Born to Die

I think sometimes I forget that the manger is merely the start, not the end. That the Christ child's birth was a foreshadowing of the greatest act in history. That the shepherds who knelt beside the sleeping baby couldn't even imagine the reality of what would happen to that little boy. That the prophecies of old had just begun to be fulfilled. And that the little boy sleeping in the manger was only 33 years from the reason He came.

He was born to die. Think about that reality for a moment. Although each of us face death we weren't born to die. Our very purpose isn't wrapped up in the death we have awaiting for us. And yet that is EXACTLY why Jesus came. His birth was merely for His death (and later resurrection). A master plan, a perfect Father, His only Son...born so He could die, but why? For me, for you...

You see, the manger points directly to the cross, they can't be separated. Jesus came to die so that we might live. John MacArthur says it well, "Here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told: Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it. That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was born to die."

And yet there is great encouragement and hope in the glory of this story, the end was not his death, the end was His victory OVER that death. He conquered the grave so that we might live with Him. And the greatest hope we have is knowing that one day we will reign with Him, that we will glory in Him perfectly, and that we will live with Him forever. You see, "If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth! " (John MacArthur)

May we remember the manger by remembering the cross and then rejoice in His birth which was the beginning of the salvation of our souls, and glory in Him and Him alone this Christmas!