Merry Christmas!
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
For some, the story of Jesus Christ’s birth starts in the beginning chapters of the gospels of Matthew or Luke. I would like to suggest that the story of Jesus birth begins much earlier than the accounts of these two gospels. I like where John starts in his gospel.
John 1:1-2,14:
1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God… 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…
John starts his Christmas story at the beginning of creation and brings us to the birth of Jesus – “and the Word became flesh”. Just five words to describe this amazing, miraculous event -- “and the Word became flesh.” Jesus’ amazing journey from creating the world to being born in the world is hidden in that little word “AND”.
God has a redemption plan that began in the Garden of Eden, and He will complete it at the second coming of Christ. The birth of Jesus Christ was His first entry into our world. It was a long awaited-for event. It is the event that began the rescue of men from slavery to sin through the forgiveness of sin. But, it is only the first part of executing God’s redemption plan. Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven were next. These events secured our redemption, the forgiveness of sins and gave us a gift of eternal life.
Now, we find ourselves in 2021 at Christmas, celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth and looking forward to the final event. What is this event? Jesus Christ’s second entry into the world in all His power and glory, where He will complete His redemption plan. Just as Jesus Christ’s first entry was a promise which God kept, so will be His second entry.
Why is this important? Because there is another promise that God has made. He has promised the hope of peace and justice. To bring about peace and justice, He has promised to remove evil from the world. At Christ’s return, this promise will be fulfilled as well. Peace was promised -- at the birth of Christ -- to all men with whom He is pleased, those who do His will. The penalty for sin will also be carried out on those who refuse to love God and do His will. Obeying God’s will, begins by accepting God’s forgiveness of our sin through Jesus sacrifice on the cross and receiving His gift of eternal life.
John starts with Jesus first entry into our world in his gospel and finishes with Jesus second coming in his book, ‘Revelation’. ‘Revelation’ reveals to us how God will continue to allow an increase in the world’s suffering in order to bring us to a decision to repent of our sin and accept Jesus Christ as our redeemer and Saviour and Lord. God continues to patiently warn us that the penalty for sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. And this will be so until the second coming of Christ.
God, has always challenged us to choose life through His Son and not to choose death through sin. So, the question is this, “Which master will you serve? A loving and just God who sustains life, or the sin in your life which results in death?” Will you continue ignoring His invitation to receive His eternal gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, or will you this Christmas be thanking God for sending His son into the world to redeem you? Personally, upon choosing to follow Jesus Christ, I am thanking God for Christmas and looking forward to Jesus return when He fulfills the promise of “peace on earth among those with whom He is pleased”. May you also choose to be blessed with His peace. May you also this Christmas, bring glory to God in the highest, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ -- the Saviour of the world.
Pastor Mark