When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18b)

I wonder how much pain hides behind those simple words: "She was found to be with Child." Listen to the wording. It doesn't sound like Mary had a chance to choose her time, to sit her family down and tell them about the angel's visit. No, "she was found to be with Child." Somebody noticed.

And that somebody probably yelled, don't you think? Mary was supposed to be a virgin. Her wedding was coming up. The family would be disgraced. I suspect there was a painful scene, and a lot of disbelief, and then Joseph was notified.

Maybe it's a good thing that Jesus came into the world in such a thoroughly human, painful, and messy way. Shame, conflict, fighting—all these were a part of His life even before His birth. It makes Him a good Savior for us, doesn't it? Because we carry the scars of shame and pain, too.

Jesus knows our shame, every bit of it—all the pain, all the grief. But He does not add to it. No, He does the impossible and takes it upon His own shoulders, and carries it all the way to the cross. With His own shameful death He takes it out of the world forever, and with His resurrection He gives to us a new life—clean, unstained, marked by peace and love. We don't need to carry that pain any longer. Jesus takes it for us.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, take my shame and pain from me, and help me. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* Take a moment to identify a painful episode from your own past.

* Privately pray, asking the Lord to help you with that memory.

* Thank Him for knowing and loving you completely.

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 107, 126    Revelation 10

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