Christmas: Cradle to Cross to Crown

Church Family: 
Last night I witnessed my friend Paul Godridge fully experience the incredible Christmas gift in Jesus Christ. As Paul passed into eternal life, no wrath awaited him, no judgment did he face, and he had no reason to fear death! On the other side of Paul’s life on this earth is one thing and one thing only: a radiant, loving, and joyful God who has forgiven all Paul’s sins, welcoming him into God’s eternal family.

Here is the shocking heart of Christmas: the baby born in Bethlehem arrived to sacrifice His life to rescue us. The wooden manger leads to the wooden cross. God, in His divine nature, cannot die, but the God‑Man can—and did. Christmas is not only about a baby in Bethlehem; it is about the decisive victory of God over sin, Satan, and the fear of death through the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ. At Christmas, the eternal Son of God took on real human flesh and blood so that, by His death, He might destroy the one who has the power of death and set His people free (Hebrews 2:14–15).

At Christmas we celebrate more than a charming story about a baby in a manger. We celebrate the launch of God’s great rescue mission—a mission that stretches from eternity past to eternity future.

Why was this necessary? Because to save us, Jesus had to live the life we should have lived and die the death we deserved to die. Only a true human being could obey God perfectly where every other human failed. Only a true human being could die as a substitute for other humans, bearing their judgment in their place. Only a sinless human Savior could stand where we should have stood. The Bible is crystal clear that this incarnation of God is no myth or mere “religious poetry” (Hebrews 2:17; John 1:14; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 4:2–3). Because the “children” He came to redeem are human, the Son of God became human. He took to Himself a true human nature, like ours in every way except sin.

Christmas announces the victory that began when the Son of God took on our flesh and blood and was completed when He died on the cross, breaking the devil’s power and freeing us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–15).

Let us celebrate together Christmas for what it really is: the ultimate, decisive victory of eternity. Here’s your incredible Christmas gift in Jesus Christ: no wrath awaits you, no judgment to face, and no reason to fear death! On the other side of this life is one thing and one thing only: a radiant, loving, and joyful God who has forgiven all your sins, welcomed you into His family, and made you His child forever! Rejoice—He has won, and you are His!

I hope that you will celebrate Christmas for what it is—the decisive eternal victory! But more; I truly hope you will be sure that you have placed your faith in the One whose birth we celebrate. Then—and only then—will ‘the victory that is Christmas’ also become yours.

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

See you Sunday, worshipping Jesus as the greatest gift: Steve