The Apostles' Creed

       I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.

       He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

       and born of the Virgin Mary.

       He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

       was crucified, died, and was buried.

       He descended to the dead.

       On the third day he rose again.

       He ascended into heaven, 

       and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

       He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

The Apostles’ Creed is the summary statement of the core of our faith.  Dating to the first century, this part of the creed (above) begins where the Old Testament leaves off, just before the manger…and ends where eternity begins…with Jesus as judge, coming in clouds and great glory.

That third line whizzes-by when we say it in unison in church:  Born of the virgin Mary….

But, at Christmas season we (hopefully) slow down just long enough to savor that.  “Born of a virgin” is not a usual occurrence; it’s only happened once!  

The word “virginity” carries with it the express aura of purity and chaste cleanliness; yet the next phrase in the creed “suffered…” proclaims we dragged him through the worst of what humanity has to offer.

This is the wonder of the event we celebrate this season – the spotless Lamb of God becoming sin for the likes of us. 

Today

Spend a few minutes envisioning the spotless virgin-born Son of God being dragged through the sin of the world on the way to the cross.

See if that doesn’t make you hang the tinsel a bit more carefully.