The Victory of Christmas

When we talk about the birth of Jesus at Christmas time we usually focus on the stories in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Revelation 12:1-12 shows us another picture of the birth of Jesus. There are no mangers or wise men here, however. Here we see the Dragon, who is later revealed to be Satan, waiting for the birth of Jesus in order to devour the baby. Immediately after the birth of this baby, a war breaks out in heaven and the Dragon is defeated.

In Revelation, it is the birth of Jesus that signals the defeat of Satan.

Not the crucifixion.

Not the resurrection.

The birth of a baby. A tiny helpless baby.

Revelation shows us Satan waiting to devour the baby Jesus because he must know what the birth of this baby means. The birth of Jesus means that God is coming to earth in the form of a human. Of course this changes everything.

God is finally beginning to make things right in the world and it begins with a baby. That is the power of Christmas: God is changing the world and it happens because of the birth of a baby.

As soon as this baby was born, everything changed. God is no longer distant. God is with us. God knows what it is like to be a human.

Everything is changing because of this baby and we wait for everything to finally be made right.

The victory has been won in the birth of this baby.