The Meaning of Christmas

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Gal. 4:4-7).

It is easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle of Christmas and to forget what it is really about. Christmas is about celebrating the gracious gift of God: his Son. Although Paul wasn't addressing the holiday of Christmas, his words here in Galatians reminds us of why Christ came.

Paul tells us that God sent his Son so that we might be redeemed. Let's explore. Paul describes the sending as timely. Jesus came to earth "when the time had fully come." In other words, the moment was ripe for Christ's coming. History had been building to his arrival.

He was born of a woman. Paul is most likely clarifying the fact that Jesus, while the Son of God, was also fully human. We shouldn't hear terms like "Son of God" and "born of woman," and assume that Jesus is the flesh and blood offspring of a union between God and Mary. The conception of Jesus was a supernatural act worked by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was fully God and fully human.

He was born under the law. Jesus had to obey the law just like anyone else. He faced temptation just like we do, but he didn't sin. If Jesus was to live and save those he came to save, he could not break any law. He was born under the law, and kept it perfectly. By keeping the law, Jesus was able to redeem us by becoming our substitute. He stood in our place and received our punishment.

What does redemption mean? Paul describes it as receiving "the full rights of sons." Paul explains those rights as receiving the Spirit and being an heir. Paul states that believers have the Spirit in their hearts. The Spirit's presence in the believers' hearts is an act of God. Paul says, "God sent the Spirit into our hearts."

The Spirit provides access to the heavenly Father. Paul says the Spirit "calls out, 'Abba, Father!'." The presence of the Spirit creates an intimate bond between the believer and God. Because God called us sons or children, we can call him Abba.

Paul concludes that if we are God's children, then we must also be heirs. We are shares in all that is his. We share in his plans, his promises, and his providences. That is what Christmas means. It means that God has sent his One and Only Son, so that we too, could be called the children of God.

Names of God the Son: Messiah

"The woman said to Him, "I know the Messiah is coming" (who is called the Christ). "When He comes, He will explain everything to us." "I am He," Jesus told her, "the One speaking to you" (John 4:25-26, HCSB).

When we refer to Jesus as Jesus Christ, we are not saying that Jesus' last name is "Christ." Christ, or Messiah, is a title. It means that Jesus is God's Anointed One. Jesus didn't often speak of being the Messiah. It probably had to do with the Jewish expectations of a conquering king. Jesus' kingdom was bigger and more complicated than that.

Jesus is God's Anointed. But what does that mean? There were three types of people anointed in the Old Testament. The priest was to be anointed with oil (see Ex. 29:21 and Lev. 8:10-12). Sometimes, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:6). Kings were also anointed (1 Sam. 16:13). Jesus was, and is, God's Anointed Prophet (Acts 3:22-26), Priest (Heb. 4:15), and King(Matt. 27:11). Not surprisingly, Jesus is unique in this threefold anointing.

When we address Jesus as the Messiah or Christ, we are professing his roles as Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet, He makes the things of God the Father know to us. As Priest, He acts as mediator between us and God, reconciling us to God. As King, he rules the nations. When we call Jesus the Christ, we are expressing his unique relationship to God the Father.

Considering David

"He [David] said to his men,'The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed'" (1 Sam. 24:6).

David fascinates me.  Every time I read through his story, I find myself trying to get into his head.  I want to know the reasons behind his actions.  I know that David was a man after God's own heart, but I want really want to understand it.  I want to learn how to live and think this way.

In the passage the above quote is drawn from, Saul is pursuing David to kill him, and unknowingly enters David's hideout.  David's companions urge him to strike Saul down, and become king.  However, David refuses to do it.  His reason is simple: Saul is the Lord's anointed.  David creeps up to Saul, who is using the bathroom, and cuts off part of Saul's robe.  Even this event strikes David's conscience.  Yet, David uses it to show Saul that he does not desire him.

Although I know how the story goes, it always excites me to read it.  Here are some of the things that amaze me:

• David was content to wait on God's time. David was the rightful king.  The kingdom had been taken from Saul, and given to David by God.  Yet, David was willing to wait for God to bring him to his throne.

• David was confident that God's Word would not fail.  David's confidence in the promises of God were the fuel for his contentment.

