The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! (Romans 8:19 TPT)
Do you remember what it’s like to stand on tiptoe? Perhaps you’ve done it recently, trying to reach something that was just a bit beyond your height? Or, maybe, your tiptoe moment was related to craning your posture to see around an obstacle for a better view.
We took our grandsons to the Christmas parade last weekend. It was 90 minutes of standing on tiptoe in various ways. I watched as they stood on tiptoe to see the next float, entry, band or vehicle move past. They stood on tiptoe in expectation of candy being dropped into their bags. They stood on tiptoe to see over the protective fence barrier, to see past the people next to them, and to see beyond the current parade exhibit to the one that was coming after it.
This time of year is akin to “standing on tiptoe” for children and adults. There is a lot of hype about Christmas with it’s glitz and glitter, promise of presents and wonder. Our culture does much to promote this sensory experience of the tiptoe stance. Christmas Hallmark and other movies, big sales in stores and online, programs at church and school, light spectacles and experiences – these are all tiptoe aligned encounters. We live in a world marketed direct at your tiptoes! Even the grinchiest among us may on occasion acquiesce and give rise to the peer pressure that is directed toward the end of their feet.
But the original (OG, as they say) tiptoe moment of the Advent season came with an announcement made to Mary, mother of the Christ child, by the angel Gabriel (Luke 2:26-38). When Gabriel foretold the coming of the babe Jesus to his young virgin mother, the world was put on tiptoe notice. A pregnancy, nine-months of tiptoes for expectant parents, was in the offing. This pregnancy, this advent, would have history changing implications. The prophecy of Gabriel’s words include these foretellings:
- “The Lord is with you.”
This is the promise of incarnation. Emmanuel is “God with us”. Just as we stand on tiptoe waiting the arrival of an expected guest, we are called to be expectant and prepared for the arrival of Emmanuel in our lives and days. God is with you! Think of that. In all that you do, all that you face, God is with you. You are not alone or forgotten, or abandoned. - “Do not be afraid”
Gabriel’s greeting and news for Mary was not fear-based. The news of Christ’s birth should come to our ears and hearts as a tonic and antidote to fear. So much of our lived experience is motivated by fear. We are afraid of not having enough, not knowing enough, not being enough. Politicians and leaders fuel their vitriol around fear – fear of the other, fear of the unknown. But Jesus’ birth and message is about “fear not”. You can live your life in the promise of a “fear not”. Hold it in your heart, carrying on your person. Mary came to know, in the uncertainty of her situation and all that she would witness in her son’s life and death, that she could do so without fear, because the mission of Jesus overcomes any and all fears. - “you will bear a son, and you will name him Jesus”
“Jesus” the Semitic version of Hebrew’s “Joshua” means God saves or savior. In Mary’s day, conquering leaders entered cities and villages to the tiptoe standing throngs who welcomed a savior. But these wannabe saviors of military powers and principalities, were at best pretenders or placeholders for the real deal. Jesus comes as the One who can truly save us. He is our kinsman redeemer. We should always feel a tingling in our toes when we greet Him and welcome His presence into our lives.
- “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor David.”
For generations, 28 since David reigned on Israel’s throne, the people of God had awaited a Messiah King. That need and expectation had at times fallen into despair (think Exile) and grown to heightened hope (think occupation by the Roman Empire), but it never completely dissipated.
King David was the template or prototype. He, a man after God’s own heart, who had united the Kingdom and brought peace, was promised that his heir would reign forever and ever. In King Jesus this promise comes to fruition. The inception of his reign comes in a lowly manger, with the equally humble greeting party of lowly shepherds. The Magi’s later visit confirms He would be a King for all people. A Cross, followed by an empty tomb, would be his means of taking the throne forever. - “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
It may be a unique human capacity to rise on tiptoe, though I’m pretty sure I’ve seen dogs and other animals embrace the posture. We rise to meet loved ones again and again, especially if we’ve been apart. We anticipate the birth of a child, even though children have been being birthed since the beginning of time. We rally to the moment of a holiday (derivative of holy day) annually. Why?
God has put within our spirits the ability to recognize goodness and grace. We don’t always get it right, and too often substitute allegiance to false hopes, but over and again people of faith and people of God (which includes all of us, whether acknowledged or not) respond to hopeful promise found in faithful obedient leaders. There is no leader more enduring or worthy of our tiptoe greeting than Jesus. His kingdom, the Kingdom of God, is our true home. He is our true King.
Romans 8:19 has long been a favorite verse of mine. I first encountered it in a lasting way through the lyrics of a scripture song. It kindled in me a vision of creation – animals, trees, mountains, seas and all that inhabits them – rising to its tiptoe in hope, waiting and expecting God’s crown jewel of creation, humankind to get it. Creation is waiting on tiptoe for the sons and daughters of God to come into their own. What does this mean? It means creation waits for you and I, and all other people of all time and place, to see and accept what Gabriel told Mary. A Savior is born who is Christ the Lord. He comes as an expression of God’s redemptive love for a creation that has gone rogue in sin, to be restored in anticipation of one day being re-storied at the end of time.
That’s reason enough to rise to your tiptoes, don’t you think? So, in whatever way, with whatever crutch or enablement you may require, I invite you in this Advent season to once again do just that.
© Daniel M. Cash 2024
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