
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Hiim Immanuel” [God with us]
It all started in the mind of God. Earth – that perfect home for mankind. Man – made in the image of God, a miracle of creation! That human body complete with senses, alert to sights and sounds around him – the perfect man! And woman. Both made in God’s image, these two took up residence in a place God prepared for them which was absolutely perfect!.
Then there was the promise of a Virgin’s womb. Why? What? How? When? A multitude of questions!
Planned in the heart of God, there became a family of little children. Mary and Joseph had sons and daughters (Mark 6:3). But! Their first child was a miracle, different from all the rest. Jesus wasn’t just human, but He was Divine, perfect, sinless. Before Mary and Joseph came together she conceived that which was of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20).
Try to imagine what it was like for the Son of God to become a baby. Philippians 2 tells us “He humbled Himself and took on the form of a man (2:6-8). That part we might understand if indeed He had appeared as a man, but the Christ-child is much more difficult to fathom, isn’t it? Becoming part of a family! Planned thousands of years before in the mind of God.
Then there was the ancient temple, where devoted Jews went to meet with God. Prepared in advance, Jesus recognized this place as His Father’s House and defended it in a shocking display of anger when He cleared the money changers out because ”It is a House of prayer” (Matthew 21:13).
Later they killed Him. And there was a place prepared for His body, in accordance with an ancient prophecy (Matthew 27:57-60) A dark place. A quiet place where a miracle happened. His human body was transformed! Jesus, the Christ lives. He lives on in places prepared. When folks receive His sacrifice for their sins with joy, He comes to live in their hearts! (Ephesians 3:17)
Armageddon – the place of final battle. The Prince of Peace….we sing about Him at Christmas time, but this is when that great peace will finally be accomplished. And we will live forever with the Lord in heaven because Jesus promised “I go to prepare a place for you….!” (John 14:1)
Reflection:
At Christmas time let us worship the baby who took His place in the plan of the Father. We who question so much of what we see God doing in our world, and in our lives, need to pause to reflect on the Holy One we say we follow. Have we committed our lives to receive what God has mapped out for us? Is there a womb experience, or a tomb that we must go through? What joy and peace may lie on the other side?







