“And the angels filled the sky, all of heaven wondered why.
Why their King would choose to be a baby born to die.
And all fell silent, for the cry of an infant,
the voice of God, was dividing history.
For those with eyes to see, the Son would shine from earth that night.
To break the chains of guilt and sin, to find us here, to pull us in.
So that we can join in Heaven’s song, and with one voice around the throne.”
(Born to Die by Bebo Norman)
As we head into the Christmas holiday season this year, never let us forget the true meaning of Christmas. For Christmas is more than just presents and trees. It is more than just gathering with friends to sing carols on a cold winter’s eve. It is more than just lights and decorations and warm feelings of goodwill to all. And, it is certainly more than just the story of a baby born in a manger on a cold winter night in a small town in the Middle East over 2000 years ago.
Christmas is the story of God loving us so much that He became a man to save us when we couldn't save ourselves. In a very real sense, Christmas is about the cross. For, you see, the baby we sing of in our Christmas carols was born to die. And that, more than anything, is the good news of Christmas
Without the baby Jesus, we would be lost in a world of darkness, dead in our sins and without hope. But, because 2000 years ago Jesus left His throne on high, and humbled Himself, and was found in form as a human baby on that first Christmas night, hope and light and life were born in human hearts everywhere. Jesus became one of us and then went to the cross in our place, taking upon Himself our sin and our shame and guilt and bearing our punishment so that we might have eternal life with Him forever!
Christmas is the day when we celebrate the fact that God came down to earth and wrapped Himself in flesh. Christmas demonstrates the Father's love for us just as the cross demonstrates Christ's love. God had no assurance that we would love His Son, but He sent Him to earth anyway. Jesus had no assurance that we would love Him, but He willingly went to the cross for us anyway. He loved us even though He knew that we might never love Him or trust Him. He loved us enough to die for us, even though many continue to reject Him to this day.
Max Lucado wrote this perspective on the incarnation of Christ:
"Can anything make me stop loving you?" God asks. "Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts . Behold the Maker of sight and sound as He sneezes, coughs, and blows His nose.
"You wonder if I understand how you feel? Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that's God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary's table; that's God spilling His milk."
"You wonder how long my love will last? Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That's me you see up there, your Maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding, covered in spit and sin-soaked."
"That's your sin I'm feeling. That's your death I'm dying. That's your resurrection I'm living. That's how much I love you.”
That, my friends, is Christmas!
So, as you begin your preparations this year, as you gather around the tree with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, remember the Cross and the incarnation and rejoice over the real meaning of Christmas! May God bless you and keep you this Christmas, and may His Spirit continue to fill you with His life!
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