We know the Christmas story. The gentle nativity, shepherds, wise men, a baby in a manger. But nestled within the New Testament lies a far more profound, and often overlooked, account of that first Christmas – a cosmic struggle viewed from the very perspective of God.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke paint vivid pictures of the event, detailing the star, the census, the angels. Yet, the twelfth chapter of Revelation unveils a different narrative, one stripped of earthly comforts and brimming with symbolic power. It speaks not of swaddling clothes, but of a woman, a dragon, and a birth that echoes through the heavens.
Imagine a breathtaking vision: a woman adorned with the sun, the moon at her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. Interpreted for centuries as the Virgin Mary, she embodies the entirety of Israel, poised to deliver the Messiah. But this birth isn’t met with peace; it’s shadowed by a terrifying presence – a great red dragon, a monstrous being with seven heads and ten horns.
This dragon isn’t merely a beast; it represents the immense, relentless opposition to God’s plan. The arrival of the Son of God isn’t welcomed, it’s *resisted* by the dark, fallen powers that thrive on a broken world. Jesus’s birth is the opening move in a cosmic rescue operation, and those who benefit from the darkness will fight to maintain their hold.
Suddenly, Luke’s familiar story takes on new depth. The journey to Bethlehem isn’t a simple trip, but a response to a domineering emperor’s decree. The rejection at the inn isn’t mere inconvenience, but a foreshadowing of the rejection to come. Even the swaddling clothes hint at the burial cloths that will one day enshroud his body.
The frantic flight to escape Herod’s murderous intent isn’t just a desperate act of survival; it’s a glimpse into the ongoing spiritual warfare. The Christmas story isn’t a quaint tale for children, but a powerful echo of the eternal battle between good and evil, waged in realms both visible and unseen.
But this isn’t a story of despair. Revelation reveals that the woman gives birth to a son destined to rule all nations with unwavering power. Instead of being devoured by the dragon, the child is taken to God’s throne, a clear declaration: this child *will* win. Through him, creation will be restored, and God’s reign will be established.
Consider the angels appearing to the shepherds. The Greek word for “host” – *stratias* – isn’t a gentle gathering, but an *army*. While Mary and Joseph were compelled to travel by the decree of an earthly emperor with a vast military force, the heavenly army of the newborn king is infinitely greater, infinitely stronger.
C.S. Lewis understood this perfectly. He observed that God entered the world as a helpless child precisely because he needed to infiltrate enemy territory undetected. We all face evil, both seen and unseen, and feel the threat of the dragon. But the good news of Christmas is that the victorious king has arrived, and we no longer need to be afraid.
