Birth Announcement

I remember the day Bekah was born. After checking to see that Andrea was OK, I went over to the table where they were cleaning up Bekah – you know changing her from that weird green color to a more human hue. I stuck my little finger out and she wrapped her precious little hand around my finger and my heart has been wrapped around her finger ever since.

Babies are born with so much promise. We look at them and wonder what they will be when they “grow up” and we even attempt to map out a course of greatness for them – maybe a successful business person, talented musician, famous athlete, or noted civic leader. When children are born, we are hopeful for the best, and we always picture the brightest future for them. Have you ever seen a parent look longingly into a newborn’s eyes and say, “Oh look, there’s my precious little failure.” Of course not.

Jesus was born with great fanfare. An angel had already appeared to Joseph and Mary to let them know that the child Mary would soon conceive would eventually be the Savior of the world – the long awaited “Anointed One.” A chorus of angels announced his birth to a group of shepherds, and they, too, called him the Savior. And Mary and Joseph were faithful to prepare him for that mission. After all, we read about him at twelve years old so involved in religious discussion in the temple that he even astounded the adults with his insight and knowledge.

Fast forward thirty-three years from the stable in Bethlehem to a mountain outside of Jerusalem. A mother watched in horror as her son, the one she was told would be the Savior, was cruelly, needlessly, and unjustly put to a shameful public death. What about the promised plan? Could God have been wrong? Maybe Mary misunderstood; maybe she dreamed the angels’ announcement. How could a baby with so much promise meet such demise? How could a life that started with such fanfare end with such dishonor?

Had Mary known on Friday what would happen on Sunday, she would have felt differently. But, she couldn’t know; she was limited by human perspective. But on Easter Sunday, the disgrace of the crucifixion gave way to the victory of the resurrection and the promise that accompanied Jesus’ birth was realized. Those promises the angels made came true. He is indeed the Savior.

The story of Christmas is another reminder that from our human perspective we will fear, we will doubt, we will hurt, but from heaven’s perspective God is in control. Though we feel fear, we need not give in to it. Though we experience anxiety, we can keep going in spite of it. Listen to those angels, they know what they are talking about.

Do not be afraid . . . Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace . . . – Luke 2:10, 14