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Mother Mary
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7
The months had gone by, some fleeting and others dragging, I can imagine, and now the day has come, of all the duties she’d be given so far, today she was Mother Mary. I feel as if I could just stop right here with this thought: That moment she held her baby for the first time.
Mary was still a virgin. The awe that strikes me when a tiny human is born of any woman strikes me every single time, but for Mary it had to be so much more. She held the Son of God in her arms the very second she held her firstborn baby. How did this mix of deity and flesh meet her heart? How, I wonder, did this young, new mother contain all these things in her heart? So much wonderment with this verse.
Dr. Luke
By the Holy Spirit’s words, Dr. Luke pens Mary’s birth experience:
And she brought forth her firstborn son.
Luke 2:7
All the fascinating details we’ve read about leading up to this climatic event, and we get these eight words spoken as a true doctor. The baby is here; all’s well.
Mothering; it’s what moms do
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
Luke 2:7
When my firstborn son was being born, I’d been in labor for quite some time. My mom lived a couple hours away and we’d called her but told her to wait until the baby was here to come. I don’t know why, but I thought I was stronger without her there to support me-and that is a compliment to who she was. Her strength filled the gaps of my weakness and even made it easier to be weak because I knew she’d make it all ok. So, strange as it may sound, I feared this was not the time for me to transfer my strength to her and become weaker. You can imagine my surprise (though I shouldn’t have been) when my husband looked out our big hospital window and said, “Honey, I don’t know how to tell you this, but your mom is walking across the parking lot and there’s no stopping her now.”
Mom was there doing what Moms do, taking care of her baby.
Mary was alone, her family left behind in Nazareth, and just she and Joseph in this cave having a baby. Brand new, slippery, squishy, and tender, Mary began doing what moms do and was taking care of her baby. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth wrapped around the baby. In the past decade or two especially, the perks of swaddling have been gladly revisited; we even have special swaddling blankets for doing so. But Mary alone ripped cloth and swaddled her baby.
No Room
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7
Away in a manger, no room for a crib, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. There they were, in a cave, on the ground, given no place otherwise to bring this baby, the King of Kings, into the world. What we’ve learned of Mary, would we rightfully come to the conclusion she’d look for or expect any sort of pomp and circumstance or glitz and glamour? Not saying the inns were that, but compared to a place where the animals ate, slept and went potty…you know? Mary lay her newborn baby in an animal’s feeding trough. Yet, I think this humble virgin wasn’t complaining about her circumstances. And, it was a picture of what would be Jesus’ life…and death.
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:58
Silent Night
One year while teaching VBS the sweet face of a five year old boy looked up at me and asked, “How could a baby be a king?”
Jesus in the flesh, born of a virgin, King at His birth. We sing this at Christmas time, but I love to sing it year round, because it’s worth hearing every day.
Christ the Savior is born!Silent night, holy night
Silent Night
Son of God, oh, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Room at the Cross
At His birth, no room. In His life, no room. At His death… room at the cross.
“That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place where there was room for him was on a cross.” (Barclay)
Barclay
There is still room at the cross for you. And me. Come to the cross for redemption of sin. Come to the cross for grace and forgiveness. Come to the cross, there’s still room.
There’s Room At the Cross for You
The cross upon which Jesus died
Video by Gaithers
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there’s still room for one
Yes there’s room at the cross for you.Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it’s too late.The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.
