"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
What child is this who laid to rest... I've sang these words during the Christmas season since my childhood and not until this year have they taken on new meaning and revelation to me. We ask the question in this song of who this child is and because its a Christmas carol we know the answer is Christ the King, or do we? Some only refer to him as the Christ child. Some may refer to him as just another Jewish boy born to a woman and man. There still may be others that simply feel he is a character in a book that tells stories and means nothing. I know this child to mean the gift that was given to all, the gift of love and a gift of sacrifice, a gift that was full of grace and truth.
The question isn't just what child is this, but the question goes deeper. What child is this who laid to rest. This year I am thinking about the last few words of this question. When we talk today of one who has been laid to rest, it normally isn't about a newborn living, its about one who has died. This child that was born into flesh came only to teach us to love and die so that others may live. God gave us the greatest of gifts in a way that many can accept... through the innocence of a child. I'm sure in the early days Jesus was treated as any other infant son. He was nurtured, looked after, taught the basics just as many parents do but can you imagine being the mother of the savior of the world? That's a pretty big responsibility. As parents we aren't to treat one child better than the other, but come on... this was JESUS! Can you imagine being the sibling of Jesus? I could just hear it, "Heather, come on, why can't you be more like your brother Jesus? Why can't you walk on water?" I joke a little at that, but I can't imagine as a mother how Mary felt. I know with my own son I felt so inadequate at times in being his mother. Can you imagine how she must have felt? How many times she perhaps questioned how she was to raise the son of God? Can you imagine the incredible love that was between them? He wasn't just her little boy, he was her savior, her king. Jesus was the word that became flesh through her womb. I can't imagine this mother who bore this beautiful son, who fed him and cradled him and ran her fingers through his hair knowing that he was going to have to do more than she could ever begin to imagine to save a dark and sinful world. Her son was going to have to be the sacrifice needed, the lamb to be slaughtered so that others could live. I wonder if she knew while she held her newborn son that she would have to lay him to rest? I wonder if she ever asked God for him to choose someone else, not to take her son, not to make him the sacrifice? As a mother who laid to rest her own son, I can't tell you the pain that Mary had to feel knowing that her son was not only to die, but he was to suffer.
We all have a mission, a purpose to fulfill. No, nothing quite like Jesus had, but we have a mission none the less. As each of us is born, one could ask What child is this? What will your story be? Did you step out in faith and do as God the father has asked of you? What will be said when it is your time to be laid to rest? You may not have walked on water, but I pray that at some point you met the man who did and accepted him as your savior, as Christ your king.
Under His Wings,
Heather
