THE BIRTH ON THE CROSS
THE BIRTH ON THE CROSS
The miracle of birth! What can compare to this new life that is fearfully and wondrously made? A new life emerging from the darkness of the womb into the light. A mother laboring amid pain and suffering to bring forth a child made in her image and likeness.
Yet in the midst of her anguish, there is an air of expectancy, yes even joy, as she awaits the birth of the child that will soon be born. In the agony of her pain, suffering, sweat and blood, a thing of beauty is being brought forth—a newborn child.
"A woman when she is in travail has sorrow because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish for joy that a child is born into the world" (John 16:21).
A curse was placed upon woman back in the garden of Eden when she sinned. "In sorrow you will bring forth children" (Genesis 3:16). But then in the fullness of time, our Lord Jesus was made a curse for us, because it is written in the scriptures, "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).
How often do we think of the cross as a delivery table? How often do we think of the man of sorrows hanging there on the cross as the One bearing the curse of childbirth's pain to bring forth His church—the child of promise conformed to His image and likeness? There on the cross was the Creator of the universe, stripped of His dignity, naked and exposed to the eyes of men giving birth to a new creation. "Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2).
A mother giving birth is a lonely figure. She labors alone. No one can do it for her. Her labor and her labor alone will bring forth the child. Others may stand by and watch her suffering, but in the hour of birth, she alone endures the pain. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
Hour upon hour of almost unbearable pain as the child is being delivered. Her body is being stretched and torn as the child makes its way down the birth canal. "Narrow is the way which leads to life" (Matthew 7:14).
She is exhausted, yet still the child has not come. Will the pain ever end? Mouth so dry—"I thirst" (John 19:28). She is held captive on the delivery table awaiting the imminent birth. The child must be born and there is no turning back.
And then suddenly, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). A perfectly formed child still covered with blood has come into the world. Joy of joy! A child has been born.
Children of God, never forget what Jesus endured that you might be born into the kingdom of God. For the church is the blood-covered child that our Lord brought forth that day on the cross. You are the result of His labor that day on Calvary. You have been delivered and placed into the arms of the One who loved you and gave Himself for you.
The Lord died in childbirth on what we call Good Friday. But hallelujah—the good news is that Jesus rose from the dead and He lives forevermore. And so we celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus is alive! He lives! Let us rejoice and be glad.
Chapter 29 Revisited by Jean Coleman
The miracle of birth! What can compare to this new life that is fearfully and wondrously made? A new life emerging from the darkness of the womb into the light. A mother laboring amid pain and suffering to bring forth a child made in her image and likeness.
Yet in the midst of her anguish, there is an air of expectancy, yes even joy, as she awaits the birth of the child that will soon be born. In the agony of her pain, suffering, sweat and blood, a thing of beauty is being brought forth—a newborn child.
"A woman when she is in travail has sorrow because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish for joy that a child is born into the world" (John 16:21).
A curse was placed upon woman back in the garden of Eden when she sinned. "In sorrow you will bring forth children" (Genesis 3:16). But then in the fullness of time, our Lord Jesus was made a curse for us, because it is written in the scriptures, "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).
How often do we think of the cross as a delivery table? How often do we think of the man of sorrows hanging there on the cross as the One bearing the curse of childbirth's pain to bring forth His church—the child of promise conformed to His image and likeness? There on the cross was the Creator of the universe, stripped of His dignity, naked and exposed to the eyes of men giving birth to a new creation. "Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2).
A mother giving birth is a lonely figure. She labors alone. No one can do it for her. Her labor and her labor alone will bring forth the child. Others may stand by and watch her suffering, but in the hour of birth, she alone endures the pain. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
Hour upon hour of almost unbearable pain as the child is being delivered. Her body is being stretched and torn as the child makes its way down the birth canal. "Narrow is the way which leads to life" (Matthew 7:14).
She is exhausted, yet still the child has not come. Will the pain ever end? Mouth so dry—"I thirst" (John 19:28). She is held captive on the delivery table awaiting the imminent birth. The child must be born and there is no turning back.
And then suddenly, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). A perfectly formed child still covered with blood has come into the world. Joy of joy! A child has been born.
Children of God, never forget what Jesus endured that you might be born into the kingdom of God. For the church is the blood-covered child that our Lord brought forth that day on the cross. You are the result of His labor that day on Calvary. You have been delivered and placed into the arms of the One who loved you and gave Himself for you.
The Lord died in childbirth on what we call Good Friday. But hallelujah—the good news is that Jesus rose from the dead and He lives forevermore. And so we celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus is alive! He lives! Let us rejoice and be glad.
Chapter 29 Revisited by Jean Coleman
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