Christmas, Oh Christmas! This season and holiday has a way of bringing about a whirlwind of emotions, a broad spectrum of thoughts, and a variety of things to do. Let’s bring ourselves back to the roots of the reason for this season and take a look at Christmas through a different lens.
For me, I always try to think of different aspects of Christmas and the full scope of what the birth of Jesus involved. It wasn’t just Joseph and Mary searching for a manger, nor the bright star leading the kings to the manger. It surely wasn’t just the silent, beautiful, night of Jesus’ birth when he was wrapped in swaddling cloths* and placed in the manger. It was so much more.
What you may or may not know is that Mary and Joseph had to eventually flee Bethlehem to save theirs and Jesus’ life from King Herod.
In this poem I’ve written, I’ve addressed what is taking place in Heaven before Jesus’ arrival to earth as a baby and the significance of what His arrival means. A beautiful and thought-provoking event … from the moment Jesus agreed to come to earth to live a human life, to ultimately dying for our sins and granting us eternal salvation. What more beautiful gift is there than to know Jesus’ life was to profess faith, perform miracles, and sacrifice His very life for US?
I sometimes think of the fear and unknown human emotions that Jesus must have felt and agreed to take on coming to earth as a man knowing He would be dying an excruciating death on the cross. Which had less to do with His character than it had to do with those who condemned Him for being just as He was.
His time on Earth surely brought to Him a new understanding of “human” life and suffering on earth, but also knowing the sacrifice He must make to save us from our sinful nature. We truly cannot save ourselves. In knowing that, it’s a beautiful message of Jesus’ birth to ALL of us that our sins are accounted for and we are Forgiven – For – Everything.
We have a kind and loving Heavenly Father. He knew the importance of sending His One and Only Son to die for our sins. There had to be the sacrifice, but then there was also the ultimate joy of Jesus returning to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. What a celebration that must have been. In knowing our human nature, Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit to be with us to guide us through this life until we meet Jesus again in Heaven.
God is a good God and He is good at being God. Jesus knew this to be true as well! How much love do you think God has for you? Let me paint a quick picture for you … God cleared out Heaven to send Jesus to Earth to guide us toward salvation and sacrificing Himself for not only the atonement for our sins, but also for the sake of believing in Him and reserving our spot in Heaven! Hark the herald, angels sing, glory to the newborn King!
May we always ponder and appreciate all that Jesus was willing to go through for us when coming to Earth as a babe. And not just Jesus’ sacrifice for our sake, but in knowing that God always has a reason for everything that happens under Him. Let us praise the birth of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the love of Jesus, and the sacrifice of Jesus. No greater love is known!
Did angels sing at the event of Jesus coming to earth? The Bible tells us they sang:
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!
Luke 2:14
May we experience the true meaning of Christmas as we reflect upon all that occurred, first in Heaven and then on Earth, in preparation for our salvation and eternal life!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
*Clean linen swaddling cloths were used for newborn lambs, right after birth, destined for sacrifice in the Holy Temple. The lambs were wrapped in cloth held by strips of cloth. The swaddling was intended to keep the lambs protected, unblemished, and unharmed. Jesus, the Lamb of God, too, was swaddled with the same intention of keeping Him protected, unblemished, and unharmed at birth.