Easter helps explain Christmas

It’s Christmastime but I want to start by speaking about Easter, which concerns

the judicial murder of Jesus the teacher, prophet and miracle worker. He was put

to death on a Roman cross. Who was he? He was a human being like you and

me and yet there’s more... He said that he had come down from God and would

return to him. When credible reports that he had been resurrected from the dead

began to circulate, there was much consternation amongst those who had

contrived to be rid of him. Conversely, such a wonderful event certainly validated

what Jesus had said about himself and brought much joy to those who had

trusted in him.

What was the point of the death and resurrection of Jesus? The Christmas story

helps us a good deal here.

A devout man named Joseph was pledged to marry a virgin named Mary. He was

informed by a heavenly messenger that she was to bear a son as a result of a

miraculous conception. Joseph was told that the infant was to be given the name

Jesus because he would save his people from their sins (the name Jesus means

‘God saves’). We read about this in Matthew’s gospel where we also read that the

child would be referred to as Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’. On the night

of the birth of this baby, rejoicing angelic messengers appeared to shepherds

outside Bethlehem confirming the unique things spoken earlier to Joseph.

Luke’s gospel records much about Mary’s own revelations of what was to take

place in the coming months and years. The gospel of John expands this more

when he identifies Jesus as the Son of God who predated time but latterly had

clothed himself as a human just as we are.

The man Jesus never erred in thought, word or deed. He was a person of

excellence and yet he was killed by people who recoiled from his light - this

because it showed up the darkness of their own self-centredness. We naturally do

the same and the Bible calls this sin.

Jesus’ coming (which we call Christmas) and his death and resurrection (which

we call Easter) bring forgiveness of sins and a radical change of heart for all who

will humbly believe. This is how we can be reconciled to God and this is the ‘glad

tidings’ that we sing about each Christmas.