Spiritual Childbirth

As countless women throughout time can attest, the act of childbirth is a
painful experience fraught with perilous scenarios. It is messy, hectic, and full
of discomfort of every kind. And yet, its successful result is glorious. A few
short hours of agony lead to a lifetime of love and joy with another human
being who bears your image.

For all these reasons, childbirth made a fitting illustration for Jesus to
use as he prepared his apostles for the shock of his death. “When a woman is
giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has
delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a
human being has been born into the world” (John 16.21). Jesus spoke these
words after they had eaten their final meal together, only hours away from his
arrest, trials, and eventual crucifixion. Jesus certainly had sorrow leading up
to and during his travail (Matthew 26.48, John 12.27), but he looked forward
to what his pain would produce. As women in labor look forward to the
coming of their children, our Lord set his gaze on the “joy set before him”
(Hebrews 12.2) of saving mankind from sin and disarming his Satanic
adversaries. He knew, however, that his disciples would struggle mightily as
they watched him die, not understanding the coming resurrection of his body
three days later.

Although we are not the apostles, the image of childbirth is a useful
image for Christians to keep in our hearts. In all kinds of ways, living in a
world corrupted by sin is an ordeal, a kind of labor. Because of this, we
should not be surprised or shocked by the pain this world brings, just as a
woman in labor understands that pain comes with her contractions. Paul says
that God’s whole creation has been “groaning together in the pains of
childbirth until now” (Romans 8.22) and, likewise, God’s people groan to
receive the resurrected bodies promised to us (Romans 8.23).

Not only is the world painful in general because of sin’s current
presence, but a Christian’s effort to help fellow humans can also be messy,
hectic, and full of discomfort of every kind. As the apostle Paul worded his
letter to the churches of Galatia, he used the analogy of labor to speak of his
ongoing work with them – “My little children, for whom I am again in the
anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” (Galatians 4.19). After a
mother has given birth to a child, she hardly desires to go through that
process again for that same child! But Paul had to return to the basics of the
gospel for these groups of disciples who were quickly abandoning the faith
they had once embraced. Yet, for all the trouble Paul’s relationships caused
him, his joy at seeing 1st century believers on resurrection day will eclipse the
sorrow he experienced during his short lifetime here. The same comfort is
available for any Christian intent on doing the will of God. Labor well, for your
joy is coming.
– Nathan Combs