The Meaning of Christmas

AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME. JOHN 12:32

The cross lay before Him. Humiliation, abuse, rejection and betrayal. In agony of spirit Christ poured out His soul to His Father to let this bitter cup pass, but He knew that for the salvation of mankind He must fulfill His destiny, the purpose for which He came into this world...The cross!

As we approach the most significant holiday of the Christian world, how do we behold the cross? What impact has it made upon our heart, and how does its meaning affect our life? Do we take too lightly the price of salvation? Do we truly understand what Christ endured to bring us hope, to bring us victory and to bring us the promise of eternal life? He made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man, and being found as a man, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7,8) For us He came, for us He died, and for us He rose again that we through Him could be reunited to the glory of the Father.

Though most of Christendom places its focus on Christ’s resurrection, changing times and laws to honor it, the true spirit and essence of this event is His sacrifice, His death on Calvary to make atonement for the sins of all mankind. He is the true Lamb of God, the fulfillment of all types and shadows that pointed forward to this great moment in time....the sacrifice of the Lamb. The price of sin now forever paid, man can conquer sin and death as he looks unto Jesus and finds redemption. Until man in his sinful and wretched condition can behold the cross and see the only hope of salvation, Christianity has lost its link with divinity. Can we deny such love, such sacrifice? We will never see Christ as our King if we cannot see Him as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

Isaiah 53 vividly portrays the Savior in His affliction, brought as a lamb to the slaughter, silent, suffering and submissive. His sacrifice is the greatest event in history, fulfilling the promise to Adam in Genesis 3:15 of a coming redeemer. It is only by His stripes that mankind can be healed from the disease of sin. He paid the price for our transgression. He was bruised, beaten and betrayed by His own creation, the very ones He came to save, but He will some day see the travail of His soul and be satisfied. On that great resurrection morning when the graves open with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16), calling us forth to everlasting life, the Savior will descend to greet His righteous throng, those who by faith have accepted His death in their place. With tears of gratitude and joy they cry out “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord, we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation (Isaiah 25:9). His broken body and His shed blood are the true essence of this Passover holiday. Through His sacrifice we have passed from death unto life. He has redeemed us from the bondage of sin and Satan and opened the portals of heaven to God’s eternal glory and grace. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. His cross of pain was our gain. His willingness to give His life a sacrifice for mankind, will forever occupy the minds of the redeemed.

Christ left us a legacy of love....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The cross is a picture of true agape love, the unconditional, unfailing love of God, which is so desperately needed by mankind today! Not love of self or love of the world but the everlasting, selfless love that calls man out of the dominion of darkness and into the glorious light of eternal glory through Jesus Christ.

Christ left us a legacy of life. He conquered death, He conquered the grave and He broke the power of Satan over mankind. From that grave of supposed defeat in which He rested on that Sabbath day, Christ arose to life victorious. Satan had lost! Mankind had won through what He had done.

As we contemplate the agony and suffering of Christ this Passover season, drink deeply of His passion, His pain and His purpose for such self sacrifice. Envision the stripes, the thorns, the nails, the humiliation He endured for you and for me. Though He suffered enormous physical pain from the hands of the Roman soldiers, driven on by the hatred and envy of the Jewish leaders, nothing could outweigh the pain of His broken heart. He was separated from the glory of His father by the weight of sin that He bore for mankind, and He was scorned and rejected by the people He longed to save, Even in this hour of His greatest trial, His heart of love still yearned for His people. In labored breaths of love, He cries out “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 What unfathomable love!

As we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we do show Christ’s death till He comes, a continual reminder of His broken body and shed blood for the sins of all mankind (1 Corinthians 11:26).