Thursday, December 10, 2009

God had a Plan,
Christmas

I believe it’s time for a bit of a time out! I would like to focus on the season, both for my family and as a current theme for the blog. So why not start by answering a simple question – Why do Christians feel they have to make the celebration of Christmas all about Jesus?

Let’s start at the beginning – God created the universe, including man, and placed him there in a garden. Man sinned, and fell from God’s grace and from being allowed to continue in fellowship with Him. God had a plan, from before the foundation of the earth, to reconcile man to Himself. That’s what Christmas is all about. The enacting of God’s plan to redeem fallen man through the sinless Christ.

Jesus didn’t say that if we followed Him, He would lead us to the truth, or show us the way to find life. He was very clear in what He did say: I AM THE WAY. I AM THE TRUTH. I AM THE LIFE. He also said that no one comes to the Father but through Him.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

God revealed His plan to His prophets, as we find in the book of Isaiah - many, many verses, but here's just one:

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.


God chose a man, John the Baptist, to go before the Christ, to prepare the way by proclaiming repentance. And Jesus came, not as just another teacher or preacher of the way – He Himself WAS – and still is – THE WAY.

He didn’t come as a great and fancy King – although many expected that. He was born in a stable to a simple, God-fearing young virgin woman. Some knew who He was at that time, because God had revealed it to them. But He didn’t become widely known until He had grown – under the care and tutelage of the Holy Spirit, and in subjection to His parents.

During the time of His ministry on earth, His entire focus was completely on His assignment – to do the will of the Father - to do miracles and perform signs, and ultimately to lay His life down, accomplishing salvation of the world. He took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and died the death we deserved, in our place. But He is not dead, because God raised Him from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, and He is Lord!

That’s why I celebrate Christmas. It is all about Jesus! No one else loved me like that, no one else died for me and accomplished salvation for me so that I can now live in right relationship with God. I hope that you, too, believe and receive God’s free gift of salvation. May God bless all those who celebrate Christmas as an expression of belief in and love for our risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Luke 2:7-14 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.


[ALL SCRIPTURES NASB]

1 comment:

Dee Yoder said...

I love celebrating Jesus at Christmas, too! It's a wonderful time of year.