The Birth of Salvation

December twenty-fourth, a night covered by darkness that smothered the fallen world.

Yet, also a night of expectancy.

The night angels stood at the borders of the unseen realm in anticipation, wondering why He had chosen to do it this way.

As the darkness grows colder and the spirits from the realm of the deep rejoice in their dominion, Mary feels the life inside her urging to come forth. To be born into this world of darkness and destruction.

And she shudders.

But God, in his infinite mercy and patience, waits.

            The night eventually wanes and darkness breaks forth into light.

 A new day.

Yet, the realms of the deep still claim dominion even as the sun appears.

            The day brings Mary outrageous pain and to the angels it brings extravagant excitement. The sun makes its cycle as it has for thousands of years, but once again darkness claims its position; however, this night would be different.

            Amongst the screams of labor from the mouth of Mary, the anxious pacing of Joseph, and the rejoicing from the realms of the dark ones over their dominion, God brings forth light. (Isaiah 9:2) Blinding light shines in his created sky and eternal light comes forth from the womb of the pure-girl.

            The angels stand at the ready for the command and when it comes they jump into action. Glorious praise and unending purity flow from the mouths of the angels and into the worn and battered ears of the shepherds. The same shepherds who just hours ago were bound by the fallen world.

But now… Now the darkness is blown away by this light.

The shepherds were the first to hear of the God-child who had come to break the chains of this fallen world. (Luke 2:8-14) They made the journey to Him, with the light in the sky leading the way and the angel chorus behind.

            Mary and Joseph were the first of the broken human race to see the heartbeat of God. They wrapped the creator of all in a dirty and bloodied cloth and laid him in a stone trough.

            The one who had breathed the Spirit of Life into man at the beginning of time was just now taking his first breath as a baby. (John 1:5)

And the angels rejoiced.

And God smiled.

Just twenty-four hours before the entire world was consumed with sin and no hope for eternity.

But now, through the first cries of the Christ-child, hope was born. (Luke 1:79)

Salvation was born.