Babe in the Manger, Our Bittersweet Savior

“The LORD’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD, your loyalty [fidelity and faithfulness] is great.”

(Lamentations 3:22, 23–New Century Version)

Bittersweet.

More formally known as solanum dulcamara, it’s a sturdy vine, its berries adorned in rich red and orange.

We passed some not long ago, my husband and I. We were simply strolling along when a wiry branch spanning a quarter of the sidewalk reached out and snatched my hair.

I stopped in my tracks, then, having untangled, took a good, long look at my captor.

Honestly, it was beautiful. I snapped a photo, then debated whether to steal some, wondering if the property owners would mind.

But we weren’t near the car, and I’d have to carry it quite a distance, so I decided not to be a thief.

Still, I haven’t forgotten the bittersweet, finding myself thinking about it–quite a bit, in fact.

Thus, I determined to discover more, see if this overpowering plant–that which envelops others in its path–possesses some deeper symbolism. Know what I found?

Bittersweet, this woody vine whose berries provide food for birds though prove poisonous to humans and pets, represents…

• Faithfulness.
• Loyalty.

Fidelity. The word rolled around in my mind until, all of a sudden, I knew. It reminded me of the Latin word fideles, as in Adeste Fideles, or, as the hymn’s English title goes, O Come, All Ye Faithful.

This popular Christmas carol, whose origin isn’t exactly known, was first translated from Latin into English by Frederick Oakeley in the mid to late 1800s.

The hymn’s four verses, its lyrics nearly unchanged over the course of many years, are sung by thousands throughout the Christmas season. Most can sing much of it from memory, with eyes closed–

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

God of God, light of Light,

Lo He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

Very God, begotten, not created:

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!

Glory to God, glory in the highest:

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be glory given!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

(Public Domain)

This beautiful hymn speaks of Him–the One we celebrate, the Reason for the season. The faithful One. The loyal One.

Yes, our bittersweet One.

Bittersweet.

That painful, yet pleasurable reality wrapped up as the greatest Gift the world has ever known–Emmanuel, God with us.

Indeed, the Babe in the manger who arrived on a cold and starry night, born in a barn among the dust and dung of animals.

His first visitors were lowly, homeless wanderers–shepherds abiding with their sheep in the Judean hills outside Bethlehem.

His mother Mary was likely no more than a teenager, his father a man of humble means–a carpenter, in fact, a dime a dozen in those ancient days.

No doubt, Mary tasted the bitter of labor, her only nurse her husband, though God designed Joseph just right for the job. Of course, he encouraged her as she pushed their child into the world, wiping her brow, calming her urgent cries until, finally, they heard the sweet voice of their Son.

Bittersweet.

Do you suppose, with the Baby’s first drawn breath, released in wails to awaken a sleeping, sin-scarred world, Mary and Joseph looked at one another with wide-eyed wonder? Why us? they perhaps thought, these new parents to the Prince of Peace, on Whose shoulders the government would rest.

Imagine how sweet it must have been to behold the child they named Jesus, and still, that bitter sting tugging at the edges of their hearts, knowing all the prophets foretold.

Bittersweet.

That day of dedication–when the couple brought their infant to the temple and two others, a prophet and a prophetess, witnessed with their own eyes the fulfillment of God’s promise.

How sweet for Simeon to finally see the One whom he’d been expecting, clinging with hope, believing he would experience the goodness of God-made-flesh–yes!–in the land of the living

And yet, how bitter for Mary to hear his prophecy, Simeon saying–

“God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will [pierce your heart], too” (Luke 2:34, 35–NCV).

Bittersweet.

Some time later, weary wisemen arrived at the family’s door bearing gifts of great significance. Do you think Mary once more experienced that piercing of her soul?

Each present symbolized something particular for the newborn King.

• Gold, His royalty.
• Frankincense, the sweet perfume signifying His priestly position.
• Myrrh, that bitter foreshadowing of His sacrifice.

Bittersweet.

As the years passed and Jesus grew in stature and wisdom, undoubtedly his parents tasted the sweet of their son’s obedience, all the while, knowing He’d come for a greater purpose, that which would include the bitter cup of suffering.

And for us–we wayward children who, because of Jesus, are called to be like Him, demonstrating fidelity.

It’s what we sing, is it not?

O come, all ye faithful…

So, too, we sing the weeping Prophet’s sweet proclamation, sung in the midst of his bitter lament…

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be glory given!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

Indeed, His mercies are new every morning. Great is Emmanuel’s faithfulness, woven bittersweet throughout history.

Faithful friends–may we, at Christmas and throughout the year, strive to remain in Jesus, the true Vine. Captivated by Him, we’re set free, then made more in His image day by day.

***O come, let us adore Him!***

Jesus, thank you for being our Bittersweet. You’re our most faithful, loyal friend, enduring the bitter cross that we might have the sweet assurance of Heaven. Overtake our hearts, dear Savior, as we surrender. Your presence is the sweetest thing we can experience, making even the most bitter days abundantly better. Thank you!