Seems like many like to make the birth of Jesus into some kind of a Hallmark tear-jerker. Jesus' birth did not happen so that we would be impressed by the “cuteness” or the “desperation” of the nativity. Jesus was born to go to a cross and die for our sins. That's the real story of Christmas. Jesus' birth was intentional...it was decreed by God in eternity past...that God's wrath, God's righteous judgment toward rebellious, sinful people would be targeted to the perfect Lamb of God. In a sense, Jesus' birth was a judicial birth. God's eternal punishment for our sin was to be born by this baby. This is not a “Hallmark” story...the birth of Jesus is eternal, judicial reality.

So that I don't completely offend “Hallmark” lovers...while Jesus' birth and death were decreed by the Father, Son, Holy Spirit in eternity past, Jesus was the One who demonstrated God's love for sinners by being the perfect Lamb who would perfectly meet God's righteous judicial requirement. “God so loved the world that He gave His Son.” Christmas reminds us of God's love. It reminds us that the Son loves us so much that He willingly took on human flesh so that He would provide us a way to be clean and righteous before Holy God. We could say, Christmas is the greatest of all “Hallmark” stories.

6 (the Son, Jesus Christ), although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

Thank You God for this unspeakable, judicial gift.
We praise and give thanks to You.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.