God Came for You

     He tends his flock like a shepherd:
          He Gathers the lambs in his arms
     and carries them close to his heart;
          he gently leads those that have young.
                                                           (Isaiah 40:11)

For many of us, setting out a Nativity scene is an integral part of Christmas decorating. As we take the pieces of the manger scene out of the box, we begin to set the stage as we’ve imagined it: Jesus in the manger, front and center, surrounded by Mary and Joseph; some farm animals and a few shepherds sprinkled around; perhaps an angel and a star hanging above them all.

The beautiful Nativity scenes in our homes and churches are meant to inspire us during the Advent season, but, in fact, there was nothing romantic about Jesus’ birth. It was not picturesque or serene. It likely was not a “silent night” after all. Not only was the birth of their child inconvenient for Mary and Joseph, who were far from home and could not find a proper room; it also must have been somewhat traumatic. Young Mary, barely a teenager, faced childbirth without the women of her family by her side. There was no one to say, “You can do this! That is totally normal. You’re going to be okay. It will all be over soon.” And how did Joseph feel to be the only one at Mary’s side? Surely this was not what he had anticipated either. Did they wonder why God had allowed them to face this all alone? Did they doubt God’s plan for them?

When we read the Bible, we get the whole picture–we know the ending of the story. We discover that God was putting countless details into place for the greatest rescue mission of all time. We see that God was coming for the world in the way that only God could. But what if in the midst of this world-changing event God was doing something else–something smaller yet not at all significant?

At the same time that God was revolutionizing the world, what if God also was working a miracle in the relationship of Mary and Joseph, binding them together as husband and wife? Think about it. Mary and Joseph were given the gift of being the earthly parents of Jesus, God’s son. They are the only two people of all time ever to have this distinction. The only ones. When we consider this enormous and precious task, it’s easy to imagine that they must have struggled at some point. Who could understand what they were going through and what they were experiencing? Who could advise and counsel them about what was to come? No one. They needed each other. So there, in the midst of Jesus’ miraculous, earth-shattering birth, God was bringing Mary and Joseph together in a powerful way. Imagine the understanding and solidarity they must have shared in that moment as they held the newborn Jesus close.

While giving them the most important job in the world, God also was tenderly caring for their relationship. Picture Mary and Joseph standing over Jesus as he slept in the manger–tired parents taking in every second of the rising and falling of his tiny chest, wondering at his impossibly small fingers and toes, being enchanted by each coo and smile. Look at what God has done, they must have thought. God sent him just for us.Yes, God sent Jesus to save the entire world, but God also sent him just for Mary, just for Joseph. God came for all, but God came just for you too.

Prayer Focus
In Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT), Jesus says, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” Consider today that God moved heaven and earth to send Jesus to save the world–and God also did it just for you.