Ridgell's Originals

 Lots of talk this time of year about baby Jesus.  And the manger is much easier to talk about than the cross.  Everybody loves babies.  Baby Jesus doesn't seem threatening.  Animals, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, and Mommy and Dad.  

But the truth about baby Jesus is much deeper than that.  

So here are things to remember when talking about baby Jesus.

God showed up.  Baby Jesus was God in the flesh.  The fact that God would love us so much that He would send his son.  And Jesus would love us so much that he would submit to that.  To save us from our sins.  Jesus did not come so we could figure out how to live.  He did not come to make this world a better place.  He came to save us from our sins.

Every day chores are holy.  Jesus was a baby.  Feeding, changing diapers, rocking.  All holy.  Life is holy.  My mundane everyday chores are part of my walk with God.  And they are holy.

Jesus grew up.  He did not stay an infant.  He lived.  And he showed us how to live.  That is not why he came.  He came to save us.  But we live in this world as saved people.  He showed us how to do that.  And it is not easy.  It is not comfortable.  It is dangerous.  It is not popular.  And it is the only life that brings true contentment.  It is the only life that never ends.

Baby Jesus came to die.  He grew up for one reason.  To die on the cross.  To pay for our sins.  The manger without the cross is not the Jesus story.

Baby Jesus lives.  Yes, he grew up and died.  Then God raised him from the dead.  He came from heaven and he went back to heaven.

Baby Jesus came to make a way for us.  His death reconciled us to God.  

If you believe.  

And that is the real key to baby Jesus.  God's son who came to save us from our sins.  Who grew up and lived differently than the world.  Who died on the cross for our sins.  Who was raised from the dead.  

Believe it.

And that is the good news of baby Jesus.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM