For many of us, the announcement of a pregnancy is joyous news. We rejoice at new life because we know, somehow, that life is precious. There is something within us that recognises the sanctity of life: that human life is sacred because we are made in God’s image. (Gen 1:27) We may not be able to articulate this belief, but there are very few people who are not pleased when they see a baby; even the grumpiest character tends to smile at a baby! People recognise something good and holy about life itself.
The belief that life is precious because God made us underpins our Christian faith. The fact that God came to earth as a baby is not simply a nice story to make us feel good, however. It demonstrates something of God’s nature: how much He loves us, how much He identifies with us and how He has entered into our world, with all its suffering and sorrow, to bear our sins and to reconcile us to Himself.
We readily acknowledge the trauma in our world and how much creation groans (Rom 8:22-23). But we also affirm the beauty in creation and the wonderful things God has made for us to enjoy (Ps 19:1-3, Job 33:28). Every time we hear of new life, we can rejoice because of God’s goodness and love, but we can also rejoice because He knows what it is to be fully human. The book of Hebrews expounds this theme and reassures us that suffering and joy are not mutually exclusive. As we ponder the birth of Christ, we can rejoice because He shares our humanity and can empathise with us, giving us help, grace and mercy (Heb 4:15-16). Life is precious, not just for the baby, but for each one of us. When life is tough, however, the birth of Christ offers us hope that lifts us out of darkness and hopelessness to a place of security and love.