Butterflies

The Gospels are full of accounts of finding, and being found by, Jesus. But who was the first to do so?

One could make a case, from the Gospel According to John, for the young fisherman, Andrew (John 1:35-42, prompted by John the Baptiser; though we have already met people searching for the Messiah earlier on, in verses 19-28).

Or, from the Gospel According to Luke, for the shepherds, sent by angels (Luke 2:8-20).

Or, from the Gospel According to Mark, for Simon Peter, searching for the visitor who had slept in the guest room last night but hadn't shown up for breakfast this morning (Mark 1:35-37).

Or, from the Gospel According to Matthew, for the star-led, gift-bearing Magi (Matthew 2:1-12).

But before all that, Matthew tells us that “Mary...was found to be with child” (Matthew 1:18).

And the first person to find that Mary was with child was...Mary.

At this point, Luke is hopping up and down in the background, clamouring, “Tell’em about the angel, Matt! You haven’t told’em about the angel!”

And of course, Mary knew that she would be with child. But that is not the same thing at all. The angel is to Mary what the angel is to the shepherds, the star to the Magi, John the Baptist to Andrew, and Andrew to Simon Peter.

My wife was informed that she was pregnant by a magic stick. But that is a world away from feeling that first flutter inside, which she did, long before I first felt the kick of a foot impressing itself through her skin.

Finding Jesus, for the 1st time or the 1001st time, begins with butterflies in the stomach.

When did you last feel them?