Christmas Thoughts 2012

Yesterday we celebrated the incarnation of the Son of God. Christmas is the wondrous story of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, the union of manhood and Deity. Following the birth of a child, parents begin to focus on those "milestones" in life. Some of them might include the first time their baby turns over, the first time they crawl, their first words spoken, their first steps taken, etc. From that first day forward, the thing that parents fear most is often the injury, ill health or death of their child.

God has chosen to reveal to us certain truths related to the birth, life and death of His Son Jesus. It appears that what we are privileged to have in Scripture about Him is that which is necessary to know Him, know the reason for His coming and to grow in our knowledge of Him. We know little of His "developmental" years. We have no information on when He first crawled, what words He first spoke or when He took His first steps.

But although I know nothing about the first words that He spoke, I know some of His last. They are certainly among the most profound words ever spoken. Words like, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing". "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOUR FORSAKEN ME?" And, "It is finished!" The truth and significance of these words are of such depth that they may be pondered by the believer for a lifetime and never be exhausted.

And although I know nothing about the first steps that Jesus took, I know something of His last. They were steps taken out of love, in anguish and fatigue, as He was led to Calvary. His very last steps were taken just before He was nailed to a wooden cross by Roman soldiers. No, we do not know when they occurred, but His first steps ever taken were also leading Him to this very place. Calvary's cross was His destiny. Calvary had been His destination from the first day He lay in a manger.

The final steps that He took and the final words which He spoke were to accomplish all that Jesus had been born for. His journey from the manger bed in Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary was indeed the sovereign will of God and His indescribable gift to men. Bearing the sins of the world would forever be the greatest of all "milestones" and one that only Jesus could accomplish. Yes, His final steps and His final words resulted in forgiveness of sin and eternal life for you and me.  Glory to God in the Highest. Praise God for Jesus.