He Came to Save Us

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 Luke 2:8-14

"This child came, and an army of angels shows up to declare praise. What is that about? It is about glory ever ascending from man to God and peace ever descending from God to man. That is what that is about — God getting glory; us getting peace. That is what it is. That is the purpose of the incarnation. It is the purpose of the universe being prepared for the incarnation that God would be seen as infinitely glorious, that we would get never-ending peace. That is breathtaking. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”"
-John Piper

Homeschooling has taken me on an educational journey to discover the history of time. I never paid attention  in my history classes. I was not very good at the subject. My mind is is wired for science and math. It hasn't been until my post-graduate school years that I began to enjoy literature and the arts. I am thankful for this awakening, however, because it has produced in me a want of discovery...a desire to know about all I don't.

This advent season has been especially sweet because of the studies we have covered in homeschool with the girls and because of the bible-in-a-year reading plan Steve and I are about to complete! This year, I understand, more than ever (yet not close to how I want or should), what the coming of God as a baby in a manger truly means. So many generations longed to see the promise God made right after Eve ate the apple, that He would "put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15) come true. He promised, and promised, and promised that He would not leave His people, that He would make a way for them to have everlasting peace with Himself, that He would...save them.

Then, one night in the Middle East, He did. He really did.

"Jesus came at Christmas to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus came at Christmas to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus came at Christmas to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Jesus came at Christmas not to call the righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:13). Jesus came at Christmas to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Jesus came at Christmas that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).

So the birth of the Son of God, the very God, very man, is simply stunning and glorious and infinitely serious — an overflow of the happy news. The angel called it “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) — great joy, not small joy; not a little bit of joy, but great joy!"
-John Piper

So, this year,

we wanted our preparations to point to Jesus;

 

   

 

 

   

 

    

we wanted our decorations to point to Jesus;

    

and we tried to give all of our efforts at making our girls as happy as they could possibly be with every kind of surprise that was rooted in the true meaning of Christmas.

 

 

 

  

After Easter, Christmas should be the happiest day of the year in Christian worship. The reason I say “after Easter” is that Good Friday and Easter are the goal of Christmas. The death and resurrection, the salvation of sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the goal of Christmas. Christmas is not the goal of Easter. Christmas is a means. The salvation of sinners on Good Friday and Easter is the goal.
-John Piper

We look forward to Easter. The kicking baby in my belly, who is miraculously due on that day next year, reminds us that,

"the Christian life is a constant experience of trials and difficulties, yet these afflictions are God’s means of refining His people and setting our hearts firmly on our heavenly home. And through it all, we know that our trials are not to punish us in anger but to train us in love. For Jesus was punished on our behalf, so that every trial can only be from a heavenly Father (not a detached Judge), for our good;

at the cross of Christ, we see divine justice and mercy beautifully meet;

in Christ, the new creation has dawned, even as the old age of sin and death continues;

and one day,  Jesus will come again and bring even this old age to a close, and Eden will be restored perfectly, forever, for his people."
-Gospel Transformation Bible (notes from various verses)

Amen.