What is the Christmas Story?
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Story
When Christmas time comes around, the people of the world may think about Santa Clause, presents (like Xbox, PlayStations, iPads, etc…), Black Friday, trees, and many other sorts of things. People with some sort of Christian background may think of things like Baby Jesus in a Manger, Christian Hymns like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, or “Joy to the World.” At Christmas time, I think about why Jesus came into this world. The lyrics to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, ends.
Mild He lays His Glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Many people sing songs like this, and do not realize what the words mean. “Mild He lays His glory by.”? What does that mean?
Well as the versus at the beginning says, Jesus was in the form of God. Jesus, existed before He was born. John 1 says:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
So why would Jesus, who existed before He was in the world and had all this Glory in Heaven, come into the World? Heaven is a place many of us strive to reach and He was already there. Many people strive for a better place. Why would he lower Himself and be born into this world. That alone is a surprise. If God came that low, just to say “hello”, it would be an honor.
But even so, Jesus went farther, He was proclaimed as a Baby to be a “King”.
Luke 1:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
But yet, He was born into a people, who were slaves. The Roman Empire ruled the world, the Jewish people were slaves. So though the throne belonged to Him, He walked among an enslaved people. As a servant, Jesus lived serving:
John 13
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus started no political revolution, when political Pharisee (a modern day republican) or a Sadducee (Modern day Democrat), would often ask Him questions, to entrap Him, where logic would have in trouble with Roman authorities, or the common people, He answered with the wisdom of God. In one such instance, when asked about paying taxes to Caesar, knowing a Yes would anger the Jewish people, and a No would get Him arrested by the Romans, He answered
Matthew 22:21b
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Becoming a Servant was enough. But wait, there is more, Jesus lowered Himself even lower, He came to be treated as a Criminal. You see, Jesus, for trying to turn His people back to God, those same people arrested Him. He was accused of blasphemy, being the son of the devil, being a liar, and was tried as a murderer. He was given a death sentence, in the most unfair trial in History. People off the streets were paid off to give false testimonies, guards smacked him and mocked him during the trial before a sentence was even given. He was given a death sentence. After being given the death sentence, He could have died with a beheading., an instant death, painless. But NO!!! He went even further. He was given the most embarrassing and painful death sentence, On the cross, A long and excruciating death!!! But not just that, on Display, between 2 criminals, the main attraction for all to see. In front of thousands, He was given a shameful death to be made an example of. Do you know, He had the power to stop this, Jesus said.
Matthew 26
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[f] by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
But the biggest shocker of all, God His Father planned the whole thing. You see Jesus feared most of all the wrath of the Father. True, this was an unjust act by His people, but God is the mastermind behind it all. You see, God spoke about this long before through the prophets.
Isaiah 53
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
Jesus prayed to His Father to Please not let this burden have to happen.
Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
He feared most of all being abandoned by His Father. As He was dying, He cried out.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
You see His Father, treated Him the worse and gave Him the worse punishment of all, complete separation from the love of His Father. The full journey from being with the Father in eternal glory to being forsaken.
Why? Jesus was truly the only innocent person:
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Because God is a just God, a fair God, he cannot turn a blind eye to sin. So God must have a payment. That payment only comes in innocent blood. Jesus is the only one qualified to be that offering. We are all guilty of breaking God’s law. Look at some of the commandments.
So I ask, have you lied? If you have even told 1 lie in your life, you are a Liar. But most of us have told countless lies. The Bible says:
Rev 21:8
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Have you stolen? Then you are a thief. Have you used God’s name in vein. OMG you say. Then you are a blasphemer. Have you looked at a woman or man with lust, Jesus said.
Matthew 5
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The Bible also calls hate murder. If God judges you by these commandments, you will go to this place Hell. There is no parole, it is an eternal sentence of torment. Hell is a very real place, not just separtion from God.
Suppose you think you can negotiate with God, offer him up your good deeds to balance it out. Try that in a court of law. Commit murder and say you give to charity. If God sent His own Son to die, how much more would he judge us.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Understanding God’ perfect justice, we are doomed. However, this Jesus came into the world to offer Himself as a payment. You see it is like this, We broke the law and Jesus paid the fine. Imagine being in court, a 1 million dollar fine, not a penny to your name, and a stranger you don’t know comes and pays your fine. That is why Jesus came into the world. This is the Christmas Story. To pay the fine we deserve. To Die. Then God Rose Him from the dead, accepting this offer. The resurrection is proof of eternal life. That Death could be overcome. Christ defeated the grave.
He offers this eternal life as a free gift.
This gift is not unconditional. God calls all to repent. Confess and Turn from your sins and turn to God, through receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord (which means master). You need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, like you would a parachute when you need to jump off a plane. Put on the Lord Jesus, before you die and fall into hell. It is not an offer to prosper, it is not an offer of 100% good times, nor a life free from trials. It is a call to follow Jesus.
Mark 8:34When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.A car could hit you tonight. You have no time. If you die without Christ, you will perish eternally in Hell. Today is the day.
2 Cor 6:2
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Without this gift you will go to Hell. But with this gift, God will give you a new heart, you will be Born again, and you will receive the gift of eternal life.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
My friends, do this today. Repent, and believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.
If you are a professing Christian already, follow your Master and Lord who you received. Just making a verbal profession and not living it is a lie and you are deceived into thinking you are saved. Remember Jesus Said:
Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
and
Luke 13:26- 28
26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
So, Read your Bible, Obey what you read, and God will Bless you.
For my non Christian Friends, I hope you take this to heart, but if you don't, please do not comment to make fun of this, debate, or poke at me. I love you all.
