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A Visit From God

Writer's picture: CreekSparrowCreekSparrow

When I think of the Christmas story, I often skip right to Jesus’ birth—the shepherds, the angels, the Baby in a manger. But this year I found myself focusing more on the events preceding His coming. I looked again at the words and songs of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary after Gabriel’s message announcing the births of John and Jesus.


Zechariah’s prophecy, known as the Benedictus, is spoken when Baby John is only 8 days old, but Zechariah's words are already being fulfilled for God the Son even then grows within Mary’s womb, the promise of the ages waiting to be fulfilled in six short months.


Zechariah begins with this sentence: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people…” (Luke 1:67). How amazing that God has come to “redeem” to “buy back” His people from the slavery of sin under which they have toiled all their lives. But to do this, He must first visit them. And that is exactly what Jesus does. Jesus is born with His people, He grows up with them, walks with them, heals and teaches them, and ultimately dies for them. And in that dying, He redeems them.


When I was little I used to wonder why Jesus didn’t just get born in a royal palace instead of living in poverty all His life. But as I grew older I realized that God visiting His people included Jesus experiencing all of the hardships and pain that we do. He didn’t keep Himself secluded in a castle. No, He walked in the midst of our pain. He knew what it was to be hungry, to be exhausted enough to sleep through a storm, to live day in and day out with the misery of the human condition and the frailty of a human body.


I don't know about you, but as I continue to struggle with life in the midst of this pandemic, I find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands how hard life can be. He knows what it's like to watch the people He loves deal with pain and loss. And I want to reach up and take His hand, and as I touch the scar left by the nail that held Him to the cross, remind myself of His great love for me and amazing hope we have because He “has visited and redeemed His people”!

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