Anyone out there reading this probably knows me, and therefore knows that I love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year, and if I had my way I would keep decorations up and watch the Christmas movies all year round.
What you may not know is why I love Christmas so much. Obviously, I am a minister, so you are all expecting me to answer by describing the birth of Jesus. In one sense, you are right. My favorite part of Christmas revolves around Jesus, but not in the way you may think. You see, most Christians would think about the traditional narrative, which is roughly half biblical and half tradition, and say that is their favorite part of Christmas. I love Christmas not because of the fun stories of magi and shepherds, angels and sheep, an innkeeper and a little drummer boy, but because of something much bigger.
The cross.
My all-encompassing passion in life is the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
Now, you may ask (no really, ask me), what does the birth of Jesus have to do with the death of Jesus?
Great Question.
I could answer two ways. First, I could tell you that logically Jesus could not have died for our sins if he had not been born. That is true, but it also isn't anything groundbreaking.
My second answer is straight more interesting. The Bible ties the birth and death of Jesus together.
Let me show you.
Galatians 3:26-4:7
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
Read that again.
We were all slaves. Slaves under the law--the principles of this world. We were slaves to the law because the law condemned our inadequacies. We were unable to get to God. We were unable to do enough. We were stuck. We were destined to live, and die, as slaves.
So God acted.
God sent his Son. Almighty God sent his Son.
Born under the law. In other words, he was born in a way that forced him to live within the constraints we live. He had to live with boundaries.
To redeem those under law. Jesus was born under the law to redeem. Now, as Bible students we know that it was the death, not the birth, that redeemed sinners to God.
So Jesus must have been born with the singular purpose of death. Born to die.
Jesus came, at the fullness of time--the perfect moment, the perfect season of this world--so that man would finally be reconciled to God.
I love Christmas because it begins the Passion of the Christ. I love Christmas because Jesus God begins his redeeming plan.
Remember, Christmas is not about the shepherds. It's not about the magi. Its not even about the stable, the manger, Mary, or Joseph.
Christmas is about God, and his loving desire to bring his people back into a relationship with Him.
Grace and Peace
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The past couple of years I think I've only just begun to realize the magnitude of such an act, that is--God becoming flesh.
God, this Holy, set apart, out-of, transcendent and unlimited spirit--limited Himself in the most vulnerable and humiliating way. He became a baby. He underwent an "earthy" human experience--birth. It's hard to understand and even accept that God rolled around inside of a women's womb...placenta, blood, goo, water, tubes, labor...
Sometimes I feel the need to apologize to God: I wish our experiences were a bit more hospitable and fit for a king...but how else could He show love for the gross, than to become gross Himself.
God who is in Himself self-sustaining became something dependent and in need of emotional, physical, and psychological care.
God who is in Himself all-knowing became an uneducated human in need of wisdom, teaching, guidance, and understanding.
and we can go on and on as this is just merely the tip of the iceberg of God's love expressed to us.
I often wonder about Jesus' childhood and when He became aware of His forever-existing love for mankind. I often wonder if Jesus was John's disciple before He became a teacher Himself. I often wonder if/when Mary sat Jesus down and told Him that Joseph wasn't His father. I wonder many things this time of year and as a result--I am awed.
Jesus' glory was temporarily given away for mankind...now I'm just rambling
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