For 40 weeks a baby grows inside his mother’s body, just as Jesus grew inside Mary almost 2,000 years ago. This is a time of preparation and anticipation for the mother as she is showered with gifts from friends and family, decorates the baby’s room, knits booties (or just buys them at Wal-mart now), and selects names for this new little one. Then, labor begins…
A mother’s body endures tremendous pain as none she ever known before…agony and tears, crying for relief…a mother gives all of herself for this labor of love to bring into this world a new life…giving even to the point of death (though with today’s modern medicine we aren’t reminded of this as often as in times not too far gone).
Bursting forth a new baby enters the world. Labor ends and a new life begins. The mother now holds in her arms the infant for whom she has suffered. Face to face they embark on a new relationship as parent and child.
In much the same way, Jesus the Son of God was born in to this world as Mary’s tiny infant son. For thirty years he grew from a child into a young man. For three years he taught and ministered to people’s needs. Then he began his labor of love…
God’s love for mankind – even though separated from Him by our sin – forced Jesus to endure the brutality, pain, and suffering of the cross. Jesus gave himself, even to death, as a sacrifice for us, for our sin, to restore us to fellowship and relationship with God.
Just as Mary held her newborn baby boy, as she nestled him close and looked into his face, she looked into the face of God… Messiah…Emmanuel… Jesus…through whose labor of love we can be born into the family of God and can see the face of God.
* * * * *
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
I Peter 1 : 3 (NKJ)
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