender my plans to the King?You can surrender your children, your plans, and your future to the King.We often picture the birth of Jesus as peaceful, beautiful, and serene.But when we read Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2 carefully, we discover something different.Jesus' arrival was miraculous—but it was also dangerous, disruptive, humble, and difficult.Mary faced the possibility of public shame. Joseph had to surrender his reputation and plans. Jesus was born in profoundly humble circumstances. Simeon warned Mary that sorrow would pierce her own soul. Wise men arrived seeking the newborn King, Herod responded with murderous jealousy, and Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to protect their child.And yet, through every unexpected circumstance, God was faithful.Resources Mentioned:Entrusted With a Child's HeartFull-Circle Discipline Resources Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary