For the past two years, Christmas celebrations have been different for many of us because of Covid-19. The pandemic may have even given some of us a sense of how the first participants felt like at the first Christmas: uncomfortable, insecure, and vulnerable.
Yet, there is a big difference: we didn’t choose to give up our comforts and security. We didn’t seek to become vulnerable.
The Bible tells us that Jesus sits on heaven’s throne, surrounded by glory. Yet, he gave up all his divine privileges, took on the humble form of a slave, and chose to be born as a human being.
On earth, Jesus knew first-hand what it was like to be vulnerable. His family was poor—and in danger. King Herod was intent on killing the boy who some claimed was the true king. And so Jesus was born in a manger, and had to spend much of his childhood as a refugee in another country.
Why would Jesus willingly subject himself to such vulnerability, suffering, and uncertainty?
God knows all about the cracks in our world and in our lives—even in the deepest parts of our hearts and minds. That’s why Jesus came to show us where real security is to be found.
In fact, his birth was foretold 2,000 years ago. It was predicted that “he will be called: wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace”.
Jesus came into this broken world to rescue us—a world so broken that many of us don’t even feel that we need rescuing.
Jesus came into this broken world to rescue us—a world so broken that many of us don’t even feel that we need rescuing.
We don’t realise this because we are all living our own way, and remain separated from God.
So Jesus, the mighty God, became a man and came to earth. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved, so that all the things we had done wrong would not be held against us.
Those who put their faith in Jesus and in what he did for us, and ask for his forgiveness, can be restored to a perfect relationship with God, now and forever.
That’s the hope of Christmas: it gives us a new foundation for our lives, one that rests not on what we need to do, but on Jesus alone.
That’s the hope of Christmas: it gives us a new foundation for our lives, one that rests not on what we need to do, but on Jesus alone.
Jesus died and rose again, and he lives to fulfil all his promises to us.
No matter what happens, we are completely secure in Jesus. If we believe in him, our lives and our destiny will be kept safe with him today—and for all eternity. He is our strength and our hope, and he will never let us down.
If you’d like Jesus to be your strength and hope, just pray to God and tell him this. (If possible, find a Christian to pray with you).
God, I know I have sinned against you. I believe that Jesus is your son. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and that he rose from the dead. I want your offer of forgiveness. Please come into my life and help me live well.
If you want to know more about Jesus, click here!
