Many people today are celebrating the birthday of Jesus. Most religious groups will have some observance of Christmas, commonly held to be the day Christ was born. And yet, there are some churches that have their doors closed this Sunday morning. We are not doing so here because we have no divine record of when Christ was born and no authority from Christ to celebrate His birth; we’re simply, ”remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy.” But I guess, we can be glad that many people in the world at least acknowledge Christ in some way on this day.
However, we should insist on acknowledging and honoring Christ in the way He has directed us in His word, not in a way that men determine for themselves. It seems to me that the mistake of this day is not only presuming to act where God has been silent but also the world’s willingness to think about the baby in the manger while refusing to come to grips with the Savior on the cross. I ask simply, where does God place His emphasis in Scripture?
We must not overlook the most fundamental question: What is it that God wants us to think about today? Well, it’s more than “Away in a Manger.”
The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ can be divided into 3 stages, "The Cradle, The Cross and The Crown"!
I. The Cradle.
Not don’t misunderstand me, the birth of Jesus was a grand occasion of great importance. Though Jesus authorized no special observance of His birth and consequently we do not presume to observe it, I would want to say nothing that would detract from the tremendous importance of the birth of the Son of God as a man. Jesus’ birth by a virgin made possible the incarnation—
"God becoming man" and it was indeed good news announced by angels: "For behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk. 2:10-11). His name would be Jesus, "for it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Mat. 1:21).
Jesus was born the God-man that He might be a man in every sense of the word. His birth was a voluntary act of abnegation, in which the Son of glory "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:6-7). Carefully consider what the words of our text are saying about Jesus’ birth. They are, of course, saying something about the birth of the Son of God by a virgin. In this remarkable event, God became man, and it was good news of a great joy for all people! God was praised and the opportunity for peace was announced to the world.
But did you notice that in each statement there is a reference to Jesus’ death? The child born is "for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk. 2:11), "it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Mat. 1:21), and "being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:8).
The incarnation is important and essential, but its importance is found in the fact that it made possible the sinless life and substitutionary death of Christ on the cross.
There is a divine record in Scripture of the birth of Jesus, and this event may legitimately be a matter of interest and emphasis. But when we consider Scripture as a whole, the balance of God’s message to man pertains to the crucifixion and resurrection, not the incarnation. Even the records about the manger direct our attention to the cross.
II. The Cross.
Jesus was born with the shadow of the cross upon Him. With the shadow of the Cross upon His heart He learned to walk, He learned to talk, He learned to work.
The Cross was the cruelest instrument of death known to man. It showed the depths of man’s depravity and inhumanity to his fellow-man. Suspended between heaven and earth, the victim of the Cross waited helplessly for death. After a matter of hours on the cross, the victim would look forward to the arrival of death, in order to relieve him of his awful pain and suffering.
Such helplessness is associated with the cross. No-one there to pat your head or cool your brow. Many a mothers looked on in stark horror as their son suffered the inhumanities of the Roman cross.
As they writhed in pain and called out for their mother’s touch, but to no avail.
Such finality associated with the cross. There was only one way to come down from the cross, that being in the hands of those who were appointed to carry you to your grave. When the nails were driven in the hands and feet, it was as though the icy hands of death had clutched its victim, and would be patient as the life was slowly, excruciatingly drained.
Such horror associated with the cross. The Hebrew writings gave this dread warning: "Cursed is the man that hangeth on the tree". Any attempt to truly understand the horror of the cross would prove futile. The ripping of the skin; the bursting of the arteries; the severing of the nerves would bring torment almost unfathomable by those here today.
The cross was hell on earth! One can almost see the imps of hell as they dance around humanity -- poor humanity, made in the image of God -- impelled on the cruel wooden cross. It is a scene that would send shivers through the soul of man!
Yet, Jesus, God’s Son was born under the shadow of the Cross! It loomed before Him as His greatest exploit. All the challenges of His life would wane insignificance when compared to the challenge of the Cross.
Jesus didn’t relish the sight of the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to "let this cup" pass from Him if there might be another solution to the sin question. However, He resigned Himself to the will of God. Scripture tells us He "endured the cross, despising the shame..."
