the beauty of redemption in the nativity story

[truly, this post is nothing more than reflections on spurgeon's christmas morning devotional, which i have either not read in the three years of owning the book, or which i simply did not see in years past the way i saw it this year.
regardless, i was astounded and filled with gratitude.]

the thought uses only two sentences on the page, but it struck me more than all the rest:

"The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman,"
not the offspring of the man.  Since venturous woman led the way
in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, 

she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise."
-charles spurgeon

baby Jesus would grow up to become our Redeemer, but the very prelude to his birth had already begun redemption's work.
here is woman, here is man, invited once again into the co-creation of life on earth, and the endless life abandoned in the garden. 

in the beginning God created man and woman, in his image, to be his co-creators, givers and cultivators of life on earth. a beautiful relationship, and a single act destroyed it.

the first woman had ushered sin into the world by her quiet disobedience, 

while the first man stood by complicit. 

the perfection of God's created world shattered.

spurgeon's quote regarding the seed of woman is, i assume, referencing Genesis 3:15 --very shortly after the first fall, the first act of rebellion, this is the first whisper of redemption.

because of the sovereign choice of God leading to the birth of Christ,

a woman now ushered salvation in to the world by her quiet obedience,

while man stood bravely and honourably beside her.

redemption in the very fabric, the very threads, of the grand story.
the great tapestry of the nativity.

being fully aware that man and woman are prone to fall,

God graciously allowed woman another chance to choose well, 

allowed man another chance to choose courage.

was this his plan from the very beginning? 

God, ever gracious; Christ, ever humble. 

to invite us back into the story, over and over again, though we'd fallen so far,

he calls us back and offers us one more chance (always another) to choose him.

He has always been merciful. 

may we as women continue to courageously choose faith in His word, obedience.

may we declare in the face of all who lie to us--that God is holding out on us, that things would be better if we'd just take control--"the Mighty one has done great things for me; and holy is His name." (Luke 1:49)

may the Lord's men continue to stand strong, unswayed by popular opinion and current culture, obedient.

in the face of fear and circumstance, may they rise and do as the Lord has commanded. (Matt. 1:24)

neither seeking self-glorification, neither walking in fear of man. 

with eyes and hearts set on the Lord;

attentive enough to listen, quiet enough to hear.

this is not the image of a weak and subservient woman, 

this is the image of a strong, faith-filled, courageous, attentive, obedient, scripture-filled, and humble woman. a woman who said yes when there was no guarantee of anyone to stand beside her.

she chose obedience knowing it could lead to isolation, rejection, and even death; she accepted motherhood without the promise of a husband to parent alongside, to raise the son of God.

nor is this the image of a weak or subservient man.

this is a gracious, compassionate, just, merciful, righteous, attentive, obedient, faith-filled, honouring, humble, bold, and courageous man. a man who gave up his pride and reputation for the glory of God.

he stood beside an obedient but vulnerable woman with bold courage and protected her; he provided for her as she carried and delivered a child, he tenderly raised a son he hadn't fathered, teaching him skill and character.

may we emulate the mother and father of Jesus, who, despite their own weakness, ushered life and redemption into the world--or rather, the Lord ushered it in, and they humbly and courageously nurtured and stewarded it.

amen.

Suggested Reading and Viewing:

-Genesis 2 and 3: creation and fall of man

-Luke 1: Mary's story

-Matthew 1: Joseph's story
-The Nativity Story (2006): this movie has
given me a deep appreciation for the sacrifice
and courage of Mary and Joseph