Christmas is the first part of the story which will include both death and resurrection. It is one of the most encouraging pictures of God’s faithfulness to His people, who were totally faithless and without hope.
But Christmas is also an indictment because He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. He was light that came into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, so they rejected the light for it revealed the nature of their evil deeds and dark motives.
Even today, Jesus is a light to those who are searching for God, for relationship with God, but those who seek to do evil, those who seek after self-satisfaction and self-gain, they mock and reject the light, seeking instead to live in the darkness. They are futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts are darkened.
As you celebrate this Christmas, consider the “rest of the story” . . .
This baby Jesus will grow up and make His way to Calvary. He will bring you to Easter Sunday. Make sure you don’t leave Him at the manger, but follow Him to the cross . . . then to the tomb . . . and to the sky . . . for this Jesus will ascend to the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end!
