“…People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:36-37)
At first glance, “possible impossibility” sounds like an oxymoron. How can an impossibility (a “not possible” something) actually be possible?
Gabriel delivered messages of impossibility (naturally, humanly speaking) that were indeed possible, or better yet, actual. They would, in fact, come to pass.
Both messages had to do with birthing babies: Mary, “who had never known a man”, would indeed become pregnant without knowing a man. And as the New Living Translation introduces the information in verse 36 of Luke 1, “What’s more” (on top of that impossible and astounding news you’ve just heard about pregnancy-without-‘knowing’), “your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age.” Just to sweeten the announcement a bit more, Gabriel continued: “People use to say she was barren…but now she’s in her sixth month.”
Then Gabriel uttered these memorable words: “For nothing is impossible with God.”
Get ready, folks, all across Israel, all across the entire world: these “impossibilities” are turning out to be “possibilities”! The effects will be amazing!
The Christmas story is full of impossibilities that won’t ever be possible coming into reality. Those are things that don’t seem logical, or quite right, or understandable.
Thus the impossibilities becoming possibilities set in motion a whole slew of world-changing scenarios:
It seems impossible that while we were yet sinners, “at just the right time”, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
It seems impossible that we, “who once were far off”, could be “brought near to God” (Ephesians 2:13).
It seems impossible that “the stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:7).
It seems impossible that “when Christ appears, we do know we will be like him, for we shall see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2).
It’s easy to trip over our theological feet and try to figure out every possible angle, and discern every possible matter that God could possibly get involved in, and whether or not He could make possible an endless list of impossibilities. I find that to be a futile exercise.
Instead, as we consider both the big picture and the array of small details of the Christmas story, we need to acknowledge that He has done amazing things. Things which leave us in awe. Things which are not possible for humans to accomplish, orchestrate or organize. We need to rest in that knowledge and rejoice in Him and His rule over all. Most importantly, we will be wise to follow this Jesus who was born in such extraordinary circumstances, and whose life bore out that He was indeed the Son of the Most High God.
For with God nothing is impossible!
“Father, thank you for the birth of Jesus which set in motion a series of circumstances that have forever changed the world. You have turned those things which seemed to be impossibilities into possibilities. Give us the faith to trust you, that you are at work and that you are doing mighty things in the earth! We worship you, our Eternal King!”
Freddy Boswell 