Christmas 2009
Christmas is fast approaching. Many plans have been made, the decorations are being put up, cupboards stocked with food and preparations made for a fun-packed holiday. Amid all the activities this Christmas many will spend a lot of time watching the TV.
What will you watch? Of course this may be a contentious question in your household. There may be a clash of opinions. However, many people will gather round the screen to watch the finals of shows like the “X Factor” or “Strictly come dancing”. Having followed the progress of would be pop stars and celebrity dancers, it is natural that people will want to find out who is the greatest.
Christmas & New year is a time when we traditionally find out who is the greatest or who has achieved success. So we have the New year’s honours list and the sports personality of the year. Though many of us may aspire to be great, the reality is that we never will be. However, we do like to admire those who have attained greatness in their particular field.
The true story of Christmas is also about greatness. It may not seem like it at first. To see a baby lying in a manger, in the place normally reserved for animals does not speak of greatness. It doesn’t seem that Jesus was or would be great at all.
However looks can easily deceive. There is a story of a man who regularly went begging in Bristol. He dressed in poor clothes, was unshaven and placed before himself a sign which said, “Homeless and blind”. Each evening he would return to to his comfortable home, and most likely would watch the TV. He was neither homeless or blind. This man, of course, was purposefully deceiving people. Jesus wasn’t. His life was one of poverty & struggle. Many years before He was born the Bible describes Him as being:
“A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”
(Isaiah 53v3)
So then, how could Jesus be considered great? In looking at the answer to this, we see the wonder of the Christmas message. For Jesus was & is great for the following reasons:
The first reason is found in the Bible verse:
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High”
(Luke 1v32)
Who is the Most High? It is God Himself. Jesus, the baby placed in a manger, is none other than the Son of God. He is the all powerful creator of the universe. He is full of majesty, wisdom and knowledge. There is none greater than Jesus. No one can even compare with His great power and perfection.
The second reason is found in why God became flesh. Jesus was born to undertake a great mission. Indeed it was the greatest rescue mission of all time. For,
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners.”
(1 Timothy 1v15)
Jesus was born to die. He came to give His life as a sacrifice for sin, in order that all who put their trust in Him might not suffer the consequences of their sin, the punishment of God. Indeed those who turn from their sin and receive the salvation Jesus gives, will know God & be with Him forever.
Here we see Jesus’ greatness, that though He is God, yet He was prepared to suffer in the place of sinners, that they might be saved. There never has and there never will be anyone like Him.
This Christmas, ensure that you see His greatness and receive His salvation