I have read many articles and opinions on the fact that Christ came into the world to die for you sins, but the way he died – and willingly. How can I wrap my head around that? How, as a very fallible human being could you ever muster up the nerve to do that? Look again at what Isaiah said about it many years before it actually happened.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”
“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;
because he had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in his mouth.”
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:3-10
And remember, he did all of this for people that continually reject him. People that consistently believe that they know more than the God that created them. How can I, as that fallible human being get that into my head. I can contemplate jumping in front of someone pointing a gun or knife at my wife or family. I can comprehend being instantly killed and soaring off to Heaven after my selfless act. I cannot fathom letting someone take me, slap me, spit on me, beat me with a cat-o-nine-tails that has little shards of bone attached to each strand of leather that with each slap it tears into my flesh until my whole back is completely torn back. I cannot justify in my mind or any part of my being then being crowned with spiked crown of thorns, where the thorns are a couple inches long – searing into my skull, and then being made to walk a mile to where I was thrown on a huge piece of wood and then huge spikes being driven into my hands and feet. People, if I knew that was going to happen – I can pretty much guarantee that I would be walking away with my tail between my legs. You better be thankful that it was Christ that went through it all. If it was me, the entire world would be damned.
In the coming Christmas season, be thankful for for your family, your friends, your life – be thankful for it all. Most of all though, remember Christ, and be thankful that he was willing to be born to die!
AE
and continuing…
What do you think about when you picture Christ’s birth? I know I always picture an aesthetically pleasing rustic stable, a wooden manger, some cute animals, a young lovely mother with a sweet babe in her arms, and a devoted spouse leaning over her with devotion. Maybe a halo and some glitter. Basically I picture in my mind a Christmas card.
Reality tells us that this barn in this particular country was most likely a bit of a shack. Barns with animals are smelly dirty places. Having a baby is not a pleasant lovely scene. If you have children you understand that reality. Mary was a young teenaged girl and this was her first child. She probably was afraid. There was blood, sweat, and tears.
When Jesus was born immediately the kingdoms shook and Satan became livid because the plan of God was moving forward. The plan to save this world from itself was in play. Jesus wasn’t born to take over the world, and become king on earth. He had an eternal goal in mind. When baby Jesus was placed in the arms of his loving mother he was sent there with one purpose in mind. He was sent to die. He came to die for my sins and for the sins of the whole world.
There is a beautiful song called Born to Die. It’s my favorite Christmas song.
Born To Die
On the night Christ was born,
Just before break of morn,
As the stars in the sky were fading,
O’er the place where He lay,
Fell a shadow cold and gray
Of a cross that would humble a King.
Jesus knew when he came
He would suffer in shame;
He could feel every pain and sorrow.
But He left Paradise,
With His blood He paid the price–
My redemption to Jesus I owe.
From his throne Jesus came,
Laid aside Heaven’s fame
In exchange for the cross of Calv’ry;
For my gain suffered loss,
For my sin He bore the cross–
He was wounded and I was set free.
Dearest Lord, evermore
May Thy cross I adore
As I follow the path to Calv’ry;
Of Thy death I partake,
My ambition I forsake–
All my will I surrender to Thee.
{Chorus}
Born to die upon Calvary,
Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;
Born to die upon Calvary,
He was wounded that I might live.
This song always makes me think about God’s amazing love. He loves us more than we will ever be able to understand or imagine. Our human capacity for love is incapable of this type of selfless love.
When we think of the fact that Jesus was born to die, we can think about why we are born. We aren’t born just to live, work, play, and die. That “American dream” is actually not why we are here. We are here to glorify God. We are here to spread the truth about why Jesus came. We are here to share the love of Christ.
John 3:16 says it all “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
GA
Voice of the Introverts 