Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
IS BORN
Birth. There's an experience that we have all had -- but none of us can remember. Just as well, though, for it must have been frightening and painful. It is certainly messy. At least when Jesus was born, so far as I know, it was not common practice to hold the child upside down and welcome it into this world with a good whack on the rear. I know, I know -- there is a good medical reason for doing this. Besides, the discomfort of one healthy smack hardly compares to the pain of circumcision -- and that we know was administered to the baby Jesus on the eighth day after He was born.
All of this reminds us that when the Son of God took His place with us, He didn't take any shortcuts to avoid the pain and suffering that is common to the human experience. And this was true His whole life through -- right up until He called out for a drink as He died by crucifixion.
But must we speak of Christ's death even as we celebrate His birth? YES. Not only do we mark the birth of any famous person because we remember what they did later in life, but in the case of Jesus His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate purpose of His being born. Without the cross, the cradle of the Christ is neither cause for celebration or for worship. But "when the time was right, God sent his Son, born of a woman."
Oh, may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross,
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 84:5-6)
