The Cross at Christmas

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:14a, 16)

Quite a number of years ago I invited a friend to a Christmas program put on by the church I was attending at that time.  As with many church Christmas programs, the presentation featured the entire story of Jesus – from the manger to the cross to the resurrection.  I knew my friend had attended the program and the following week asked her what she thought of it.  Her reply, “Well, I thought the music and everything was great, but I just don’t understand why we have to see all the cross stuff.  That’s what is celebrated at Easter, not Christmas!”  What a statement...and one that I know she's not alone in voicing at this time of year.

When we attend community Christmas programs, get Christmas cards, or display figurines during the holiday season, we see images of or resembling the nativity – Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, angels, shepherds, wisemen, and maybe a sheep here or there.  Rarely, if ever, are images of the crucifixion prominently displayed.  Our music around this time of the year also centers around baby Jesus and those individuals who were a part of that First Christmas.  While some carols do discuss Jesus in his later years, many times those verses are skipped for time or for the simple fact that they don’t relate to this “season.”  

The fact that Jesus’ later life is overlooked for many during this time of year is an utter shame because without the things he accomplished and did during his later years, He wouldn’t be who we celebrate Him to be at this time of year – our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Crucifixion scene at the recent 2015 Sevier Heights Baptist Church Christmas Program

We sing that “Christ the Savior is born,” but had He saved anyone at the time of his birth?  No.  Yes, Christ had come to earth, but it wasn’t until 33 years later as He died upon the cross did He really and truly become our Savior.  When He died, He took with Him the punishment of all of our sins, “‘He Himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24)  At the moment He cried “It is finished,” and breathed His last breath, He became the Savior of the world.  Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth as a baby those 33 years prior had now been fulfilled.  God so loved the world…past, present, and future…that He freely sacrificed His Son, Jesus, so that anyone who believes and trusts in His Son’s name would have never-ending life in heaven with Him (John 3:16, paraphrased).

Now I know that thinking about image of the cross, as it carries with it the horrors and violence that Jesus endured during his crucifixion, is hard, especially during this time of year.  The Christmas season is for the most part a very happy and joyous season and we are urged to spread “tidings of comfort and joy” to others.  I wholeheartedly believe this and I’m not discounting this at all.  Yes, we need to show love to others this year.  Yes, we should give gifts to others to remind us of God’s gift to us.  Yes, we should sing and rejoice about this little baby born in Bethlehem.  With all of that, however, it is vitally important for us also to remember the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for us in order to be truly and fully aware of how important this time of year is for us as followers of Christ. 

If Jesus hadn’t come to earth as a baby to grow and be the man who died on the cross for our sins, He wouldn’t be the Savior we celebrate Him to be at this time of year.  Without His sacrifice, we wouldn’t know the true meanings of love, sacrifice, mercy, grace, service, forgiveness, and the list of characteristics could go on and on and on. 

At Christmas, as believers in Christ, we should be ever aware what John began his gospel proclaiming, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:14a, 16).  And as we reflect on His sacrifice, we can rejoice and celebrate the fact that He did not stay dead.  He arose!  This baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth, and as a man wrapped in grave clothes at His death, conquered the grave and now lives!  Now THAT is reason to sing “joy to the world!”

It’s somewhat unconventional (and uncomfortable) to think about the cross at Christmas, but it’s important because it helps us to remember, appreciate, and rejoice at the life, death, and resurrection, not just the birth, of this baby who changed everything just for you and me.

Take time this Christmas to reflect on the cross...it's how we remember the reason for the season.

"Let Our Faith Be More Than Anthems..."

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” - James 2:17

In my car the first three radio presets are to Christian music stations – K-Love, 106.9 The Light, and AirOne.  You can pretty well gather that if you see me singing my heart out in my car (not ashamed or embarrassed about that BTW), it’s probably to a Christian song.  All the songs I sing in church are Christian songs and I always try to pick ones that represent the lessons God is currently teaching me.   I love how Christian music artists can take the thoughts of my heart and put them into words.  These songs have a way of speaking to your soul.  They say what you are feeling and express what you’re going through and how God is in control of it all. 

Recently, however, I came across a line of one of these Christian songs that “struck a chord” with me (that pun was intended).  In the new Newsboys song, We Believe, there is a short line in the second verse that reads like this, “So let our faith be more than anthems, greater than the songs we sing.”  Goodness gracious…that is one loaded lyric.  When we’re listening to or singing songs about serving others (Matthew Wests’ Do Something), trusting God in hard times (Matt Redmond’s You Never Let Go), sharing Jesus with others (Britt Nicole’s The Lost Get Found), worshipping our Creator (Kari Jobe’s Revelation Song), or living like Christ (Casting Crown’s Lifesong) we have to make them more than just anthems of our heart – we HAVE to live them out. 

Think right now of your favorite Christian song.  Usually for me my favorite changes from week-to-week…but for now think of the one that comes to your mind first.  Sing it to yourself…it’s okay if you can’t sing, we can’t hear you :)  Okay, now analyze the lyrics you are singing.  Are you living those words out?  Do you believe them with your whole heart?  Is your faith more than this anthem…greater than this song you are singing? 

