Christmas is filled with expectations.

During this time of the year we expect to be surrounded by the smells, sounds, and sights of the season. Of course, there’s variety regarding these Christmas features. There are, however, a few staples most would expect:

• The scent of pine needles, hot apple cider, and freshly baked gingerbread cookies…
• Christmas music sung or played in church, at the local mall, or by caroling neighbors…
• Bright lights, glittering tinsel, “stockings hung by the chimney with care,” and presents under the tree…

Seeing the expressions on my children’s faces as they unwrap their presents is what I enjoy seeing. But I especially love reading the story of Jesus’ birth to my children and, then, unwrapping it with them.

Unwrapping the account of the birth of Christ is a joyful and fascinating thing to do. Matthew tells us in chapter 1 that Mary is pregnant. She’s an unwed virgin who is supernaturally with child. Mary’s carrying a baby boy, a son, within her womb. But He’s not just any baby boy, and not just anybody’s son. This baby boy, this son, is different.

This baby was there 'In the beginning… (Genesis 1).' This baby created all things and holds all of things together (John 1; Colossians 1). This baby is God in flesh (John 1:14) and 'God with us, Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).' This baby makes stars move, angels sing, and kings kneel.

As Christians, we believe what Matthew is telling us is true: that this baby boy was developing and forming and growing within Mary’s womb. In Matthew 1, Mary is expecting to give birth to a boy who is the one and only Son of God.

And when we more fully unwrap Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, we can see Mary’s not the only one expecting. God is expecting as well (obviously not in the same sense as Mary). Mary is expecting to deliver. She’s anticipating giving birth. In a different sense, though, God is expecting.

God is expecting Mary to raise, nurture, protect, and mother the Son of God. God is expecting Joseph to do the right, honorable thing and protect Mary’s character and reputation. God is expecting the Angel of the Lord to deliver a clear, concise message to Joseph through a dream, while conveying peace and confidence to him in the process. God is expecting Joseph, then, to embrace the truth of this angelic message and the Truth growing within Mary. God is also expecting Joseph to follow His directions and name this baby boy, Jesus. God’s expecting people like Matthew to recognize that the birth of Jesus fulfills the divine prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which means, God is expecting Matthew to record all Jesus spoke and did to demonstrate the reality that Jesus really is, “Immanuel, God with us!” And God is expecting Jesus to “save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).”

So, Mary’s not the only one expecting in this account. God is expecting too. God is expectant. And the more we explore the bible and unwrap the divine accounts and messages within it, the more we will discover that God has always been expectant.

In the Old Testament, God told:

• Adam not to eat from the tree of life…
• Noah to build an ark to save his family…
• Abraham to leave his land for the blessings and promises of another…
• Jacob to stay in Bethel and worship there…
• Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go!”...
• Joshua to March around Jericho for seven days…
• David to kill Goliath and defeat the Philistines…
• Isaiah to deliver messages to kings…
• Kings to follow His laws…
• And Israel to worship Him alone…

And when God told Adam to refrain, Noah to build, Abraham to go, Jacob to stay, Moses to tell, Joshua to march, Isaiah to deliver, kings to submit and His people to put God first in everything they did, God expected them all to… obey. God expected obedience.

And what gives God the right to expect obedience from anyone, at any time?

The answer is simple: God is sovereign.

The sovereignty of God stands at the very center of the Old Testament, and nothing changes when we look to the New Testament. God is still sovereign, still giving commands, and still expecting obedience. The difference is this: in the New Testament, the One issuing those commands and calling for our obedience is the Son of God. The Expectant One is Jesus Christ, the newborn King we sing about at Christmas.

Jesus is expecting us (those who love him), as he says in John 14:15, to keep His commandments… and there are many. If you want a refresher course on His many expectations, turn to the Gospels. If you’d like Jesus’ top two, flip to Matthew 22:37-39:

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

So, how do we do this? How do we love God with all we are and love others as ourselves?

Now, that’s a question worth unwrapping. It’s also a question we should expect to ask ourselves throughout the year, not just at Christmas.