Iron

"The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth," Revelation 12:4.

Why? So that the giant red dragon could devour the baby as soon as the sky woman bore him, right then and there. Not a warm, happy, cozy picture, is it? Yet, it's the Revelator's summary of Jesus' birth. John, the Revelator (the apostle), continued to assure any reader (or auditor) that the baby, a boy, was born, all right. This boy became the man to rule all nations with an iron rod. By God, by God's design, by God's decree. The baby boy got collected up to God's throne. Safe and sound. Fierce war raged throughout the cosmos between God's armies led by the superangel, Michael, against the vile dragon and his forces. Michael won. The authority of God's Christ has come! The brothers (and sisters) have conquered through the blood of the Lamb!

We meet with a brother or sister today keenly aware that we are all caught up in things far greater than meet the eye. And, together, in faith, not by sight, we give praise to our God through his Christ for Bethlehem's victory from the Skull's cross to resurrection from the grave.