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Sunday, December 24, 2017

From “Christmas” to the “Cross”

Many people love babies and stories about babies. It seems to me that to many folks the “Christmas” story is an enjoyable baby story that blissfully abandons the babe in the manger. We need to go on from “Christmas” to the “Cross”. The “Cross” (Galatians 3:13) is the backstory of why the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

Who was made flesh? Jesus Christ, the creator and eternal son of God (John 1:1-4; 1 John 5:7).

How was he made flesh? The virgin birth (Matthew 1:18-23).

When was he made flesh? In the days of Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1), when Cyrenius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:2), when Herod was king in Judæa (Matthew 2:1).

Where was he made flesh? In Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7).[i]

Why was he made flesh? Made in the likeness of men, to be obedient to the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-7); Made under the law, to redeem those under the law (Galatians 4:3-5); To suffer for sins and bring sinners to God (1 Peter 3:18); To make peace through the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20).

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ


[i] Here I refer only to where Jesus was born. He put on flesh when Mary conceived of the Holy Ghost.

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