December 2009 Message from Pastor Kittel
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4: 4, 5)
In the Garden of Eden, Satan, sin, and death entered the world through man’s disobedience. God set in motion a plan and promise (Genesis 3:15) to right the wrong by stating that the seed of the woman (One “born of a woman”) would crush the serpent’s head thus “destroying the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Paul wrote how the curse on the Serpent would be fulfilled in the triumphant Christ, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet.” (Romans 16:20) The birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ spell victory over sin, death, and Satan once and for all. That’s Good News! Christmas is the first of the stepping stones of the Church year cycle that announces the Glad Tidings of the promised Messiah. We get to hear the announcement of the Angel to the Shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10b, 11)
Two thousand years ago, few people in Bethlehem recognized the importance of the stable where Joseph and Mary snuggled their newborn Son. It wasn’t the kind of place you’d expect to find someone important.
The stable was not like a pretty picture on a Christmas card. The grueling journey to Bethlehem left Joseph and Mary tired and hungry. They longed to find a place to bathe and for a warm bed. Instead, they settled for the night in a darkened corner of a stable, to the smell of manure and rotting straw.
But in that stable, almighty God took the form of a newborn child and stepped into human history to reconcile men and women – you and me – to Himself. That miraculous virgin birthin that manger setting heralded the transforming relationship between us and Him.
Three decades later, beneath Calvary’s cross, the manger was a distant memory in Mary’s heart. Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s plan to crush Satan’s head, by bearing the sin of the world, and three days later breaking the jaws of death by rising from the dead.
The manger, the cross and the empty tomb brought God’s plan of reconciliation and redemption to completion. The manger, the cross and the empty tomb is God’s irrevocable declaration that all who have saving faith in Jesus, our Emmanuel … God with us … have the promise of eternal life. That’s Good News! That’s the reason for the season! Now you have a good reason to say, “Merry Christmas.”
Always in His Grip,
From our home to yours-
May the love of the LORD Jesus warm your hearts
throughout the season & the New Year!
Love — Pastor & Sue
Filed under: Messages from Pastor Kittel
