So often we describe the Christmas story and the incarnation of Christ as the arrival of Jesus from heaven to the manger. We tend to think of the scene in Bethlehem of a newborn Savior, the glowing parents, the singing angels, and the astounded shepherds as the opening chapter of Christ’s journey on earth. Yet, these images omit nine months of the story.

Our Savior’s first months on earth were experienced in the womb of a young mother. In fact, some of the most profound lessons of Christmas arise from the pregnancies of two mothers whose stories are often overlooked. Let’s give attention to these tender yet informative scenes in the earliest moments of the Christmas story. We will learn a lesson about life from the womb of Elizabeth and three lessons about living from the womb of Mary.

A Lesson About Life From the Womb of Elizabeth

After Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, she visited her older cousin Elizabeth, who was living in Judah. The much-older and previously barren Elizabeth and her priest-husband Zachariah had seen the Lord miraculously intervene in allowing them to conceive a son, John. John the Baptist. Read the account of Mary’s arrival at Elizabeth’s home:

“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41). Elizabeth commented, “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (v. 44).

The lesson is clear. The baby that would be known as John the Baptist was conscious of the presence of his cousin and experienced the emotion of joy in the womb of Elizabeth. This is a powerful illustration of the truth that life begins, not at birth, but at conception. John was a living soul, capable of an awareness of the surroundings and able to express joy.

The baby that would be known as John the Baptist was conscious of the presence of his cousin and experienced the emotion of joy in the womb of Elizabeth. This is a powerful illustration of the truth that life begins, not at birth, but at conception.

The familiar Psalm declares, “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:13 & 16). Life begins before we start counting the days following the birth of a child. Life begins in the womb.

Three Lessons on Living from the Womb of Mary

Recognizing this, we can also gain insight from the life of Jesus – nine months in the womb of Mary. The story began as the angel announced to the young Jewish girl, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30-33). Luke 1:35 clarifies, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

It really is incredible to think of God growing from embryo to baby in the dark tranquility of Mary’s womb, developing to the rhythm of the heartbeat of a young Jewish woman living a simple life in Galilee.

It really is incredible to think of God growing from embryo to baby in the dark tranquility of Mary’s womb, developing to the rhythm of the heartbeat of a young Jewish woman living a simple life in Galilee.

A Lesson on Humility

Philippians 2:8 speaks of the humility of Christ, subjecting Himself to the journey of humanity, leading eventually to death on a cross. The passage says that Christ, “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (vv. 6 & 7).

Christ’s humility is especially unfathomable when we consider His translation from the worship of angels and the radiant, bombastic glories of heaven to the quiet, gentle conception of a virgin womb.

Christ’s humility is especially unfathomable when we consider His translation from the worship of angels and the radiant, bombastic glories of heaven to the quiet, gentle conception of a virgin womb.

Humility does not come easy for us in our society of self-promotion and aggressive advancement. It is hard to find real models of humility, even in the church. Yet, if we can gaze at the humility of our Savior, not just in His earthly ministry, but also before His birth, we will be inspired and graced to walk humbly with our God.

A Lesson About Vulnerability

Any family that has been witness to the journey of a pregnant mother knows the care and concern of the maternal heart. She does everything possible to nourish and nurture, protect and provide for the life forming inside her body. The young life is vulnerable and entirely dependent on the supply of the mother.

God becoming a fetus. It baffles our understanding. Deity…still fully God, becoming fully human but fully reliant on the provision of a young Jewish girl. What incredible exposure.

Most of us shirk vulnerability at every turn. We want to be strong, aloof, and well-protected by our manipulation of relationships that become too intimate or costly. We need a fresh consideration of Jesus – dependent in a teenage womb and yet living as an example for us all.

A Lesson About Obscurity

To consider that Jesus moved from the center stage of heaven to the secrecy of a womb is staggering to our understanding. This was the One who would raise the dead, calm the sea, teach the multitudes, miraculously feed thousands, redeem mankind on a cross, and rise from the grave in supernatural victory. Yet, for nine months, He did not see the light of day. The Father’s plan was for His Son’s arrival and future ministry to begin in quiet secrecy.

Today, it seems everyone wants to make an impression on Twitter, accumulate friends on Facebook, and amass as many readers as possible in the blogosphere. We dream of thousands of views on YouTube or at least some frequent pats on the back at work. We don’t do well with obscurity these days. Yet, we can learn much from the Savior who made Himself of “no reputation”, starting in the secrecy of a womb.

We don’t do well with obscurity these days. Yet, we can learn much from the Savior who made Himself of “no reputation”, starting in the secrecy of a womb.

Two Baby Boys

This Christmas, we would do well to remember the abounding joy of John the Baptist, fully alive inside his aged mother. We can learn much if we will remember that “Silent Night” began at conception for the King of Jews in a quiet, miraculous moment in Galilee. May God give us grace to feel the delight of Elizabeth and hear the heartbeat of Mary in order to learn the lessons from two baby boys, yet to be born.

Copyright © 2019 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.