Nestling Jesus

“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment…” 1 Peter 2:2

With strings of Christmas lights going dark, wrapping paper bagged up awaiting the trash truck, and my Pandora music once again playing regular music, I find myself reflecting on Mary’s first few days after the birth of her baby. She would have also been putting things away when she returned to Nazareth. She would have been sore …exhausted by caring for Jesus’ every need…weary from the journey home. But we are given a more intimate picture this morning, of the new mommy with her new baby. Beth Moore, author of Jesus, The One and Only Bible study paints a beautiful picture of Mary in those early days. ‘Now the incarnate Christ is only a few days old. Picture Him with me. The infant Christ. Tiny. Deep olive skin. Ebony eyes. Soft, fuzzy hair, probably black as pitch. Fitting in one of Mary’s small, young arms. No doubt she rubbed his soft, little head with her cheek, just as every mother nestles an infant,’ p. 33.

I am doing this Bible study for probably the 3rd time over the past 13 years. When things seem to get ‘familiar’ in my studies I like going back to a time when I first ‘nestled Jesus.’ It was 2006 and although I had known Jesus my whole life thanks to my parents and grandparents I hadn’t really delved into His life and gotten to know Him. This Bible study introduced me to the life of Christ from fetus to infant…from Baby to Savior. It’s been a while since I have imagined Jesus as a baby, and cradled Him in my heart all over again. Just like Jesus made a young woman into a new mommy, Jesus has taken me from an outsider looking in to a family member inviting all. However, it’s worth considering whether I still cradle Jesus with the same intensity of Mary? Do I wrap my arms around His truths completely when no one is looking? Am I reminded when I look at the Word that Jesus was made into flesh and that flesh is the Word?

Just as God assigned Mary her role with Jesus, God has assigned each of us a role walking beside Jesus. He calls us into relationship with Him first and servitude with Him second. Jesus grows in our lives when we grow into His. May each of us discover the spiritual growth from infancy to maturity and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. And as we grow may the same be said of us as was written about the childhood of Jesus.

“And the Child grew, and become strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40