“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…”

Matthew 2:1

Last night, during a church concert, the instrumentalists performed the song; “What Child Is This.” This song just may be my favorite Christmas season song. I closed my eyes and listened to the beautiful music. As I listened, I saw the baby Jesus in my arms and wondered. I wondered what it would have been like to be his mother.

We think of Christ as the man who ministered to us for three years and died on the cross for us. He is the man who is in heaven now interceding on our behalf. To Mary, He was the baby she held in her arms and fed from her bosom. He was the son she raised in her home.

When we see Christ on the cross, we see Him suffering for our sins. As she watched Him suffer, did she see the baby she held in her arms so many years ago? She knew then He was special. Did she know she would watch her baby die such a horrible death?

This season I ponder the significance that God chose to be born of a woman. God chose to leave His glory and be as one of us. He chose as a baby to be dependent on us to care for Him. What must Joseph and Mary have felt and thought to know that their child was the son of God? They were entrusted to care for God’s first born.

His brothers and sisters grew up with Him. He was the perfect son. He was the perfect child. Yet, to them He was just a member of the family. I am sure they could tell He was different, but did they ever fathom how different. Did Mary and Joseph tell His siblings the truth about His birth?

I hear the music and I see the child in my arms. It is with sadness that I look upon Him because I know what awaits Him. While I know many, including myself, will be saved by His gracious sacrifice, He is still the baby I hold in my arms. He is the baby that

“Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Isaiah 53:4

This baby I imagine holding in my arms will die for you and me. He will do it out of love for His Father and for us. This innocent baby was born to bear our guilt.

Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of our Lord. It also is a good time for reflecting on the sacrifice Christ made to be born of a woman. The God of the universe became a baby that we could know Him.

It is also a good time to reflect on the sacrifice the Heavenly Father made to allow His Son to be born of a woman.   The pain I feel for the baby I see in my arms, is only a glimmer of the pain the Father felt when He turned His eyes from His Son on the cross (Mark 15:34). His Son died to Him for a period of time.

I hold the baby and quietly worship.