What do you consider to be a good representation of Christmas? The potbellied Santa Claus? The nativity scene complete with baby, hay-filled manger, and donkeys? The iconic Christmas tree? For Luke, Christmas was best represented by a cradle, a cross, and a crown.
A cradle. The angel Gabriel told a confused young virgin that she “[would] conceive and give birth to a son” (Luke 1:31). This supernaturally conceived (Luke 1:34- 35) baby would be Mary’s own flesh and blood. Imagine, the all-powerful Creator in a cradle as a helpless infant, a real baby with a belly button! Mary’s boy child is the human (albeit sinless) son of Mary (Luke 1:31) and the divine Son of God! (Luke 1:32,35). This picture is profoundly mystifying.
A cross. “You will name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Jesus, the Greek equivalent of Joshua, means “the Lord saves” or simply “Savior.” The angel reiterated Jesus’ name in an appearance to Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, and spoke of His mission: “You are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus became our Savior “when He was hung on the cross” (Galatians 3:13).
A crown. “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David” (Luke 1:32). Some 1,000 years before, “God had promised . . . that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne” (2 Samuel 7:11-13; Acts 2:30). This baby would be born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). “And He will reign forever; His Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:33).
Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and nativity scenes will be common sights this month. But Jesus is the One we must seek and celebrate. Let’s bow before the Son of God in the cradle, the Savior on the cross, and the King on the throne (Philippians 2:10-11).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: James 3:1-12
More:
What do Isaiah 9:6-7 and Philippians 2:5-11 say about the cradle, cross, and crown?
Next:
Of these three pictures— the Son of God in the cradle, the Savior on the cross, and the King on the throne—which one is most compelling and meaningful to you this Christmas? How can you use the Christmas season to tell others about Jesus?
daisymarygoldr on December 22, 2011 at 10:32 am
“Jesus is the one we must seek and celebrate”, is the clarion call for our times. Living in a Church age that is marked with “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”, we need to hear this more now than ever before.
As churches anticipate accommodating the extra crowds who show up for holiday services, we better be prepared to preach Christ—not Christmas. For the Church in a Christian nation, this is the closest that we will get to the kind of evangelistic opportunities that are available all year-round in third world countries.
People lost in sin don’t need information regarding the tree or Santa and about this being an alternative to a heathen holiday. Also, the Christmas message need not be entertaining. It has to pierce through hardened hearts to touch the innermost depths of human souls.
Broken and torn apart with wars, divorce, disease, and death, the one thing this world really needs is—peace. And peace cannot be achieved by ending of wars or through endless sessions of counseling. Peace on Earth is possible only when rebellious humanity becomes reconciled with God.
It is for this very purpose the Eternal God put on human flesh to die for us and rose up again to give us eternal life. How can anyone not want to receive God’s wonderful gift of love? For sinner and saint alike, it is not a good sign if Christ is missing from our lives—if we no longer experience the presence of “God with us”.
My heart’s prayer is that Jesus be born in many hearts. And many disillusioned hearts that are in darkness may be restored to a renewed relationship with God… that none should celebrate Christmas, clueless of Christ.
On that first Christmas day Jesus was born to die as our Savior. There is a Christmas day that is yet to come when Jesus will return to rule the earth as Sovereign. The question therefore is: are we ready for the return of the King?
Thanks KT for the crucial message of the Cradle, Cross, and Crown!