Surrender with FaithA map of Gospel scenes

Gospel Scenes

Each point is one Gospel scene. Up is Faith — why they act: because of who he is, or something else. Across is Surrender — whether they said yes to what he was offering. Green is a mercy. Crimson is a no. You are allowed to look.

286 scenes

Mary gives birth in Bethlehem

Lk 2:6-7

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FruitfulMary’s hourTrust and giveThe callFaith 9.00·Surrender 8.40

She brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him, and laid him in a manger. Her yes has become a child in a borrowed stall. She trusts who he is, and she yields home, bed, and the inn. The grace offered this hour is to give the child a place in the world. The hour is fruitful: the Word is laid in a manger.

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Luke 2:6–7

⁶While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

⁷She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Fathers

“On your account then am I weak, in you am I strong. On your account am I poor, in you am I rich. Consider not what you see, but acknowledge that you are redeemed. I owe more, O Lord Jesus, to Your sufferings that I am redeemed, than to Your works that I am created. It were no advantage to be born, had it not advantaged me to be redeemed also.”
— St. Ambrose

“He condescended to become incarnate at that time, that after His birth He might be enrolled in Caesar’s taxing, and in order to bring liberty to us might Himself become subject to slavery. It was well also that our Lord was born at Bethlehem, not only as a mark of the royal crown, but on account of the sacrament of the name.”
— St. Bede

Voices of Christians who loved these scenes long before we did.