Miracle Child
'Tis the Christmas season, a most busy time of the year—an exciting time of the year. It's also when we celebrate the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I think there is something miraculous about every birth: to hold a newborn in your arms and to realize that incredibly formed creature began from a microscopic egg and seed; to try to imagine that wondrous infant curled up inside mother's womb; to feel those tiny fingers curled around your own.
Yet the birth of Jesus Christ was a far greater miracle. Just imagine God Himself hiding in a woman's womb, developing and moving and then being born. Imagine the creator of language crying to let His mother know He was hungry or uncomfortable. Imagine He who breathed life into the first man wearing diapers, learning to talk, learning to walk.
I remember holding my own infant son in my arms, born 35 years ago today, in the midst of the Christmas season. Gazing down at his tiny features with adoration, I wondered how it must have felt to be Mary, holding baby Jesus in her arms, gazing in adoration at her tiny son. I'm sure she must have pondered this miracle Child, this infant who was God, yet fully human, a miracle because He was born of a woman but without the seed of man. Yet surely she was already suffering a certain amount of disgrace for being with child before marrying Joseph!
But God provided encouragement for her along the way. First she visited her relative Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist—the babe who leaped in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's visit. What a thrill that must have been! In fact, she was so greatly moved that she sang a song of praise recorded in Luke 1:46-55.
Surely both Mary and Joseph were discouraged when seeking shelter the night Jesus was born. They must have wondered why God did not just open the doors for them, for His Son. Perhaps they even experienced some doubt about what God was doing.
Once again, however, God reenforced the message of just who this child was when angels appeared to the shepherds on the hillside—shepherds who hurried to the stable to worship Jesus. I'm sure there was silence as they stood in awe around the manger. Then I imagine words spilled from their mouths as they told the new parents of the angels' appearance, of the song of praise sung by that heavenly choir.
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). I'm sure she must have pondered them again and again throughout Jesus' life.
And then there was Simeon, who providentially encountered Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus in the Temple. Imagine how they must have felt when he held Jesus and said, "...for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to our people Israel." Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph marveled at what was said about Him, surely wondering what it all meant.
During the same visit, Anna the prophetess gave "thanks to God and [spoke] of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." Yes, Mary and Joseph knew this Infant was special, that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. But they surely had no idea of all that would entail.
And if all that was not enough, the little family was soon visited by wise men from the East who called Him the king of the Jews, whose star they had followed. These men of a social status far different from that of Mary and Joseph brought treasures and worshiped the young Child before going on their way.
Then came the angel's warning to take Jesus and flee to Egypt. Another angelic visit! The gifts from the wise men must have helped provide for them on their journey. God was taking care of them.
These were the parents God provided for His own Son, yet I'm sure they were bewildered by the way things transpired before and after His birth. God took care of them, protected them, and guided them, but surely not the way they would have expected. They saw their Child worshiped by lowly shepherds and wealthy wise men. They spoke with angels. Yet life was not easy for them.
So, I wonder, why do we expect life should be easy for us just because we are God's adopted children?
I think there is something miraculous about every birth: to hold a newborn in your arms and to realize that incredibly formed creature began from a microscopic egg and seed; to try to imagine that wondrous infant curled up inside mother's womb; to feel those tiny fingers curled around your own.
Yet the birth of Jesus Christ was a far greater miracle. Just imagine God Himself hiding in a woman's womb, developing and moving and then being born. Imagine the creator of language crying to let His mother know He was hungry or uncomfortable. Imagine He who breathed life into the first man wearing diapers, learning to talk, learning to walk.
I remember holding my own infant son in my arms, born 35 years ago today, in the midst of the Christmas season. Gazing down at his tiny features with adoration, I wondered how it must have felt to be Mary, holding baby Jesus in her arms, gazing in adoration at her tiny son. I'm sure she must have pondered this miracle Child, this infant who was God, yet fully human, a miracle because He was born of a woman but without the seed of man. Yet surely she was already suffering a certain amount of disgrace for being with child before marrying Joseph!
But God provided encouragement for her along the way. First she visited her relative Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist—the babe who leaped in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's visit. What a thrill that must have been! In fact, she was so greatly moved that she sang a song of praise recorded in Luke 1:46-55.
Surely both Mary and Joseph were discouraged when seeking shelter the night Jesus was born. They must have wondered why God did not just open the doors for them, for His Son. Perhaps they even experienced some doubt about what God was doing.
Once again, however, God reenforced the message of just who this child was when angels appeared to the shepherds on the hillside—shepherds who hurried to the stable to worship Jesus. I'm sure there was silence as they stood in awe around the manger. Then I imagine words spilled from their mouths as they told the new parents of the angels' appearance, of the song of praise sung by that heavenly choir.
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). I'm sure she must have pondered them again and again throughout Jesus' life.
And then there was Simeon, who providentially encountered Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus in the Temple. Imagine how they must have felt when he held Jesus and said, "...for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to our people Israel." Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph marveled at what was said about Him, surely wondering what it all meant.
During the same visit, Anna the prophetess gave "thanks to God and [spoke] of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." Yes, Mary and Joseph knew this Infant was special, that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. But they surely had no idea of all that would entail.
And if all that was not enough, the little family was soon visited by wise men from the East who called Him the king of the Jews, whose star they had followed. These men of a social status far different from that of Mary and Joseph brought treasures and worshiped the young Child before going on their way.
Then came the angel's warning to take Jesus and flee to Egypt. Another angelic visit! The gifts from the wise men must have helped provide for them on their journey. God was taking care of them.
These were the parents God provided for His own Son, yet I'm sure they were bewildered by the way things transpired before and after His birth. God took care of them, protected them, and guided them, but surely not the way they would have expected. They saw their Child worshiped by lowly shepherds and wealthy wise men. They spoke with angels. Yet life was not easy for them.
So, I wonder, why do we expect life should be easy for us just because we are God's adopted children?
But when the fullness of time had come,
God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:5, ESV
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