There were blood stains on the hay in a stable. A young mother had just given birth to a male child. Eight days later, there was a bloody knife, the baby screamed as He experienced pain for the first time. The Child had just been circumcised according to Jewish tradition.
Down through the years, there were accidents as the Child grew, a skinned knee, a split lip maybe a bloody nose, just normal growing-up experiences. As a young man, he took His place alongside His stepfather in the carpenter shop. Along with this came busted fingers as the hammer would sometimes fall in the wrong place and maybe a slip of the saw would draw blood but these were just things that a working man learns to live with.
The blood that coursed through His young veins would have been sprinkled on His surroundings as He grew, and often He would look at the blood and remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah who years before had said, “Behold, the day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
He knew what that covenant was, and how it would be sealed. This knowledge made His human side cringe. But love for His Father kept Him going.
There came a day when He stood at the door of the shop for the last time. He wanted to stay but He knew He couldn’t. His Father had told Him it was time to go. It was time to be about the Father’s business.
He said goodbye to his mother, and she held Him for a long time. While she held Him she remembered what the angel had told her about this Son” He will be great, and will be called The Son of The Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Her heart soared when she remembered this. But then she heard the voice of old Simeon that day long ago when Jesus was circumcised, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (Yes a sword will pierce through your soul also.)”
These words brought dread to her heart and this caused her to hold to Him even tighter. But He gently pulled away, He kissed away her tears. Then He turned and quietly walked away. He was ready to start His ministry, a ministry that would divide time and bring Life to a dying world.
Douglas Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Pavement Ends Ministry 