What Happened at Christmas?

What happened approximately 2,000 years ago in the birth or the incarnation of Jesus?

Philippians 2:6-8 reminds us of what happened when Jesus left the heavenly throne and the fullness of glory, coming all the way down to the created earth taking on human flesh in the greatest act of love and humility. We read, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

God became man, Master became slave. Exalted One became humiliated One. The Holy One became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). Do we grasp the magnitude of this reality? Not just theologically, but practically. Does this cause us to praise and worship Jesus this Christmas season? I want to share a few excerpts from several songs to help us grasp this truth and lead us to greater worship this Christmas season.

First, “The Son of God Came Down” song begins with the following words:
“The Son of God came down and laid aside His crown
Born without great renown, this Sovereign One
All holiness and might, all glory shining bright
Have come to earth this night in Mary’s son
O come, let us adore.”

Second, in the song “How Many Kings” we find profound lyrics in the chorus:
“'Cause how many kings step down from their thrones
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Third, a verse in “Glorious Christ”:
“You left the air of heaven, To breathe the dust of earth
And dwell among the outcast and the poor
You came to be forsaken, And died to take our curse
So You could be our joy forevermore”

I hope this post gives us a glimpse of the glory, beauty, and wonder of Christ’s birth, leading us to worship and praise Him for such a humbling act of grace. “What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer, there is no more for Heaven now to give” we sing. Heaven gave us all by giving us Jesus. If you are a believer reading this, praise God in your prayers and through singing of songs for the salvation that He came to accomplish in our place. “…Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

If upon reading this, you find yourself neutral or cold towards the true meaning of Christmas, I want to share with you briefly WHY Jesus came.

Gospel:

The reason or purpose why Jesus humbled Himself and came to this earth was to save sinners (Luke 19:10; Matt. 1:18) Let me ask you this: Do you have a friend who would be willing to give you all his money, home, car, and live on the street as a homeless person so you could enjoy his or her financial blessings? Probably not! Yet Jesus did much more than that spiritually for us! In 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

How can you obtain heavenly riches or inheritance? It is written in Romans 10:9, “...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You must turn from your sins and to Christ in faith believing that you are not good, but only God is good. He died in your place, paying for your sins, so that by believing in Him you would not perish, but have everlasting life. That is the hope and the true joy of Christmas!

A request from elders: Dear Church, if you are sick or know of someone who is sick and cannot attend services and be in fellowship with other believers, please let us know so we can visit them.

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9