How pleasant to think of a new born baby! Doubtless that is part of the appeal of the Christmas season. The story of Mary and Joseph, traveling to Bethlehem to be enrolled for taxation, the birth of the child Jesus in a stable, the visit of the angels, the wise men and the shepherds--it is all quite idyllic as depicted on Christmas cards. It could not be otherwise.
But the glittering cards do not tell the story of a pregnant mother and father traveling under less than optimum conditions and a birth that, at best, must have occurred in squalid and difficult circumstances.
And just as the cards tend to gloss over the actual truths of the situation, so too the Christmas focus on a baby likewise tends to obscure the fact that THE BABY GREW UP.
Taking nothing away from the wondrous birth of Jesus Christ, miraculously born of the Virgin Mary, we must remember that even across the manger in Bethlehem there fell the shadow of His cross. At the announcement of His birth to Joseph an angel said,
"She will give birth to a Son, and you must name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
The name Jesus means "Savior," and tells the whole story--Jesus was born to die. The baby of the Christmas cards grew up, was misunderstood, rejected and, finally, put to death. Why? To die in the place of His people, paying the penalty for their sins, as the Christmas angel said.
The agony, pain, hatred and gore manifested on that bloody cross, reflected in the angel's prophecy, cast the whole Christmas scene into a different light: The baby grew up--and died!
It is easy to cuddle a baby, but it is another thing to deal with the man Christ Jesus. A baby demands nothing, a grown Savior confronts you as One with whom you must deal.
You were born a sinner, as the Bible says: "In a sinful state I was born, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5); you were born one who would go his own way, disregarding God and His ways. But "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). That means that you were born spiritually dead, corrupt and under the guilt of Adam's sin. Someday, unless your sin is forgiven, you will suffer the penalty of eternal death in hell (see Revelation 20:14).
But the baby was born: not to be cuddled in human arms, not to be admired on Christmas cards, but to die. As Paul wrote:
"I delivered to you as of greatest importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins, in agreement with the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in agreement with the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15: 3,4).
That's why He came!
Have you recognized your sin against God? Have you realized your desperate condition apart from forgiveness? Have you trusted in Christ alone for salvation?
If not--what better time than now? Today is the day of salvation (see Hebrews 4:7). If you do come to know Him as Savior today, for the first time you will be able to enter into the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus Christ was born--to die to save sinners like you.
For further information about the true Christmas message, phone or visit us at Harrison Bridge Road Presbyterian Church of Simpsonville, SC. Call 864-967-2986.
Copyright by Jay E. Adams. All rights reserved.