The Season And The Reason

“when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Galatians 4:4–5


Growing up my Mom and Dad would have the Andy Williams Christmas album playing in our house. I heard the song so many times I could sing it in my sleep…

“It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
Yes the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year…

Christmas for as long as I can recall has been a wonderful time of the year. I have so many great memories from my earliest childhood then getting married and having a family of our own and now with grandchildren its even more wonderful. My parents told my sisters and brother and I about the birth of Jesus and how Christmas was the celebration of his being born into this world but I didn’t know why. I never understood anything more about the true meaning of Christmas until I gave my life to the Lord in 1980 and as I began to read my bible I understood that Jesus was born to die. The greatest gift ever known to mankind came in the form of a baby, when God took on human flesh to redeem a world held captive by sin and death. Reading the gospel of Matthew and learning the story surrounding Jesus miraculous birth to the Virgin Mary explained clearly that Jesus was born to save us, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). In the book of Revelation Jesus is described as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

Christmas is the season, Jesus is the reason! Christmas is the celebration of our Savior being born into this world to save us from our sins. Knowing Jesus was born to die doesn’t diminish the joy of Christmas, it actually heightens it. The writer of Hebrews gives us much insight in understanding the baby who was born to die. In Hebrews 2:9-10 we read, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Verses 14-15 goes on to say, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

What blows my mind most is the realization that this plan of Christmas, the gift of salvation was in the heart of God long before the world was even created. The apostle Paul explains it all in Ephesians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.”

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He came to earth. Jesus was born to die, to be the sacrifice that would remove our sins once and for all, all for the glory of His Father, “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God' " (Hebrews 10:5-7).
Christmas is the season and Jesus is the reason. Jesus Christ was born to die so that all who would place their hope and trust in Him would live. Receive the gift of God this Christmas, open your heart to Jesus and discover for yourself the thrill of hope and the meaning of life!


“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6


I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

Recent

Archive

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags