Images

"The dragon stood before the woman who was giving birth to a baby so that he might eat her child as soon as he was born," Revelation 12:4.

A lot of images flood our minds concerning the birth of Christ, some of them straight from the Word, others developed over years of acculturation. A favorite image: a golden lit three-sided shed, strewn with hay, mom and dad looking into a manger, a deep-blue starry night sky in the background, words of peace. Quiet moments of wonder. Luke's gospel account of Jesus' birth lends itself easily to that picture. John gives a larger setting for that wondrous event. War in the sky. Life and death struggle. God's mighty angels in pitched battle beating down the dragon out of the sky. In the midst of the war, at the child's birth, that mighty army paused to declare God's glory. They announced peace for people who pleased God. Then battle continues. Sky kingdom.

As we visit with a brother or sister meditatively today, we remember Jesus came to yield his life in redemption for our sins. And, together, we marvel that he should come into this world a baby, so dependent on mom and dad.