The Expectation of Child | Northlands Church

The Expectation of Child

December 12, 2017 | Kristine Wendt

The Expectation of Child

by: Kristine Wendt

As we enjoy Home in the Bride, and at Northlands Church, this season, we can be encouraged to encounter baby Jesus more and more in our daily lives.

no scripture yet Luke 1:28, Luke 1:46-49

In a thicket, to a pensive and productive Mary, Gabriel appears with words of favor, grace and blessing. Naturally, the young and child-like Mary is startled by the visitor and, likely more so, the words that he will share. With utmost elegance and utter ease, Gabriel announces to Mary the she will become pregnant with the greatest of all heaven and mankind’s infants: the Messiah. Ultimately, Mary’s response turned to awe-filled agreement. Mary had been called to carry the Christ Child. She was expecting and Mary was expectant (Luke 1:34-38). Mary would have the stories of her heritage indelibly imprinted on her heart and she knew the implications of this calling. Her betrothed, Joseph did too; he knew the legacy of the Messiah, but he was less thrilled. See, Joseph knew He had a choice. As a man, he could have changed the arrangement with Mary, the one whom Heaven had called. Ultimately, he didn’t. Joseph grew expectant for the little babe he would father.
Just beyond their own childhood years, Mary and Joseph gathered up all their gumption to parent the child. If we lean in close, we can nearly hear their wonderings:

Joseph: But will our son look like me at all?
Mary: Will my heart be big enough to love the Son of Heaven?
Joseph: How do you effectively discipline the Son of God? Will I have to?
Mary: Will he listen to my stories as I hold him close and cherish him?
Joseph: Will he grow to like the things I like: carpentry, fishing?

Mary and Joseph were impregnated with a fiery expectancy for their Son and The Son who would forever change their world and the world as it had ever been known.
We know what its like to wait on a child’s arrival. We foster moments to prepare and plan, we create a culture of delicate hospitality, we anticipate photos sessions and cozy times, we dream of the playing and we pray that His Kingdom will come in our family life. We ask questions of those who have had children and that have gone before us; we read books from the experts, and we daydream lofty dreams. We grow more expectant the more the weeks of waiting go by.
Meeting that child for the first time? It unveils in us layers that we didn’t know existed! We embrace the thrill! We enjoy our own toddling as we lean into that child’s cooing. Our hearts and eyes calibrate to their lives that we might enjoy them flourish. We learn to leave behind the plans and we embrace the daily unfolding of all that they are. There is nothing like the arrival of an anticipated child!
The invitation for each of us this season is to grow pregnant in the waiting for the divine child. Perhaps it’s a season to ‘pretend’ you haven’t waited on him each year, but instead its time to play anew with our Jesus. Let this be a year to expand in expectancy awaiting Immanuel. The invitation for you and I this season is to prepare Him room. More room in our finances and in our health. Cushion the manger with all heavenly expectation that a child may re-frame our understanding of destiny; and in meeting Jesus at the manger, his first home, we’d find more room in our mindsets to detect the mysteries, the grace and the love.
As I wonder about our Jesus this Christmas season, these are some things I am imagining: In seeing the infant, would I be able to tell by looking at the baby’s hands and feet that they woulds be pierced for me? What more can I learn about childlike-ness this season, as I ponder the manger filled with a perfect little boy? Since Jesus can do no thing without the Father (John 5:19), what kind of communion did little boy Jesus have with His Heavenly Father?
You and I carry the fullness of the Savior in the shape of a babe; let’s join Joseph and Mary in expectant indulgence and rich praises.

Luke 1:46-49 (TPT)
Mary’s Prophetic Song
“And Mary sang this song: “My soul is ecstatic, overflowing with praises to God! My spirit bursts with joy over my life-giving God! For he set his tender gaze upon me, his lowly servant girl. And from here on, everyone will know that I have been favored and blessed. The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for me; holy is his name!”

Prayer

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Heavenly Father for Immanuel. Thank you for stirring in me room and more room to know you in all depths and all heights. Thank you that this is your sent season, Jesus, and that I can know you fully as a child and fully divine, as I let Abba be a Father to me. Thank you for expanding within me revelations and clarity in the unsearchable things (Jeremiah 33:3), this Christmas season. I intentionally prepare you room, inviting you in, because better is one day than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:11).

© 2024 Northlands Church and Kristine Wendt. Permission to share so long as credit is given.