First Morning

“Saying this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46b CSB)

That first morning – Christmas morning – brought total change to the lives of Mary and Joseph. There was no warm hospital bed for them, no blinking monitors to keep track of vital signs, no IV fluids. They slept huddled in a cold stable, complete with animal sounds – and smells. In that atmosphere came a new sound to the ears of an exhausted Mary, one that got her attention and woke her up, the sound of a baby, her baby, crying from hunger. If Joseph was anything like the rest of us, he likely slept through the whole thing, but not Mary.

That first morning brought a new day for Israel, fresh as at the creation. It brought completion with the birth of Israel’s Messiah. Mary was brought up with the same cultural understanding as everyone else was, that the Messiah would lead in the defeat and expulsion of all of Israel’s enemies.

When someone you love is dying and takes that last breath – and you are there to witness it – a holy hush comes over everyone, followed by anguish and sorrow and then the sounds of grieving. Perhaps when Mary saw her firstborn Son take His last breath – beaten, broken, bleeding, and crucified – she may have seen a quick glimpse in her mind of her crying baby on that first Christmas morn, and then wondered why. This could not be, because it made no sense.

But it was not over.

Lord, Sometimes we see and hear things that make no sense and wonder why and how this could have happened. Remind us, Lord, that we are not meant to know or understand everything, but are meant to trust in You and Your purposes. May the power of Your resurrection remind us that things are often not as they seem. Amen.