I doubt we will ever fully understand the awfulness of Christ’s crucifixion. I would today that God would help us see it a little clearer. At Calvary we find the CREATOR being put to death at the hands of the CREATION. Or, allow me to make it even plainer: The sins of Dwayne Brown caused Jesus Christ to be crucified. It was my sins that caused Him to go through such torment. A debt had to be paid --- one I was unable to remit. As the song says:
I should have been crucified
I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace But Jesus, God’s Son took my place!
That great preacher Spurgeon advised young preachers thusly: "The cross is the strength of the minister and I would not be without it for the world. I would feel like a soldier without his weapons or a laborer without his tools; like an artist without a pencil or a pilot without a compass.
Let others preach the law and preach morality; let others preach about sacrament and preach the church --- BUT GIVE ME THE CROSS. Let me preach the cross, let me glory in the cross. This is the only lever that has ever turned the world upside down and made men forsake their sins".
Thank God for the Cross of Calvary, upon which our freedom was purchased! Thank God for the Christ of the Cross of Calvary, upon whom our judgment was poured!!
III. The Crown!
Ahh, but the cross was not the end --- it was only the beginning!! Make no mistake about it Jesus Christ reigns! You see we’re not Catholic, therefore, we don’t have crucifixes; we have crosses. If we had a crucifix we would be worshiping the cross with Jesus still on it. But He’s not here! Thanks be unto God that our Christ is not still on the cross. They went to the grave that day and they looked for the Savior who had been crucified on Friday. Just 72 hours ago everything was wrong but now it appeared that everything was right.
Just the other day they were there when He said, “Father, into thy hands…” But now they go and find that “He’s not here but. . .”
And because He has risen as He said, when I leave here I’ve got a better place. A building not made with hands; eternal in the Heavens; where I’m gonna just sit at His feet and I shall be blessed.
But right now all we know is that He bleed blood…blood dropped from His head like sweat-drops of tears. All we know is that He died all day Friday.
All we know now is that the sun refused to shine.
All we know is that the Lord dropped His head into His chest and said, “Father, Father, into Thine hands I commend my spirit.”
They took Him down from the cross,
Put Him into a borrowed tomb.
The Bible says that we heard nothing all night Friday.
That there was silence all day Saturday.
God said, “I took you down so I could show you how bad it could be. I let you go down into the valley, so that you could feel what it means not to have
My presence. But now that you’ve gone far enough I’m going to get my Son.” And He looked around and said I need two angels to accompany Me. My boy has just been crucified. I’m going down to a hill called Calvary and I’m going to invade the privacy of that borrowed tomb. He walked past the guards and moved the stone away, touched Him and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Rise up! Oh Child of God.” He told the angels in Heaven, “I want you to sing a song that nobody has ever heard before.” And when they began to get close to the portals of Heaven somebody said, “Who is this that comes in the name of the Lord?” And I heard that somebody said, “Lift up your heads, oh ye gates…be lifted up the everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in.” Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Host. The Lord mighty in battle. He is Jesus. Jesus. Christ my Lord. Jesus. My rock in a weary land. Jesus. My elder brother. Jesus. My way out of no way.
Move from the manger because He’s not here. Move away from the cross because He’s not here.
Move away from the tomb because He’s not here. But He has risen. As He said. And because. He is risen. When you need Him. You can call Him. And when you call Him. He’ll show up. Anybody here. Know He will show up? When bills are due. He’ll show up. When folk are lying on you. He’ll show up. When you get down to your last breathe. He’ll show up. In a hospital room. He’ll show up. In a courtroom. He’ll show up. And what does He do? He dries tears from your eyes. He lifts heavy burdens. He makes ways out of no way. He opens doors closed in your face.
He turns your midnight into midday. He turns your gloom into joy.
Do you want joy? Then come to Jesus. Are you looking for an answer to the questions of your life? Then come to Jesus. Do you want to be lifted out of your sin? Then come to Jesus. Do you want to be lifted out of your situation? Then come to Jesus. Move away from the manger and Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. Just now. He will save you. He will save you. He will save you just now. Just now He will save you. He will save you just now. Because He is able.
