Nativity scenes depicting Christ’s birth look kind of
romantic and cozy. In reality, a stable is less than ideal for a newborn. I’ve
been in my sister’s barn a few times. You have to watch where you step for one
thing. But this lowly birth place, is where Jesus chose to come into the world
as a babe. Jesus is eternal God. He is the High King of heaven. This holy God
came to earth as a servant. Why would God do this? He came to fulfill his plan
to save sinners from eternal damnation. Although his birth place was lowly,
Christ’s greatest demonstration of humility was in his death on the cross.
Christ never sinned and he perfectly fulfilled the law. Jesus Christ is righteous
and holy. He willingly died in our place bearing the penalty for our sins. He
rose again three days later, conquering death and crushing Satan’s power. He
ascended to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Outside of Christ, mankind is enslaved to sin.
Those given
the gift of faith in Christ, are set free from the power of sin and death
(Ephesians 2:1-10, John 8:36.) In Christ, we are made new and have eternal
life. We cannot free ourselves from sin or make ourselves new. We cannot reform
our ways or earn favor with God by keeping the Ten Commandments and performing
good works. Without Christ, we are children of wrath. There are no sins too
great for Christ to wash away. God will never reject a sinner who calls out to
him for mercy, believing upon Christ for salvation (John 6:37.) The angels sang
with joy when the Lord entered the world; our Savior had come (Luke 2:13-14.)
The angels also rejoice when the Lord calls poor sinners to himself and makes
them rich in Christ (Luke 15:1-10.)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”
In his allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan teaches on this verse
and tells of the joy found in Christ. The following excerpt is from The Pilgrim's Progress, section three:
Who's this? the Pilgrim. How! 'tis very true,
Old things are past away, all's become new.
Strange! he's another man, upon my word,
They be fine Feathers that make a fine Bird.
Then Christian gave three leaps for joy,
and went on singing,
Thus far did I come laden with my sin;
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither: What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the Burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me.
I was cleaning up some old files on my computer the other
day and came across the following quote by Archibald Alexander in “Counsels of the Aged to the Young," It is quite fitting for this post; I
am amazed at God’s provision in all things.
Dear youth, be wise—and secure
"an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading—reserved in
heaven for you." Christ extends His arms of mercy to secure you. Angels
are waiting to rejoice at your conversion and to become your daily and nightly
guardians. The doors of the church will be opened to receive you. The ministers
of the Gospel, and all the company of believers, will hail your entrance and
will welcome you to the precious ordinances of God's house. And finally, remember
that "now is the accepted time and the day of salvation". (2 Cor 6:2)
In closing, I wrote this poem as I reflected on Philippians 2:5-11, (quoted earlier in the post,) and Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Both of these verses have been on my mind as I reflected upon my Savior’s birth this Christmas season.
A tiny babe was born in a stable
‘Twas the birthplace of a King
In a feeding trough he lay
Content to be in a bed of hay
A nativity by divine appointment
Having left his royal throne
He came as a humble servant
Eternal God was born a man
Emmanuel- God with us
Christ came- the second Adam
By the first Adam, mankind fell
We are poor sinners all
Our souls are ill with iniquity
We’re sheep with crimson wool
Soap cannot wash off the stains
It only sets them in
In ourselves there is no hope
Hence the Savior came
The sinless Good Shepherd
Fulfilled the law
His life he laid down-
A sacrifice for our sins
God’s love is measureless
All those that trust in Jesus
Are white and pure as he
His sheep are cleansed
With fleeces white as snow
