FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS

The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
From the Manger to the Cross

This season is one of the beautiful times of the year. Many of us act better at Christmas. People attend church at Christmas who never attend any other time of the year. Christmas just makes us want to be better people. It is a season of generosity; people make special contributions to churches and non-profit organizations at Christmas time beyond what they do all year long. There is something about the hope that comes from a baby born in the humblest of circumstances in a world that has no room for him. We sing a lot more at Christmas time. What is it about Christmas that causes groups of people to go to people’s homes in freezing cold weather and sing songs of hope and joy to them?

Some are good just for Christmas’ sake. Some are good because they need to feel better about themselves. “Merry Christmas” is the greeting we spread around.

I have no criticism of such things, but I’m afraid that, for many, it’s a smoke screen for our feelings of guilt. For many it is a temporary feeling of euphoria that goes away shortly after the turn of the year.

You see, Christmas is really worthless if we don’t take into consideration the real purpose of the story.

I heard a story of a family that went for a walk at Christmas time to observe the beautiful yuletide decorations and lights. One destination of journey was a church with a beautiful Nativity scene on its lawn. One little girl in the family began to cry uncontrollably. The father asked his daughter what the matter was. Her response was, “the baby isn’t growing! He’s the same size he was last year!”

It is important to know that Jesus did grow up! He became a full-grown man because this was God’s plan for him. If Jesus had stayed a little baby or if he hadn’t grown up, his birth would have been useless had he not gone on to accomplish his ultimate mission. His sinless life, his crucifixion and death, his burial and powerful resurrection from the dead were real plan behind his coming. But above that, there is more! There is the reason why he did all of this.
Isaiah 53 was a prophecy written over 700 years before Christ came. In it there is the description of a Suffering Servant who came to take the place of the sinful people of the world.

Verses 4-6 are pivotal to the message:
After a mission service, the preacher of the evening was hurrying away to a late train. He had just three minutes to catch it when he saw a man running after him. "Oh, sir," he said breathlessly as he came up, "Can you help me? I am very anxious about my salvation."

"Well," replied the preacher, "my train is just here, and it is the last one; but look up Isaiah 53:6. Go in at the first 'all' and go out at the last 'all.' Good night."

The man stood staring after him until he had disappeared into the station and then he muttered, "Go in at the first 'all' and go out at the last 'all.' What does he mean?"

When he arrived home, he took down his Bible and turning to Isaiah 53:6 read these words, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

"Go in at the first 'all,'" he repeated. "'All we like sheep have gone astray.' I am to go in with that 'all.' Yes, I see. It just means that I am one of those who have gone astray. And go out with the last 'all.' 'The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.' I see. Yes, I am to go out free with those whose iniquity has been laid on Christ."

At last he realized his individual lost condition and his individual redemption. The eternal Light of Christ illumines the individual who responds affirmatively. "Go in at the first 'all' and go out at the last 'all.'"

You see, the purpose of Christ’s coming was to change the world; to change our lives; to change our hearts!

His plan was to take the shame of our sins on himself; to take our blame. His crucifixion was our crucifixion; His pain was our pain; His stripes were our stripes.

One little boy was asked what the Gospel of Christ meant to him. His reply was simple and direct; “He swapped with me.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, on June 22, 1997, parachute instructor Michael Costello, forty-two, of Mt. Dora, Florida, jumped out of an airplane at 12,000 feet altitude with a novice skydiver name Gareth Griffith, age twenty-one.

The novice would soon discover just how good his instructor was, for when the novice pulled his rip cord, his parachute failed. Plummeting to the ground they faced certain death.

But then the instructor did an amazing thing. Just before hitting the ground, the instructor rolled over so that he would hit the ground first and the novice would land on top of him. The instructor was killed instantly. The novice fractured his spine in the fall, but he was not paralyzed.

One man takes the place of another, takes the brunt for another. One substitutes himself to die so another may live. So it was at the cross, when Jesus died for our sins.

I am thankful for Christmas because it was the beginning of the mission that would ultimately bring you and me to the ultimate encounter with God that changes our lives. The Bible calls this transformation. The Apostle Paul says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

Have you encountered this Christ who suffered and died in your place and rose again to give you eternal abundant life?

If you haven’t, He wants to meet you right now and live in your heart forever!

This Sunday, our church Timothy, Paul Acosta who has studying for ministry at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, will bring the morning message. Plan to hear Paul’s sermon, be encouraged by what he shares and share encouragement with this young preacher with your response.

Merry Christmas,
Jon