Thanks and Merry Christmas.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Story
When Christmas time comes around, the people of the world may think about Santa Clause, presents (like Xbox, PlayStations, iPads, etc…), Black Friday, trees, and many other sorts of things. People with some sort of Christian background may think of things like Baby Jesus in a Manger, Christian Hymns like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, or “Joy to the World.” At Christmas time, I think about why Jesus came into this world. The lyrics to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, ends.
Mild He lays His Glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Many people sing songs like this, and do not realize what the words mean. “Mild He lays His glory by.”? What does that mean?
Well as the versus at the beginning says, Jesus was in the form of God. Jesus, existed before He was born. John 1 says:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
So why would Jesus, who existed before He was in the world and had all this Glory in Heaven, come into the World? Heaven is a place many of us strive to reach and He was already there. Many people strive for a better place. Why would he lower Himself and be born into this world. That alone is a surprise. If God came that low, just to say “hello”, it would be an honor.
But even so, Jesus went farther, He was proclaimed as a Baby to be a “King”.
Luke 1:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
But yet, He was born into a people, who were slaves. The Roman Empire ruled the world, the Jewish people were slaves. So though the throne belonged to Him, He walked among an enslaved people. As a servant, Jesus lived serving:
John 13
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus started no political revolution, when political Pharisee (a modern day republican) or a Sadducee (Modern day Democrat), would often ask Him questions, to entrap Him, where logic would have in trouble with Roman authorities, or the common people, He answered with the wisdom of God. In one such instance, when asked about paying taxes to Caesar, knowing a Yes would anger the Jewish people, and a No would get Him arrested by the Romans, He answered
Matthew 22:21b
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Becoming a Servant was enough. But wait, there is more, Jesus lowered Himself even lower, He came to be treated as a Criminal. You see, Jesus, for trying to turn His people back to God, those same people arrested Him. He was accused of blasphemy, being the son of the devil, being a liar, and was tried as a murderer. He was given a death sentence, in the most unfair trial in History. People off the streets were paid off to give false testimonies, guards smacked him and mocked him during the trial before a sentence was even given. He was given a death sentence. After being given the death sentence, He could have died with a beheading., an instant death, painless. But NO!!! He went even further. He was given the most embarrassing and painful death sentence, On the cross, A long and excruciating death!!! But not just that, on Display, between 2 criminals, the main attraction for all to see. In front of thousands, He was given a shameful death to be made an example of. Do you know, He had the power to stop this, Jesus said.
Matthew 26
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[f] by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
But the biggest shocker of all, God His Father planned the whole thing. You see Jesus feared most of all the wrath of the Father. True, this was an unjust act by His people, but God is the mastermind behind it all. You see, God spoke about this long before through the prophets.
Isaiah 53
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
Jesus prayed to His Father to Please not let this burden have to happen.
Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
He feared most of all being abandoned by His Father. As He was dying, He cried out.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
You see His Father, treated Him the worse and gave Him the worse punishment of all, complete separation from the love of His Father. The full journey from being with the Father in eternal glory to being forsaken.
Why? Jesus was truly the only innocent person:
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Because God is a just God, a fair God, he cannot turn a blind eye to sin. So God must have a payment. That payment only comes in innocent blood. Jesus is the only one qualified to be that offering. We are all guilty of breaking God’s law. Look at some of the commandments.
So I ask, have you lied? If you have even told 1 lie in your life, you are a Liar. But most of us have told countless lies. The Bible says:
Rev 21:8
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Have you stolen? Then you are a thief. Have you used God’s name in vein. OMG you say. Then you are a blasphemer. Have you looked at a woman or man with lust, Jesus said.
Matthew 5
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The Bible also calls hate murder. If God judges you by these commandments, you will go to this place Hell. There is no parole, it is an eternal sentence of torment. Hell is a very real place, not just separtion from God.
Mat 5:29-30
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Revelation 20:10
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Revelation 20:10
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Rev 20:14-1514 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 20:14-1514 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Suppose you think you can negotiate with God, offer him up your good deeds to balance it out. Try that in a court of law. Commit murder and say you give to charity. If God sent His own Son to die, how much more would he judge us.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Understanding God’ perfect justice, we are doomed. However, this Jesus came into the world to offer Himself as a payment. You see it is like this, We broke the law and Jesus paid the fine. Imagine being in court, a 1 million dollar fine, not a penny to your name, and a stranger you don’t know comes and pays your fine. That is why Jesus came into the world. This is the Christmas Story. To pay the fine we deserve. To Die. Then God Rose Him from the dead, accepting this offer. The resurrection is proof of eternal life. That Death could be overcome. Christ defeated the grave.
He offers this eternal life as a free gift.
This gift is not unconditional. God calls all to repent. Confess and Turn from your sins and turn to God, through receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord (which means master). You need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, like you would a parachute when you need to jump off a plane. Put on the Lord Jesus, before you die and fall into hell. It is not an offer to prosper, it is not an offer of 100% good times, nor a life free from trials. It is a call to follow Jesus.
Mark 8:34When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.A car could hit you tonight. You have no time. If you die without Christ, you will perish eternally in Hell. Today is the day.
2 Cor 6:2
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Without this gift you will go to Hell. But with this gift, God will give you a new heart, you will be Born again, and you will receive the gift of eternal life.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
My friends, do this today. Repent, and believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.
If you are a professing Christian already, follow your Master and Lord who you received. Just making a verbal profession and not living it is a lie and you are deceived into thinking you are saved. Remember Jesus Said:
Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
and
Luke 13:26- 28
26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
So, Read your Bible, Obey what you read, and God will Bless you.
For my non Christian Friends, I hope you take this to heart, but if you don't, please do not comment to make fun of this, debate, or poke at me. I love you all.
Thanks and Merry Christmas.
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