HE BECAME LIKE US -- WHY?
II Corinthians 5:18-21
As Christmas draws near, two things, I think, are important. One is that
we ought to be careful to emphasize in our hearts that this is a Christian
occasion.
During the time of pre-Christmas busyness one year in Chicago, there
appeared in a city newspaper a story of finding the body of a grown man, about
33, in a large department store's bargain basement. The account stated that
apparently he had been crushed in the press of thousands of Christmas shoppers.
"When we examined the body," an officer said, "we found scars in the palm of
each hand."
Coincidence? One thing we can't dodge is the thought that Christ is
sometimes crushed, stomped and left behind by the press of all the extracurric-
ular we have added to the celebration of His birthday.
Another thing is important. It is not enough simply to remember that He
was born. The real story of Christmas includes not only the cradle of Bethlehem,
but also the cross of Golgotha; the crown of a risen, reigning'Saviour; and the
consecration of every Christian. Not only that He came, but that He came for a
reason -- to save you and me and all the world. This is the total Christmas
story, and this story is to be shared.
The real meaning of Christ involves not just one day, but- ,every day of the,
year. - In-Il Corinthians 5:9 and the'surrounding verse' -e t iema The-
total significance of-Christmas is stated in three-part - Tht Word made flesh --
Incarnation. Th&'waymade'clear --*-,Salvation. The worl mustlknow -- Participation.
I. The first,-'the-Word madef,-flesh -- Incarnation. "God was in Christ." The
2
first of John puts it this way: "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among
us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth."
It is history that Christ was born. His birth is proved, certified, almost
like yours and mine. There is the genealogy that corresponds to our family
Bible rec ...
II Corinthians 5:18-21
As Christmas draws near, two things, I think, are important. One is that
we ought to be careful to emphasize in our hearts that this is a Christian
occasion.
During the time of pre-Christmas busyness one year in Chicago, there
appeared in a city newspaper a story of finding the body of a grown man, about
33, in a large department store's bargain basement. The account stated that
apparently he had been crushed in the press of thousands of Christmas shoppers.
"When we examined the body," an officer said, "we found scars in the palm of
each hand."
Coincidence? One thing we can't dodge is the thought that Christ is
sometimes crushed, stomped and left behind by the press of all the extracurric-
ular we have added to the celebration of His birthday.
Another thing is important. It is not enough simply to remember that He
was born. The real story of Christmas includes not only the cradle of Bethlehem,
but also the cross of Golgotha; the crown of a risen, reigning'Saviour; and the
consecration of every Christian. Not only that He came, but that He came for a
reason -- to save you and me and all the world. This is the total Christmas
story, and this story is to be shared.
The real meaning of Christ involves not just one day, but- ,every day of the,
year. - In-Il Corinthians 5:9 and the'surrounding verse' -e t iema The-
total significance of-Christmas is stated in three-part - Tht Word made flesh --
Incarnation. Th&'waymade'clear --*-,Salvation. The worl mustlknow -- Participation.
I. The first,-'the-Word madef,-flesh -- Incarnation. "God was in Christ." The
2
first of John puts it this way: "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among
us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth."
It is history that Christ was born. His birth is proved, certified, almost
like yours and mine. There is the genealogy that corresponds to our family
Bible rec ...
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