One On One: 100 Days With Jesus--ADVENTSample

Toddler: The Word Became Flesh 

In those first years when the spring rains in Israel filled the fields with poppies and the days grew noticeably longer, did Mary get nostalgic and tell Jesus His birth story as she tucked Him into bed at night? 

“It was in the Spring when we traveled all the way to Bethlehem to register for taxes and I was as big as a donkey . . .” And little Jesus would giggle; His dark eyes dancing. 

“And we bedded down in the stable area, with nothing but a lantern to light our faces.” (She left out the part about how alone they felt, and the stable’s stench . . . and how she fought against the fear. I kept remembering Gabriel’s words, “Do not fear, Miriam, God is with you…”). 

“And then,” she tickled her boy, “there you were, all wiggly and slippery in our arms. You were the most perfect baby in the world. How many lambies?—one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten toes,” He squealed as she pulled off his sandals. “Ah, Jesus,” (cuddling now), “You were better than our hopes—better than our dreams for generations and generations since Father Abraham. 

“I wish your grandparents could have been there.” Her voice trailed off. “They would have been so proud. And the neighbors, oh, they would have thrown you a party and sung blessings to us outside our window.” 

“What else, Ama? What else happened?” the little guy begged, even with every detail memorized. 

“Well, we had company.” Her eyes twinkled. “Abba and I had barely cleaned you up when through the gate burst the most charming band of shepherds, awkwardly polite with big eyes.” 

“And sheep?!” 

“Just one or two lambs in their arms. It was Spring; their sheep were in pasture.” 

“And what did they say?” 

“The oddest thing—they said they came see You for themselves. They had been in the field minding their business when a swarm of angels appeared out of nowhere in bright lights and lots of shouting. They were so scared. And they said, all on top of each another, ‘the spirit said a child was born and He would bless the world. And we’d find Him wrapped up in a trough. And there He is, just like they said.’ “And Abba talked with them outside in the moonlight and explained some of the wonderful things that angels had told us.” 

“Like what, Ama?” 

“Like, You are a special boy who will grow up to save His people. My little Mashiach . . . my Chosen One. You are God with us.” He rested His head on her shoulder as she hummed a lullaby.

And you have to wonder if from the darkness of that evening, Mary looked out the window at the Milky Way chasing our tiny blue planet. Did she know this mystery tucked beneath her roof had named each star? And even this moment held the universe together? 

The Light of the world stepped into darkness and we beheld His glory. 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And she held Him in her lap and taught Him His A-B-C’s. 

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus—20 questions