• David's love for the Lord extended to his anointed.  He understood, at least in part, that you cannot despise the anointed without despising the Anointer.

• David's bold nature and willingness to take initiative were an expression of his submission to God's will. 

• David had a very tender conscience. David felt guilty just for cutting Saul's garment.

• David was truly humble.  Compared to Saul, David (even as rightful king) saw himself as a dog and a flea. 

I yearn to see these things becoming more evident in my life.  My heart's desire is to walk in the footsteps of David's greater son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  May the Lord grant us hearts that pursue his glory over our own.  May it be said of us that we are people after God's own heart.

The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

I know very little about sheep.  I have read that sheep are known to be defenseless, stupid, and timid.  It upsets a lot of people to be compared with sheep.  Yet, the Lord compares his people to sheep all the time.  Jesus had compassion on the crowds because he viewed them as sheep with out a shepherd.  Thus, he viewed them as individuals in grave danger.

We imagine ourselves to be greater than sheep.  We take measures to protect ourselves against danger.  We wear seat belts, helmets, or life jackets. We insure ourselves, our cars, and our homes.  We participate in neighborhood watches and avoid strangers.  We buy guns, get concealed carry permits, and take self-defense courses.  We use these measures to assure ourselves that it is all okay.   But it's not.  Without Christ, we are sheep without a shepherd--defenseless, helpless, and weak.

We fool ourselves into believing that world isn't really a bad place, that the devil doesn't really exist, and we're not vulnerable to attack.  Yet, we are sheep in a world filled with lions, wolves, bears, etc.  We need a Shepherd who is might to save, who is always ready to protect us with his rod and his staff.

So often we are afraid to approach our Shepherd.  The reasons are numerous I am sure, but all are unfounded.  He invites us to come to him, to be near him.  He delights in protecting us, in comforting us, and in caring for us.  His voice is known to us; it resonates deep within our hearts calling us to him.

While we may not wish to be sheep, nevertheless, we are safe in the Good Shepherd's arms.  He is with us, even through the valley of the shadow of death.  He has prepared for us a table, and a cup that over flows.  His arms are mighty to save, so we can lay down in the green pastures and rest beside the still waters.

Because our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, laid down his life and took it up, we shall not want.  We lack no good thing.  We have forgiveness, cleansing, and a righteousness from heaven.  We have the Spirit of adoption, whereby, we cry "Abba, Father."  We have an inheritance.  We have a ministry of reconciliation.  We have a hope and a future.

Jesus said, "the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  In essence, Jesus is telling us that he willfully exchanges his life for the life of his sheep.  By doing this he displays his goodness.  He demonstrates that it is his desire to rescue and not to destroy us.  It is easy to rest in a love like that.  As Isaiah says, "We all like sheep have gone astray" (Isa. 53:6).  The Good Shepherd is calling you to come, heed his voice and find rest for your weary soul.

Thoughts on the Cycle of the Judges

"And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD,the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.  They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them.  And they provoked the LORD to anger.  They abandoned the LORD an served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.  So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them.  And he sold them into the hands of their surrounding enemies, so that they could not withstand their enemies.  Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them.  And they were in terrible distress" (Judges 2:11-15, ESV).

Thus begins the cycle of the Judges.  The cycle begins with the loss of godly leadership, then the people fall into rebellion and idolatry, then God sends and oppressor to oppress his people, the people cry out for deliverance, and God sends a deliverer who rescues the people.  The reality of the cycle of the Judges foreshadows the experience of humanity.


There is the loss of a godly leader: Adam falls into sin and death enters into the world.  Then his descendants fell into sin and idolatry.  God turned them over to the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Adam's descendants were sorely oppressed, and in need of deliverance.  God sent a deliverer, Jesus Christ.  Now, those who turn to Jesus find deliverance.


The great news is that Jesus' judgeship will never end.  He will reign forever.  The deliverance he brings is complete and eternal.  He has defeated our enemies through his cross. The cycle has been broken, because of Christ's presence within believers, through the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is working obedience within us, conforming us into the image of Christ.  Although, we may not always see the results immediately, we can rest confidently in the reality that he will bring his good work to the proper conclusion.