I have spent countless hours in the delivery room and I can tell you, it’s anything but silent. Without benefit of modern-day analgesia, childbirth is excruciating. It’s messy and loud too. The night was holy night for sure, but silent?  I seriously doubt it.

Isaiah 26:17, “As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so we were before You, Lord.” HCSB

COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS

Especially during the holidays, many are hurting and ready for relief. After forty weeks of discomfort, swollen ankles, miles of travel and hours of labor, Mary needed Jesus to come. I get it. When time drags its hands and feet, when pain is unbearable or when we are simply worn out, then we are ready for Jesus to come too. But it isn’t easy.

Genesis 3:16, “To the woman he said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children.'” NIV

NO CRYING HE MAKES?

Jesus is not silent. He cried out to His Father with a loud voice on the cross when His innocent hands were pierced.

Eli, Eli, Iema sabachthani?

Surely He cried when He left His rightful place in Heaven and entered our broken world.

Philippians 2:7, “When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became Human!” MSG

A GOOD CRY

Crying at birth is essential for major physiologic changes to occur. When the umbilical cord is clamped, circulation changes so blood flows to the lungs where oxygen is now exchanged. The newborn baby needs to cry to expand the lungs. I need to cry out to God for changes to occur too. Otherwise I depend on the wrong source-myself. Sound familiar?

Psalm 57:2, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” ESV

THE LOUD CROWD

It may have been a silent night for the shepherds until the angels showed up. I’ve seen some pretty clever birth announcements, but this sets the bar.

Luke 2:13, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” KJV

ABOVE THE NOISE

God is not silent, but He is holy. Maybe we are the ones who need to be silent in order to hear His voice above the noise. Somehow the season to celebrate His holy birth has become a season of hustle and bustle, perhaps that is why Silent Night is one of the most popular Christmas carols. We long to experience His holiness but our culture struggles with silence.

Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” NASB

EXPECTANT

I still consider the sound of a crying newborn the sweetest sound in the world. It is evidence of life. Jesus is not silent; He is life-abundant and eternal. Take a moment to be silent before Him, experience His holiness and have yourself a merry little Christmas.

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