Most of my young, adult girlfriends married and had babies before I got married. That changed the dynamics of single girl and married woman. However, we still remained close friends. I still hung out with them, only now, it was at their apartments. I didn’t particularly like babies. Why would they dote over their babies the way they did? And I surely didn’t see how they could be vomited upon without running out of the room, shrieking! I was puzzled to watch my girlfriends soothe their crying little ones with such love and devotion.
Then I married and within the year, our first daughter was born. My whole outlook transformed. What changed me from not caring about babies to loving and doting on one? Even my friends’ infants, crawlers and toddlers turned into the most precious beings I could ever imagine. I wondered why? I knew it was because I had my own baby. Two more daughters, and I could not imagine not loving my children! That was over 50 years ago.
Thousands of years after creation, the angel Gabriel announced to a young peasant girl that she would be the mother of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man. Mary must have wondered, Why would God do such an outlandish thing? Why would God go to such lengths for mankind? Do you ever wonder why mankind is the recipient of God’s extravagant love and attention? The God who created the blazing sun, who hung the twinkling stars in place in the universe, who designed the earth with its giant waterfalls and delicate pansies, made us His focal point for His plan and purpose before eternity could be measured?
He tells us. John 3:16 says it’s because He loves us.
“But, He loves His entire creation,” one may say.
“Ah,” another replies. “That is true, but why such great love for man?”
The first speaker wondered the same thing and decided to find out by searching the Bible. “I found the answer!” he exclaims.
“Where and what does it say? Show me,” the second man says, skeptically.
“Right here in Genesis 1:26, 27,” he answers, thrusting the Bible into the man’s hands. “He loves us because we are made in His image! We are His children! No wonder we are the epitome of God’s creation. Do you see it?”
The man nodded, satisfied with his friend’s finding. “Well then, do you ever wonder why Jesus was born?” he persists.
“You find it and tell me,” the first man directed.
The second man soon discovered the reason and explained it to his friend. “Man is flawed by sin. God is holy. Jesus came to earth to reveal God to man and to reconcile man to God.”
“Got it.” The first man gives a single up-nod.
As the two men walked on, one could hear their fading conversation continue, “Do you ever wonder why…?