The Sacrifice
“Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all.”
On this Christmas Day, we celebrate the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us. The manger scene stirs our hearts with its simplicity: a humble stable, a newborn wrapped in swaddling clothes, and shepherds rejoicing at the good news of great joy. But behind this tender image lies the profound truth of why Jesus came, a truth that points us beyond Bethlehem to the ultimate sacrifice He would make for us.
Jesus, the Son of God, entered the world knowing the cost of our salvation. Though He was the Creator of the heavens, He chose the limitations of human flesh. Though He dwelled in the glory of heaven, He stepped into the brokenness of earth. From the moment He was born, His life was marked by a singular mission: to rescue humanity from the bondage of sin through His suffering and death.
This divine rescue came at an unimaginable cost. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet He bore the weight of all sin, every act of rebellion, every selfish thought, every burden of guilt. The baby in the manger would grow to become the man of sorrows, despised and rejected, wounded for our transgressions. On the cross, He endured separation from the Father, taking upon Himself the punishment that we deserved so that we could be reconciled to God. The sacrifice of Jesus was not only physical but also deeply spiritual. He bore the wrath of God, drinking the cup of suffering to its fullest so that we might drink deeply of His grace. His final cry on the cross, “It is finished,” was not a cry of defeat but a declaration of victory, victory over sin, death, and the grave.
This Day, the world might be celebrating for a lot of different reasons but we gaze upon the nativity, not only the cradle but also the shadow of the cross. Marvel at the depth of God’s love, a love so great that He would send His only Son to die in our place. The baby born in Bethlehem was born to redeem, and the joy of Christmas is inseparable from the hope of Easter.
Today, let our hearts be filled with gratitude for the Savior. For unto us a Savior is born, unto us a Redeemer is given, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Babe, The Son of Mary, The Love.
Where Are You Christmas? Help us to remember your love everyday