The Cradle, the Cross, the Crown.
It goes without saying that the date for Christ's birth remains a mystery and that December 25th was in ancient times a Roman holiday to celebrate the passing of the winter solstice, (December 21st is the shortest day of the year.) and the lengthening of days which would lead to spring and summer.
But in 325 A.D. in
It is well that the world be reminded annually of the great gift God made in the person of His Son who came to be the Saviour; to come and live a sinless life and die a shocking death for our sins.
There have been many unusual birth announcements:
IT IS A BOY! SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR.
BALLOONS ON THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
BULK MAIL WITH PHOTOGRAPHS.
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT.
PHONE CALLS to friends and relatives.
B. The shepherds.
1. Luke 2:9 “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
2. They believed the angels! Luke 2:16 “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
Matthew 2:9 “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
The wise men had come from the east. Possibly they had read and studied in
Matthew 2:2 Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
In God's providence, these gifts financed the needs of this poor family. They would flee to
a. While the text means “a different route” in order to escape Herod's forces, we learn that people do go “another way” after they find Jesus as the way.
b. Prophecy was fulfilled in their journey to Egypt Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
I Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
No evil eye saw him after His resurrection!
Acts 1:3 “To whom also he showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the
I Corinthians 15:3-6. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
Hebrews 2:7 “You made Him a little lower than the angels; You crowned Him with glory and honour, and did set Him over the works of Your hands.”
Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Judas was as innocent as a little child can be;
The wood that made the cross was still a growing tree.
Unminted was the silver that made the traitor's pay,
And none had yet commercialized the day.
But what changes would be wrought by this tiny king?
It began with a grand and glorious message angels sing.
Soon the shepherds became filled with wonder, faith and awe;
It was a tiny mongered baby, that is what they saw.
Later wise men came to see the King of the Jews;
Wise men always know that He is the one to choose.
The Cradle, Jesus birth!
The Cross, Jesus death!
The Crown, Jesus now!
