I want to get in the middle

John 3:16

When Matthew was about two years of age, he would always say, “I want to get in the middle” when he saw Ron and I hugging. It soon became a family ritual to let Matthew squeeze in between our knees as we embraced. When Andrew came along it was just assumed he too would get in the middle of a family hug. I remember to this day the warm feeling I had with Ron’s arms around me and four little sticky hands wrapped around my knees.

When I think of the Christmas story my mind wanders to Mary and how she must have felt when Jesus was a little boy. Mary had the awesome privilege to be “in the middle” between the love expressed between God and His Son. She must have felt so honored to be the one selected to bring God’s love to His people. I am sure she like most new mothers had to learn every day how to care for her son. I wonder if Jesus every asked to “get in the middle” between Mary and Joseph as they hugged? The difference in her son and my sons is that Jesus was not just a human boy. He is God and He is Love.

The Son was sent to get “in the middle” between God and the people He loved so much. Jesus was sent to die for our sins. How deep God’s love is for us! As much as we love our children, we can never understand the sacrifice God made to allow His son to, not feel the warmth of being in the middle of a hug, but the pain of being in the middle of a sacrifice. Because of the greatest love of all we can have the greatest gift of all. We can “get in the middle” between the Father and Son as they hug.