On Christmas Eve, churches all over the world will reenact the events surrounding Christ’s birth. Some will cast it in the form of a play. Others will put on costumes and display them in a living diorama. Still others will join their voices and tell the story in song.

Matthew recounts the events of this momentous day as a narrative that begins with Mary at the very center. In a curious turn of phrase, he says she “was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (v. 18). Matthew is careful to clarify the miraculous timing of this conception. It was after Mary had already been pledged to be married to Joseph but before the two consummated their union. Matthew provides additional evidence that Mary’s pregnancy did not come about by normal means when he describes Joseph’s reluctant plan to divorce Mary quietly. The angel’s reassurance that this conception was “from the Holy Spirit” proves that God was the child’s actual father (v. 20).

Matthew portrays Mary and Joseph as passive actors. They do take action, but only after God acts first. Clearly, neither of them initially expected to be a part of this drama. They did not try to make these events come to pass. Instead, they found themselves caught up in a redemptive drama that had its roots in the beginning of time (compare with Gen. 3:15). The fact that Mary “was found to be pregnant” also fulfilled the ancient promise made through the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 7:14).

We do not know the exact month and day when these things happened. Although biblical scholars are divided on this point, Matthew’s account makes it clear this was not a myth or fairy tale. All this happened to people who really existed and did not anticipate playing the roles God assigned to them. God’s Son came into the world by special delivery!

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