Unto you…

The Baby was born! It was their first. A special gift from God to them. There was no Facebook or Instagram or postal service to send out the announcement. People would find out in time.

And in one specific case, the angels would help. But why to those shepherds? And why to them first? Some have said that because of their social status, they would have been the most comfortable to be guests in the unseemly location of the birth. Others say that an angelic revelation to such “outcasts” demonstrated that the Gift was for all people, without exception. Still others have said that it was more about the fact that these men were actually shepherding the temple flock meant for sacrifice, an intentional foreshadowing of the destiny of the Child.

But this Christmas season, I’ve been most taken by the wording of the announcement by the angel. He started with, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” I imagine the angel could have said just about anything after that introduction, and they would have received it with great joy and told the news over and over until their dying days. They had been visited by angels!!!

However, it was more than just the appearance of angels. It was the breathtaking announcement that the Christ had been born… and right there in their own neighborhood! How could they even begin to take that in? It was the One they had waited for their whole lives.

But there are still two more words that caught my eye today, that make this announcement even more incredible… unto you. How is that even possible? A donation could be made unto you. A memorial could be erected unto you. But everyone knows that a baby is born unto its parents. The shepherds were hearing… from an angel… that the Christ… was born unto them.

So of course they went with haste to meet the Child! That Child was born unto them!

And He was born unto you, too.

He’s born unto you, my family members still waiting after 18 months for your missing son to return.

He’s born unto you, my colleague grieving the violation of your young daughter.

He’s born unto you, my friend watching your parent’s marriage fall apart.

He’s born unto you, my young friend standing by your husband struggling for years with undiagnosed and debilitating illness.

He’s born unto you, my disillusioned friend walking away from the Child you have loved and served for so long.

He’s born unto you, my friend looking for belonging in your home country for the first time in a decade.

He’s born unto you, my friends looking for answers and healing for your sweet baby’s rare disease.

He’s born unto you, one with aspirations for university but family who will never agree to the surgery to fix your crippled feet.

He’s born unto you, my friend believing your role is too much for your capabilities.

And for you learning to live without your spouse, who died too young.

And for you who has no money left for the needs of tomorrow.

And for you getting ready to embark into a calling alone in one of the remotest places on earth.

And for you who desperately need direction.

And for you…

And you.

He is for all of you, my dear friends and family. He’s for all of your stories and grief and burdens too deep to share. And He is for mine.

Go see Him this year.

He was born unto you.

And I believe with all my heart, that if we really go see Him and sit with Him for a while… even if we have to go find Him in a foul-smelling and undesirable place… we’ll find that He’ll be everything we need.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

 

 

~ by jen4him on December 2, 2017.