When Jesus took on flesh as a baby and came into our world, God sent Him on this mission because mankind needed to be rescued. God knew that humans would be physically and spiritually held captive by brokenness, sin, and death unless someone sinless saved them. Jesus’s rescue mission was essential.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and didn’t inherit an earthly father’s sinful nature. Matthew 1:21 tells us, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Because we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, without a Savior, there is no salvation. SINFUL people could not be rescued without a SIN-LESS savior.
The Christmas mission which was essential to save us was also deadly. If we view the Christmas story only like a sentimental Hallmark card, then we miss the fact that the incarnation was the first step toward the crucifixion. We can’t separate these two things. At Christmas, we love to talk about the birth of Christ. We don’t want to talk about the death of Christ. But the reality is: He came to give His life as a ransom for ours.
Jesus knew that the manger was the first stop on the way to the cross, but He did it because of His love for us. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” He traded His life for yours so that you could experience heaven’s riches if you choose Him as your Lord and Savior.
Jesus’s mission was also personal. The Book of Hebrews describes Jesus as our older brother. Hebrews 2:11 says “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Thus, the Christmas story is the account of a loving Father sending the protective, older brother on a rescue mission—to free His brothers and sisters who’ve been held captive by evil.
The mission was also a gift from God—a gift that takes us out of the realm of darkness, brings us into His light, and changes lives. It takes away our aimlessness and gives us true purpose. The gift motivates us beyond selfish pursuits with no Creator connection into a loving relationship with Him and with others.
Why is this gift so important? Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What we celebrate at Christmas is God’s life-changing gift that paved the way for His estranged, lost children to come home to Him.
At LECC we recognize how glorious it is to know our Savior and to be on mission with Him, and we give Him high praise at every service at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula. Please join us for small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday night activities at 6:30 p.m.
Please know that Jesus came on a Christmas mission to save you from eternal darkness, and your mission— should you choose to accept it—is to be part of God’s rescue story. Remember, Christ loves you, and His mission was for you! Merry CHRIST-mas!
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