I’m just using the above songs as examples…any song that we sing in a service at church or at the top of our lungs in our car or shower apply to this thought.  We must put feet to our faith (which is evidenced by the lyrics of these songs we love) and make these anthems more than just words.  The book of James had to have inspired this lyric, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)  FOR SURE we cannot be saved by works alone, we are saved by our faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However as believers in Jesus, our works (which include our godly actions and lifestyle) show the world, especially unbelievers, that we believe Christ.  Our actions are the evidence of our faith.  Galatians 5:6 says, “When we place our faith in Christ Jesus…what is important is faith expressing itself in love.”  We don't need to keep our faith locked inside ourselves, we need to live it out!  My NLT Life Application Study Bible sums this up beautifully, “We cannot earn our salvation by serving and obeying God.  But such actions show that our commitment to God is real.  Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ” (pg. 2118).

Don’t be passive in your faith.  Yes, it’s awesome you believe in Jesus…but show that you believe in Him!  Be that light to the world.  Be that city on a hill.  “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)  Let your faith be MORE THAN anthems and so much greater than the songs you sing.

Believing the Unbelievable

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." – John 20:29

Have you ever had to just see something for yourself in order to believe it?  100 people could tell you that the sky is most certainly green, but unless you actually see for yourself that the sky is indeed green, there’s no way on earth you are going to believe them because it’s impossible for the sky to be anything but blue. 

For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes (okay…sandals) of the followers of Jesus during the time of His crucifixion, death, and burial.  Think for a moment about the wide range of emotions you would be feeling – grief and loss at the death of such a great Teacher, anger at those who had betrayed him, confusion that someone who claimed to be the Savior seemingly hadn’t saved anyone, among other emotions.  You’re sitting there wondering what to do next and all of a sudden someone runs into your house and tells you, “Jesus is risen from the dead!”  Would you take their word for it or would you have to see it to believe?

On the third day after Jesus’ death, a group of women traveled to his tomb to anoint his body.  When they arrived, they discovered that the tomb was open and that Jesus’ body was gone!  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee’” Matthew 28:5-7. 

Following the angel’s instructions to the letter, they rush back to Jesus’ disciples and tell them this miraculous news.  Luke 24:9-11, “When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.  But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  I’m sure those words seemed like nonsense to the disciples because they watched Jesus take his last breath and die on the cross.  Many were probably there when Jesus’ body was carried to and placed in the tomb.  To hear that Jesus’ body was gone and that an angel had stated that He had risen from the dead was just so far out of the realm of possibility that unless they saw for themselves, they weren’t going to believe an ounce of what these women were telling them.

Sure enough, a few of the disciples decided to see for themselves if what the women were saying was true.  “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first” John 20:3-4.  I’m sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were running…this was virtually unbelievable.  A casual stroll to the tomb wouldn’t cut it…the faster one got there, the faster one would see if this was true or not.  The disciples made it to the tomb and what do they discover?  Sure enough, the stone was rolled away from the door and the strips of cloth that had covered Jesus’ body were lying right where His body had been!

Now was it at this moment that the disciples believed Jesus had risen?  Well, not really.  The only one that truly believed was John, “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They [the other disciples] still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead)” John 20:8-9. As for the others, what evidence had they really seen?  Really just pieces of cloth that any thief could have set up.  No angel greeted them when they walked in the tomb.  No note that said “Hey guys, I rose from the dead!  Sincerely, Jesus.”  Nothing.  There was seemingly no factual information to back up the women’s claims that Jesus had risen….until later that night.

For some of us it takes actual proof to believe something…it was no different for Jesus’ disciples.  That same night, they got their actual proof.  Locked away in a house, confused and afraid that people would think it was they that stole His body, the disciples had an unexpected visitor that didn’t come through any window or door.  “Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” John 20:19-20. Okay so this had to be a moment where everyone’s mouths fell squarely on the floor.  I mean, can’t you just see this in your head?!  This was Jesus…beyond a shadow of a doubt.  It couldn’t be an imposter and it couldn’t be his long-lost twin…why?  Because He showed them the piercings in His hands and side…the same piercings they had watched Him receive on the cross.  Everything was true!  They believed! ….well, all except for one.

Good ‘ole Thomas…he didn’t make it to this particular Sunday night meeting (guess He thought He could watch it on live streaming….joking, jokin!! Ha ha!).  Anyway, when the disciples told him what had happened, he said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” John 20:25.  Another doubter…another “I have to see it to believe it” person.  Several days later, when they were all together again, Thomas got his proof.  “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’” John 20:26-27.  The look on Thomas’ face at that exact moment had to be one of surprise and also embarrassment.  Surprise because truly Jesus was risen!  Embarrassment because he was wrong, the others were right, and Jesus had just called him out in front of everyone.  But what Jesus says next to him is one of the most poignant statements of this whole evening.  Jesus says, “You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” John 20:29.

This Easter season remember, fellow Christians, that you have been blessed by Jesus Himself.  How?  Because you believe He rose from the dead, but didn’t need to see Him to form that belief.  Maybe there are some of you, though, like Thomas who need to “see it to believe it.”  All I can tell you is why I believe what I believe and pray you will see how this is all the proof and evidence needed to believe the unbelievable.  For me personally, I believe because the inspired, infallible Word of God tells me so.  I’m taking the Word’s word for it if that makes any sense! :)  John 20:31 says, “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.”  I also believe because I’ve seen the Spirit of Jesus shine through the stories and experiences of other believers.  2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”  I mean who else could take someone whose life was falling apart and turn it into something beautiful?  Not a dead man, that’s for sure. 

JESUS IS ALIVE!  HE IS RISEN! And you know what?!  I don’t need to see it to believe it!