From the Manger
Last Sunday one of the elders of our church gave the meditation about Christmas. He described how we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we tell the Christmas story how he was born in a stable because the was no room in the inn. He went on to explain that Christmas is just the beginning of the story and everyone knows a story that has a beginning and no end is worthless. So as Paul Harvey would say ” here’s the rest of the story”
It is of course true that Mary the espoused wife of Joseph was told she would conceive a child by the Holy Ghost. That child would be the savior of the world. The Bible said she pondered all these thoughts in her heart. That was a lot for anyone to take in. I am going to assume that she was raised in a Jewish home who kept the laws of Moses because she was a willing servant.
So the prophecies were fulfilled from the Old Testament and she gave birth to her son in the stable and it was proclaimed and announced by angels and a bright shining star. As I said before this is the beginning of the story, because this was God’s gift to man, in the form of a perfect sinless son. God’s redemption was born. The Bible quotes it as,” he gave his only begotten SON.”
He lived a perfect sinless life and grew into a sinless man. At the age of 30 he begins his ministry explaining the new covenant that will be established in place the laws of Moses, which required animal sacrifices for redemption of sin. In three short years the Bible said he performed more miracles than could be written across the skies if the oceans were ink and the sky was parchment.
As the prophecies foretold he was not accepted by the Jews of the times who were steeped in tradition and the regiments of their religion. As was foretold He was ridiculed, tortured and hung on a wooden cross on the hill called Golgotha. This is the beautiful and important end of the story, but the beginning of eternal life through this blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The last sacrifice that would ever be needed for redemption.
At Christmas time we put up trees that are called Evergreen. The German Christians began this tradition because to them the Evergreen tree symbolized everlasting life with Jesus Christ. The lights on the tree symbolizes the light that Jesus brought into a world of darkness and sin. Under these traditional trees we put gifts wrapped in gaily colored paper to exchange with one another expressing our love for one another.
The greatest gift ever given in history is not wrapped in gaily colored paper but was wrapped in agony and blood and pain to give us eternal life, and it is ours just by accepting.
As parents it is important for us to make our children understand the true meaning of Christmas. My father used to read us the Christmas story from the Bible. We need to teach our children this is just the beginning of the story, the ending is living happily ever after for eternity with Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept the gift that was offered with no strings attached.
Whenever possible I like to interject a song that reiterates a point I’m trying to make, this song is called Calvary Invitation.
Come and see the Lamb of God, O come to Calvary.
Linger for a moment more and see the twisted tree.
Come and hear the hammer ring, come hear it nail His feet.
Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary.
Come and taste the tears that fall, O come to Calvary.
Linger for a moment more and taste His lonely grief.
Come and feel the angry thorns, come feel His agony.
Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary.
Though you long to turn away, you cannot seem to leave.
Rooted to the ground you stand as firmly as the tree.
In His face you recognize what draws you to this place,
Written on each line of pain and suffering is grace.
Come and see the Lamb of God, O hear the hammer ring.
Come and taste the tears the fall, come feel His agony.
Come and look into His face, come stand beneath the tree.
Linger for a moment more, O come to Calvary.
Linger just one moment more, O come to Calvary.
We as authors oftentimes paint a beautiful picture of the manger scene and the birth of Christ with words. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a barn, but it smells like the animals which it keeps. The Bible says he was born of a lowly birth, being born in a barn is pretty low. We also like to make the death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross a sterile bloodless death. It was anything but, he was beaten so badly they said you could hardly recognize him as a man. Let’s get real and tell it like it is, this gift came at a tremendous price because of his love for us.
Jesus is the reason for the season, and this story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending that is a new beginning. The question is will you choose this gift of love or reject it?
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2 :7-2And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:33-43
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16