Of Snakes and Saviors

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14, 15 NIV)

Christmas started at the beginning. In a garden. In the form of a promise that someone's head would be crushed and Someone's heel would be struck. From head to heel God had redemption covered. Heaven would come down and crush the serpent's head. Heaven would come down and deliver hope to the helpless when a Baby Boy was delivered. 

Christmas was always a part of the plan. God caught off guard never happened. He knew all along how He would save me and you. The sin of the serpent would only bring fury to his head. Sure, he would nip at the heel of that Baby Boy. But a mere snake is a no match for a Savior. 

So Christmas? It is more dramatic than we think. It isn't just about a King being born. It isn't about a young teen laying her Child in a manger. It is about the final plot twist.  It is about a snake and the Savior who crushed him. 

{Many thanks for my dad, Harlan Humphrey, for the use of his photography.  For more beautiful photos see Wild Scenic Nature.}