Hosea 2:19-23 “And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
"And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD,
I will answer the heavens,
and they shall answer the earth,
and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and they shall answer Jezreel [which means “God will sow”],
and I will sow her for myself in the land.
And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people';
and he shall say, 'You are my God.'"”

The cradle and the cross, the cross and the cradle. These two defining moments in world history fell within 33 years of each other. In the beginning man fell and was rent from fellowship with God, and in the end man will have fellowship again with God, but how will this be accomplished? The Almighty chose an innocent infant, but not any innocent infant. God himself chose to redeem us personally. How He would do that would challenge the very way we as fallen humans thought. God would redeem without pride, without hubris, without ceremony or pomposity. He would redeem with innocence and willingness, in humility and denigration, despised and hated. He would redeem us in such a way that the leader of the Jews and re-builder of the temple , King Herod, would scorn and reject Him, yet magi, Persian/Zoroastrian priests and perhaps astrologers from farther away would seek the world over for this newborn savior and ruler of mankind.

It all began with a cradle. In every society that I know, there is something precious or valuable given for a betrothal. In some cultures it is a dowry, in some, the bride price, in the US and western culture, it is the engagement ring. In all cases it is valuable and shows the worth of the betrothal to those involved. Christ chose to show our value to Him with the most precious thing He could give for our betrothal. He Himself voluntarily gave up Himself, and became nothing as we were. He came as an infant, innocent and innocuous. He came and was heralded to the outcasts and the poor, yet venerated by the wisest of seekers. He was announced to the world in the temple when He was circumcised, and He was the only one to ever fully obey and comply with the unforgiving and relentless laws that He had put in place. He followed the letter and the spirit of his own laws, showing us that it was done. When He died He cried out “It is Finished!” (John 19:30) He had paid it all, He had given it all, obeyed it all, loved it all, sacrificed it all, and saved us all. The Cross completed what the cradle began. The ascension finished the beginning started at the manger. The Betrothal was complete and what is left is the wait until the final ceremony, the great wedding day, the feasting and joy awaits, but for now, we count down the days and more importantly, we learn and love our Lord even more, day by day. Rejoice!

Bride of the Lamb, awake, awake!
Why sleep for sorrow now?
The hope of glory, Christ, is thine,
A child of glory thou.