The story of Christ, born in a barn in Bethlehem is paradoxical. It begins with a baby and closes with a king riding into battle. The close of the story is not the end, but a new beginning.
Stephen Altrogge works as a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA and wrote an article titled,” Why I Don’t Like Christmas Carols.”
Here is an excerpt:
“As I read through the Bible, it seems that the story of Jesus’ birth has a soundtrack running behind it.
It is an epic soundtrack, a thundering soundtrack, a soundtrack of war.
Of battle.
Of great, intense conflict.
When Jesus was born, the demonic powers shuddered with fear. They knew that the king had come, and that their doom was imminent. They did all they could to stop the king. They incited Herod to slaughter baby boys. But they could not stop God’s redemption plan.
Jesus’ birth is the story of light breaking into darkness, of hope bursting into gloom. It is the story of sadness being undone, and the demonic rulers being overrun.
It is the story of the King of Kings becoming a lowly, grasping, nursing, crying baby. It is the story of hidden glory.
The Christmas story is the story of a great warrior coming to rescue a helpless people. It’s a story of grit, and blood, and a rugged cross that awaited the newborn babe. The soft flesh of the babe would soon be punctured by nails. The smooth skin of the child would soon be ripped apart by a whip.
When I hear Christmas carols, I don’t hear the grit or the struggle or the rescue. I don’t hear the initial cracks and pops of Satan’s skull underneath Jesus’ foot……
But as we listen to their sweet melodies, let’s not forget about the glorious battle our Savior fought and won. Let’s remember the grit and the glory of what our Savior has accomplished. Let’s remember that the stable hung under the shadow of the cross.”
The prophet Isaiah offers some of the grit and glory.
Isaiah 9:5-7
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Every take over and every rescue comes with a cost. The take over from satan’s rule and rescue of humankind came at the cost of Jesus’ life.
Randy Alcorn, author/speaker writes:
"The prayer of my heart this Christmas is that people would understand that Jesus is the person they were made by and made for—that they would understand that He loved them enough to go to the cross for them and pay the price for their sins so that they could live forever with Him on the New Earth, the eternal Heaven."
This Christmas, celebrate the grit and the glory of Jesus coming as a babe and returning as King.
Stephen Altrogge works as a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA and wrote an article titled,” Why I Don’t Like Christmas Carols.”
Here is an excerpt:
“As I read through the Bible, it seems that the story of Jesus’ birth has a soundtrack running behind it.
It is an epic soundtrack, a thundering soundtrack, a soundtrack of war.
Of battle.
Of great, intense conflict.
When Jesus was born, the demonic powers shuddered with fear. They knew that the king had come, and that their doom was imminent. They did all they could to stop the king. They incited Herod to slaughter baby boys. But they could not stop God’s redemption plan.
Jesus’ birth is the story of light breaking into darkness, of hope bursting into gloom. It is the story of sadness being undone, and the demonic rulers being overrun.
It is the story of the King of Kings becoming a lowly, grasping, nursing, crying baby. It is the story of hidden glory.
The Christmas story is the story of a great warrior coming to rescue a helpless people. It’s a story of grit, and blood, and a rugged cross that awaited the newborn babe. The soft flesh of the babe would soon be punctured by nails. The smooth skin of the child would soon be ripped apart by a whip.
When I hear Christmas carols, I don’t hear the grit or the struggle or the rescue. I don’t hear the initial cracks and pops of Satan’s skull underneath Jesus’ foot……
But as we listen to their sweet melodies, let’s not forget about the glorious battle our Savior fought and won. Let’s remember the grit and the glory of what our Savior has accomplished. Let’s remember that the stable hung under the shadow of the cross.”
The prophet Isaiah offers some of the grit and glory.
Isaiah 9:5-7
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Every take over and every rescue comes with a cost. The take over from satan’s rule and rescue of humankind came at the cost of Jesus’ life.
Randy Alcorn, author/speaker writes:
"The prayer of my heart this Christmas is that people would understand that Jesus is the person they were made by and made for—that they would understand that He loved them enough to go to the cross for them and pay the price for their sins so that they could live forever with Him on the New Earth, the eternal Heaven."
This Christmas, celebrate the grit and the glory of Jesus coming as a babe and returning as King.
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