When Grace Came The First Christmas

He took His first breath. The first breath of grace.

Wrapped in swaddling cloths, though adorned with royal titles.

• Wonderful.
• Counselor.
• Prince of Peace.
• Holy King.
• Immanuel (God with us).
• The Ancient of Days.

First Christmas With Grace

The Lamb of God who created the very star placed in the heavens to announce His arrival. He’s the light of the world.

I held Him in my arms. Overjoyed with my child, my baby, my boy.

Barely minutes old and seemingly fragile. But this baby embodied the fullness of the Godhead. He later demonstrated this power when He cast out evil spirits and raised the dead to life again!

I studied every feature like all mothers when handed a newborn. Gazing intently at Him, the goodness and greatness of God spilled out.

Looking in His eyes, they later looked into the hearts of men. I watched His mouth when He yawned or cried. What wonderful, powerful, life-giving words were spoken from His mouth…commanding even the winds and waves to obey Him.

Placing my hand on His chest to sense a strong heartbeat. The day came when His heart—broken and betrayed by many—offered forgiveness to all.

I held His hands and little fingers. The same hands gently caressed those who needed comfort and healing. Touched eyes restoring sight. His hands stretched out to give life and love, pierced by nails.

I examined His feet (yes, five toes on each one). I felt them kicking inside me. These feet  carried Him to speak to the masses, walked on water, were washed by perfume, and pierced with nails.

Embracing Him as a mother tenderly draws her child close, snuggling Him near to my chest. Yet, His embrace offers us more warmth and security than any earthly mother could ever bestow.

How ironic I nursed Him to sustain His physical life, but He is the bread of life!

When Grace Came 

I delighted in watching Him grow from childhood to an adult. There was no one like Jesus; His smile, voice, presence, and spirit. Possessing great compassion, humility, love and tenderness.

It wasn’t always easy being His mother. I didn’t fully understand His life. A mother who longed to grasp her son’s love and mission. But it remained out of my emotional reach.

I found myself at the foot of the cross sobbing. “Why, son?”

. . . though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11 ESV

Grace came as a baby in Bethlehem. Grace grew into a man who spoke about God’s Kingdom and performed miracles. And Grace died on Calvary’s cross, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

Grace has a name. It’s Jesus. Merry CHRISTmas!

*We only speculate about Mary’s thoughts. But perhaps it was something like this.

*Featured Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash.