Ah, Christmas--such a warm and fuzzy feeling. A little baby born in Bethlehem. His birth was announced by majestic Angels to lowly shepherds. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). Who doesn't like a good baby story. But Christmas doesn't make sense if you leave out the rest of the story. Right? He was born in a manger . . . and then he grew up and performed miracles and said things that eventually warranted the penalty of death.
I mean Dr. Luke went from "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:11-12), to "... crucify him, crucify him" as Pilate was trying to wash his hands free of whatever might befall the One who was born in a manger.
This went from a courageous teenage girl and her beautiful baby-boy story -- who would save the world -- to a fantastic horrid event of a crucifixion. I know this sounds like the darker side of Christmas but if you celebrate and believe in his birth don't you also have to believe in his death and that "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishments that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
My friend Dorelle wrote this:
Revelation 6:15-17 says, "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?'"
Unfortunately this time of year people are getting ready to celebrate the pagan Christ-mass. They put our Lord Jesus back in a manger and talk about "the baby Jesus."
This goes hand-in-hand with the false concept of a tolerant god that most choose to believe in contrary to the plain Scriptures. The world has no problems with the baby Jesus in the manger, but they have a lot of problems with the man Christ Jesus and His public ministry, His teachings, His claims, His death, His burial, His resurrection, and His soon return.
They also have a major problem with the wrath of the Lamb of God. This is no baby in a manger that is cute and cuddly, this is Almighty Lamb of God who has put up with enough rebellion from His creatures and pours out His great wrath upon all the earth. The great day of Jesus' wrath upon the earth and those that dwell therein is coming soon , and we should be warning the rebels to flee from the wrath to come through salvation from sin through Jesus Christ alone.
JESUS is ALWAYS the REASON for ALL SEASONS!!
Dorelle Diamond
You know, these are my Monday Musings. Merry Christmas and don't forget the greatest gift you can give Him is yourself. It's all He's ever wanted.
2 comments:
Well said. If we believe in Jesus, we must believe in the whole story, and believe the words he spoke.
On another note, this Christmas I've been thinking a lot about what the angels said, and why they said it. "Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Men." After wrestling a bit with this, the good news...the peace...the goodwill, is God's gracious favor on mankind. He has provided a way through Jesus--a way for man to be reconciled with God.
This is truly good news for mankind! It's truly something to celebrate!
It's made my Christmas holidays more meaningful to dwell on this.
And well said also, Pastor Sharon. It really does bring meaning to our Christmas, doesn't it. See you soon, my friend.
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