merry christmas!!!

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!"

--Luke 2:8-14

     Merry Christmas! I'm sorry this post is a little late. I hope your day was blessed as you celebrated the birth of our Savior and spent time with family and friends. 

     This post may be belated, but it's never too late for the Christmas story, right? The above passage, I think, sums up the story of Christmas pretty well. (Please, however, read the whole of Luke 2 when you get the chance.) The baby, the Savior, the king of earth and of heaven, was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger––because there was no place for him in the inn. 

      No place for him? No place for God on earth? I wonder if those innkeepers would have tried to make room for Joseph and Mary if they had known the significance of who Mary bore in her womb. 

     But, so the Bible tells us, there was no place for them in the inn. God didn't want Jesus born in the best of hotels; nor did he want him born in a palace, as he surely deserved. No––he decided on a stable. This is God we are talking about, after all. He can start from anywhere and accomplish his plan. 

     We all know the rest of the Gospel story: Jesus grew up, and "increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) He worked miracles and cast out demons. He gained the love and honor from the people, as seen in his procession through the town on a donkey, when the crowd shouted Hosanna! and laid their coats on the road. 

     However, this admiration was not shared by all. Soon after his triumphant procession, he was hanged on a cross by Roman soldiers. Hanged with nails. Nails driven into his hands and feet, his back raw and bleeding, his head poked with thorns. He was mocked. The Son of God was mocked! He was ridiculed and humiliated publicly. But this was not half of his pain, compared to the anguish that came with God's wrath being poured down on him. In the midst of his physical pain, Jesus had to bear––chose to bear––his Father's holy wrath. All of it. His Father, with whom he had spent all eternity with in a perfect, wonderful relationship, was now turning his back on his Son. 

    But Jesus, through this suffering, paid our WHOLE debt, and was victorious over the grave! He ascended into heaven, and now we look forward to his return, when he will take us home to live with him forever. 

     My Christmas challenge to you is: live your life in the light of this message. Because Christmas isn't just about the birthday in the stable (although that is a wonderful message in itself!). It's about the whole Gospel. I know we all know this news already, but thanks for reading through it again. :) 

     Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! God bless you!!! 

-Sarah :)