Infant Jesus
“But Mary treasured up all of these things and pondered them in her heart.” — Luke 2:19
I am pondering something of my own this Advent season. The idea, hinted at by Dallas Willard near the end of his life, that salvation is about God drawing us into a new relationship of attachment love.
It is astounding that our all-powerful and all-knowing God would limit Himself to the most vulnerable creature imaginable. He who made all of existence, putting Himself at the mercy of ordinary human beings. Certain to die within days of His first breath, unless these ordinary human beings chose to care for and protect Him.
Why would God do this?
Admittedly, it makes for a nice story. The long journey to Bethlehem with its over-capacity lodgings. Leading to a cozy manger scene. Baby Jesus, cradled in a feeding trough, surrounded by barnyard animals.
But surely God has a purpose beyond a touching story. Everything He does is intentional. So, coming to Earth in the form of a human infant cannot have been a random act. It must have served a purpose in God’s redemption story. But how?
Maybe the answer has something to do with this idea of attachment love.
For, who is easier for us to attach to than a human baby? It’s almost instinctual for us to love them. Which makes sense, because what else would make us willing to spend so many sleepless nights and make so many sacrifices on their behalf?
Doesn’t it seem like the kind of thing our God would do? He first creates us with a supernatural ability to form loving attachments with babies who can give us nothing in return. And then He approaches us in that form, knowing full well we can’t help but love Him when He shows up that way.