December kicks off the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the celebration of Christmas. ?
To some of us it is a familiar scene with a baby in a manger, Mary and Joseph looking over the side of the cradle as a light shines above the manger where Jesus is sleeping. There is a bright star in the sky over a well crafted stable or barn. In the manger scene you will see three wise men bowing down with gifts, animals are looking adoringly at the newborn baby boy. Shepherds are in the fields behind the stable and angels are in the sky. In ways, the scene in your mind, or the painting on the wall, or the figurines on the mantle, in quaint familiarity represent the first Christmas. ?
The first Christmas featuring a precious baby, adoring parents, animals surrounding them and a star in the heavens. However, if we take this scene apart just a little, I’m hoping you will see the majesty among the quaint, and the awe among the familiar.
One part of Christmas that really resonates with me is the fact that the King of Kings, The Prince of Peace, Emmanuel was born… Physically born. Unto us a child is born.
I gave birth to my daughter Savannah almost a year ago. From the moment I saw the pregnancy test to the moment I gave birth the experience was both amazing and beautiful as well as stressful and anything but glamorous (morning sickness ?, stretch marks, contractions ?? etc.).
Mary found out she was pregnant and then felt Jesus’s first little kicks halfway through the pregnancy; smiling at the life growing in her womb. She felt the backache and pain as her body stretched and grew. She felt the pain of contractions after she arrived in Bethlehem. She went through labor and delivery. She heard Jesus, Emmanuel’s cry as he entered this world and I’m sure much like women who give birth today, He lay on his mother’s chest as she softly cried in relief and joy that He was born.
Jesus, Mighty God, nursed and needed to be bathed and cleaned and fed. When I think about the humility of the Savior of the world being born through a birth canal it is rather striking to me. He didn’t come down on a cloud, or delivered by angels in a golden cradle. He entered the world being born of a woman who referred to herself as a humble servant. Born just like you and me and placed in his mother’s arms.
My daughter cannot do anything on her own. She needs constant care. She needs me to carry her, rock her, soothe her, feed her. When we think of Jesus we tend to go straight from this scene at the stable to Him as an adult starting his ministry. The thing I love most about Christmas is we take time to reflect on the amazing plan laid out for us in the birth of a helpless baby who would save the world. The birth of a needing infant who would meet all the needs of those who believe in Him. The birth of a small baby who would overcome sin and death. The birth of a baby boy who would grow up and sacrifice his life for those who believe in him. As Mary gave birth to a son that first Christmas, as Jesus the King of Kings, breathed his first breath of air, the world was forever changed.
And in this Christmas story we find salvation-we find hope.
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Merry Christmas,
Kara
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