Think about this imagined encounter between Eve and Mary. Eve, with her eyes opened to evil, is now clothed in shame. Mary is clothed in white, symbolic of righteousness. Eve is plagued by sorrow. Mary, also having known the suffering of sin, expresses true sympathy, but also bears contentment and hope on her face. This is because she trusts in the one who graces her womb. With one hand she caresses Eve’s face to comfort her. With the other she grabs Eve’s hand to place it on her belly as well. This Savior will be for both of them! Eve needs to reach for Him instead of the fruit of evil desire to which she’s been clinging. Below, the lying serpent who longs to have humanity in his coils lies crushed with Mary’s foot on his head. This signals the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 by Jesus. But it’s appropriate to see Mary’s foot here, for she will share in the victory of the people of God (Romans 16:20: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet”).
As you prepare for Christmas this year, let gladness well up in you, knowing we are no longer prisoners to futility and corruption. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining/ till He appeared and the soul felt its worth/ a thrill of hope: the weary world rejoices / for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!