God’s Christmas gifts!
Good Morning
When God the Father sent his Only Begotten Son to live in a human body and face all of the powerful temptations of evil in the human and spirit world all around him, he knew that there would be a tree that would be the source of freedom and celebration and gifts that would go on for eternity. The tree wasn’t green. It was a cruel rugged cross that was splattered with the bright red blood of God’s Holy Son. It was a tree that would be the most important part of God’s eternal plan to save mankind from the power of sin and death. God’s arch enemy did his best to trap and destroy Jesus, but it all fell apart at that rugged cross. Jesus spent the years of his life on earth as a peasant, but he never stopped being the Eternal Son of God. When Jesus went to the cross he went to do what no one else could do but him. He willingly paid the full price for all of the sins of all mankind from Adam and Eve to the last persons born on earth. Peter reminds us that, God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.(1Pet.1:2) In Isaiah’s day he was told, But those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!(Is.26:19) Remember when Jesus told a story of a rich but wicked man and a beggar who died, the rich man in torment could see Lazarus far away with Abraham being comforted. He asked Lazarus to bring him some water but Abraham said no, because there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’(Lk.16:26) Remember when Jesus was about to die he promised the thief, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(Lk.23:43)
So what happened after Jesus left earth for Paradise? The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.(Mat.27:51-53) What did Jesus say to Mary in the garden? "Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father.(Jn.20:17) Jesus was just getting ready to lead the godly people from Paradise into their eternal home in Heaven. The Old Testament saints were now ready for Heaven since the Lord Jesus finished the work of paying the price for all our sins. Can you imagine the joy and celebration that was going on as they left Paradise for the brilliance of Heaven and the realization that they were now entering their eternal home. Paul tells us, And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.(Eph.3:6) The great chasm was behind them forever. They had longed for their promised Messiah, but now were in the presence of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. They also discovered what Paul tells us, That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”(Eph.4:8) When they came home, I wonder what the angels were singing and when they were rewarded by God’s gifts, like a home of their own, and a loving family all around them, how they must have sung with all their hearts with gratitude and joy.
Ephesians 3:12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.
Roy Wisner
