Day 14: Redeeming Grace

I know a little about what it’s like to give birth in a time of upheaval, and in an unfamiliar place. Our third child was born in Ireland just a few short months after we had moved there to be missionaries. I remember often humming Silent Night, first curled around his brand new, scrunched up form in the recovery ward, and then at home when rocking him to sleep in those next few weeks. The grace of God had sustained me through an international move (while heavily pregnant!), and it had delivered us safely through the birth of a beautiful healthy boy. Somehow, I couldn’t help thinking about Mary and her journey, and the sweet baby boy she delivered so long ago. Her safely delivered baby must have represented the ultimate grace from God to her: grace that redeems.

There are times when we should consider the horrific slaughtering of the Bethlehem babies under Herod’s regime, the hasty escape to Egypt, and all the worldly opposition that followed Jesus throughout his life on earth, to his very death. This was the reality that he was born into. But he was born to profoundly change reality, and to redeem many of the very people who opposed him and participated in his death. On that silent, holy night so long ago, we were given the advent of an everlasting peace between a King and his people. In love, he came to us – redeeming grace in the form of a tiny human. And it was glorious.

Scriptures to consider:
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Matthew 2:16

And [Simeon] took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:28-35

Hymn to enjoy:
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Lyrics by Joseph Mohr (1816); music by Franz Xaver Gruber (1818)

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