A pastor who I greatly admire stated in a recent sermon, “It is sometimes good for us to read the Bible backwards.” In short, he was suggesting that reading backwards (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit) helps us to better understand Jesus’ words, and also helps us better understand Old Testament Scripture in the way it was written to the Israelites.
But perhaps more importantly it reveals to us that Jesus didn’t just suddenly appear in the New Testament – but that as God incarnate – He was there from the very beginning of creation. The pastor went on to say, “There was a time when Jesus wasn’t fully human, but there was never a time when He wasn’t fully God.”
That said, I think it would be good to put his suggestion into practice today. For it is through the prism of Easter that we are able to better appreciate the significance of Jesus’ death in relation to God’s wonderful plan.
Imagine a hill called Calvary. On that hill, a man named Jesus, who did nothing but love people, care for them, and heal them, was nailed to a wooden cross. This wasn’t just any man. This was God, who could’ve lived forever in heaven, but chose to become a person like you and me.
Why did He do that? We need look no further than John 3:16. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT)
God loves us. Why else would He come if not for His love for us? He loves us so much that He wanted to rescue us from our sins and the punishment we deserve. By dying on the cross, Jesus opened a way for us to be made right with God forever, saving us from His coming wrath on the Day of Judgment.
The day Jesus was crucified, He paid the penalty of sin for all those who would believe in Him. As human, He experienced the physical torture of being flogged by the Roman soldiers, with chunks of flesh being torn from His body with every slash. When there was little skin left on His back, they turned Him over and began flogging His chest, torso, and legs. There was so much blood loss that Jesus probably wouldn’t have survived the flogging alone. But the Jewish authorities insisted they continue, and then they placed a crown of thorns on His head. From there, they made Him carry the heavy cross that they would nail him to up the hill. There He would have spikes driven into His hands and feet, and then He would be hoisted up into the air for all to see. And this is where He would die… not from the loss of blood, but by the more torturous method of asphyxiation, while onlookers laughed, ridiculed, and spat on Him.
Now, let us contrast this grisly scene with that of the pleasant and peaceful modern-day presentation of the Christmas nativity.
Over 2000 years ago, in a small town called Bethlehem, a baby was born. This wasn’t just any baby. This was Jesus, God himself, coming to live among us. Think about it: the God who made the stars and oceans, who is bigger and more powerful than anything we can ever imagine, chose to become a tiny, helpless infant. He could have come has a mighty king, but He chose to be born in a stable, surrounded by animals, in the most humbling of circumstances.
Why did He do that? We need look no further than Philippians 2:6-7. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (NIV)
All because Jesus wanted to show us that He understands us. He gets us. He loves us. And He came to serve us, not to be served. What great love! And yet those were the reasons why they wanted Him dead. In fact, there was a price on His head the moment He was born. Even during the meekest of circumstances surrounding His birth, the world wanted Him dead.
Yet that miraculous birth was a glorious bright light shining in a dark world. People were lost, confused, and looking for hope. Jesus’ arrival was like the first ray of sunrise after a long, dark night. He came to show us the way to live, the way to love, and ultimately, the way to heaven.
So as we celebrate Christmas, let’s remember that this day isn’t just about celebrating the birth of a baby laying in a manger. It’s about God’s incredible love for us, a love so deep that He became one of us, then gave up His life to save us.
So let us open our hearts to His love, thank Him for coming to our world, and sharing His love with others. This is the true meaning of Christmas: God’s love coming down to earth to light up our lives and guide us home.
As we look through the prism of Easter, may we take time to consider the celebration of Christmas for what it truly means.
Former Blackout Artist 