Tender Mercy

​Among tender things, newborn babies are certainly counted!  A couple of friends are expecting new grand babies, and perhaps the tenderest of moments [as I recall] is holding the child-of-a-child - I'm excited for them. Zechariah, John's father, said: "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of Salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God ..." (Luke 1:75-78a).  To comprehend the fullness of the word tender in Scripture, we must first understand from where tenderness originates: bowels - believed to be the seat of the most violent passions and the most genuine affections. Jesus expresses the tenderest of The Father's passion against sin and His affection for man.  God revealed His fullness to us in two human tenders: the Christ Child and Calvary's Lamb.  This is the tender mercy Zechariah spoke of - this is the Father, Son and Spirit of Christmas. Dare we imagine the measure of tenderness Mary felt as she held her newborn, her Savior, her Lamb. Do not miss the tender mercy of Jesus Christ this Season!​