We have decided to be “closed” to in-person gatherings until January 17, 2021. It’s hard being apart, especially this time of year. So, I am providing daily devotions from “In the Stable” which reminds us that the Holy Couple also had to deal with a closure, of the the Inn which forced them to an alternate place.
Today’s devotional is about the birth of my firstborn, Cole. In the delivery room Kim was doing all the work of course and I was standing by sort of amazed at the whole thing a little scared. Also, the anticipation was very high. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl. When “Cole” first appeared from my perspective I could only see the back of his head. But in the moment I didn’t realize that. I thought he was born without a face, no eyes, nose or mouth. I can remember being shocked but also stalwart. “Okay God, I don’t understand this, but I’ll be the best dad I can be.”
Then, Cole turned his head, with the help of the Doctor, to the side! And there it was: a nose! A mouth! And both eyes.
A little later in the day I did a complete inventory: 10 fingers and toes. Check. Looked him over from top to bottom. From a laymen’s perspective, perfect.
Baby Jesus, being held that first Christmas night by his mother I’m certain came under similar scrutiny. I can imagine Joseph giving him the once-over, twice-over, and triple-checked. PERFECT! Little did Joseph know just how perfect this little one was.
Fully human, all boy. And fully God, incarnate. Matthew 1:23, “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, ‘God is with us.’). Later his cousin, John the Baptist would say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) None of my cousins are perfect, but John’s cousin was! This is why Jesus could ‘take away the sins of the world’.
Christmas reminds us that Perfect was born because we’re not even close to perfect.
Prayer: “Dear God, though we try and poke at it, we aren’t perfect, far from it. But, the Christ-child was. We claim for ourselves through faith the forgiveness He brings. We receive Him anew this Christmas. All his fingers and toes, his heart, his desires, his everything … we receive the fullness of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.”