It's About the Cross

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. I Timothy 1:15

This is a departure from my regular hymn writing pattern, but when I heard this song sung by a youth choir at my church yesterday, the words were so profound that I couldn't stop thinking about them, and knew I had to write about it.

Naturally, there is a lot of attention at this time of year to the amazing story of Jesus being born in a stable, put to bed in a manger, and shepherds and wisemen coming from far and near to worship. Rightly so! It IS an amazing story. But that's not why Jesus came. It's not about the mangers, angels and shepherds. It's about the cross and my sin. The angel who spoke to Joseph told him as much.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:18-21

Jesus came to be born once so that we could be born again! Jesus first teaches about this concept to Nicodemus.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:1-6

He gave His life so that we could have real life - eternal life! We are born again to a living hope through His resurrection from the dead.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I Peter 1:3-5

The beginning of the story - the manger, the stable, the shepherds and the wisemen - IS great. But as this song says, it's the ending that can save you so that's why we celebrate. (I would quibble with it being called "the ending" but let's set that aside for now.) Christmas is worth celebrating because of WHY Jesus came - to die for our sins.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:24

He Himself bore our sin so that we can die to sin and live to righteousness. His blood paid the price, when it should have been ours. Hallelujah!

Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6

It's About the Cross
Words by Go Fish

It's not just about the manger where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels who sang for him that day
It's not just about the shepherds or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wisemen who travelled from afar

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's about the cross

It's not just about the presents underneath the tree
It's not all about the feeling that the season brings to me
It's not just about coming home to be with those you love
It's not all about the beauty in the snow I'm dreaming of

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's about the cross

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's about the cross