A Reflection of Hope

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”- Luke2:16-19 (NIV)

It is Christmas Eve. Today, we prepare for the night hope came to earth. The night peace was found in chaos. The night grace was found in the face of a baby.

After 400 years of hearing nothing from God; He came with the loud message to His people. He sent His Son to earth in the form of a baby to reveal His plan of redemption. He came forth to unveil a design of reconciliation and hope with His creation.

It was no mistake that a child was born into chaos. The King of all Kings was born into a messy situation, placed into a trough, and praised by lowly shepherds in order to bring life to all.

The shepherds were tending to their sheep. They were living out of the town doing a thankless job. A group of people who were not respected or expected to be worth anything, yet God chose them to meet their Savior right after His birth. They were the first group of people given the honor to bow before the true King. They found hope in a trough.

This was and continues to be a reflection of hope for all.

Mary and Joseph were informed they would be giving birth to the Messiah. They were told that their child would be given by God to save the world. They had to sit and trust those words would be true.

As they gazed upon the face of their child and held their baby boy in their arms, I can only imagine what their thoughts were. I wonder if they asked “How” or “When”? I wonder if they sat in their manger, recognizing their hard position, and asked “Why would we be chosen?”

Then, I wonder if, as they looked into the eyes of the Son of God, they felt the calm? If they felt confirmation in their spirit by the Spirit that hope was in their arms? They were holding grace in their arms and experiencing firsthand the loving nature of God.

We know the end result of their child’s life and the life His death brought. Yet, today, we rest in the hope His birth revealed.

God’s purpose for His creation is found in an infant. The reflection of God found in the Christ child. The reflection of hope for all who are willing to come, look into His eyes, and bow down before Him; He who was born to bridge the gap between the perfect Creator and His broken creation.

It truly was and is a Merry Christmas.

QUESTION: What is your best Christmas memory?