He came to Die

...“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29 NIV)

It was almost mid day on Chirstmas eve and I had bought no gifts for my kids. I was tired from a recent travel plus with one sick child I did not want to go shopping.

All these thoughts are rushing through me about the real reason for Christmas. Yes, not what the world has made it to be. 

I did not want to buy toys just because I wanted a fancy looking Christmas tree. Making the kids all excited and contribute to the wrong message of Christmas.

All what was under our tree was the nativity scene. The blameless Son of God  who became sin for us to live.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

I thought about how perishable toys are and how the very next day my kids won't care about them.

I thought about the precious sacrificial Lamb of God. The love of God given to the world.

God did not want his once beautifully created world to perish.

So he decided to walk the earth for our sake. He became man through his son yet stayed as fully God. He went through our daily struggles, yet did not sin.

His own did not know nor acknowledge his birth and this person of the Holy Trinity. God the Son.

He was born in a cave and placed on a stable and shepherds, the lowest class of people first got the message through angels. Wise men followed the star and went to worhip him. Kings and Queens will bow down before him. 

His government shall be upon his shoulder because of the authority in which he speaks. 

This was not the kind of King the people of Jesus' day were looking for. With such a humble birth. 

They wanted a warrior King to defeat all their enemies and overthrow Roman rule.

Yet, baby Jesus is a Prince of Peace. A loving peace that reconciles through the forgiveness of sins on the cross. Accepting people just as they are of all nations and tribes.

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9 NIV)

This is the story I want my five and three years old to know. Their little and thinking brains can understand these absolute truths.

So, in my frustration about gifts for them I decided to pick up my bible. I wanted a quiet time but my kids wanted to smuggle with me. 

Then, I turned to Luke chapter two and started reading the Christmas story out loud to them. 

They have head it before and sang parts of it in songs.

They listened and followed as I explained  the true meaning of Christmas. As I explained about Christ as light of the world, my three year old started singing their Christmas song from Sunday school.

My five year old talked about our light can't be hidden. 

They got the picture of Christmas and how Christ is the gift we all need in our hearts. And for us to be a reflection of his light to world.

I smiled as my five year old looked at me in church later that evening while the Christmas story was read. " mommy that is the same story we read in the morning." Teach them while they are young and it won't depart from their hearts.

The love the world is longing for, was born at Christmas. It is a love that only God can give to men. A love that is free to all who want to receive it.

Did you receive the love of Christ this Christmas? A love that shines through. A love worth dying for. A redeeming love given to men.

Baby Jesus came to die. He conquered death(sin) on the cross. Where his light is there is no darkness. For his light over powers darkness. God is light.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)