"You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
During the Christmas season, we should recall God's plan for His Son. Even before Jesus was born, God the Father had purposed that He would become an atonement for our sins. Because sin demands a sacrifice, Jesus was born with the purpose of becoming the sacrificial Lamb of God. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he proclaimed, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
We love to look at artists' renderings of the birth of Christ and marvel at how wondrous was His incarnation and virgin birth. But let us never forget that, even as a Baby, the shadow of the cross was draped over His life.
He willingly became a sacrifice for the sins of each of us. He understood that the goal of His life was death and sacrifice. It was His death that made it possible for people to turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18)-- possible for whoever believes on Him not to perish but have life eternal (John 3:16).
When He came to the end of His earthly life, He passed the bread and the cup to His disciples and told them to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. These emblems were to be symbols of His body given for us and His blood poured out for us (Luke 22:19-20).
If you are a believer partaking of the Lord's Supper, meditate about the fact that Jesus loves you completely. He has given Himself so that you might be forgiven and spend eternity in the light of His marvelous love and grace.
R. Salcido
- Matthew 1:21
Graphic courtesy of Best Free Christian Clip Art