A Promise Fulfilled

We would be remiss to think of Jesus' birth without remembering where it led. God knew what He was doing when He let His son be born. He knew the road to the Cross and the death upon it His son would have to bear. He also knew that early on a Sunday morning Jesus would rise again, defeating death, sin, and Satan. This final week looks forward to where the birth led. From the betrayal in the garden, to the trials, down the road of sorrow, upon the Cross, and finally at an empty tomb, we can celebrate our Lord's birth with a grateful heart due to our Savior's sacrifice.

Dec 19 | Dec 20 | Dec 21 | Dec 22 | Dec 23 | Dec 24

December 19 - The Garden of Gethsemane

Key Verses: Luke 22:41-44

Jesus had celebrated a Passover meal with his disciples early in the evening. He knew the Cross was tomorrow. Troubled due to what was to come, Jesus did what He tells us to do: He prayed. Jesus knew only His death on the Cross would save us from our sins. He asked the Father if there was another way. There wasn't. Jesus willingly accepted the plan.

His body, however, was under a tremendous strain. The Bible tells us His sweat was like drops of blood. The strain on our Savior was such that an angel came down to strengthen Him. Our Lord knew He was taking the sins of the world upon His own shoulders. Even with His human body struggling to handle what was to come, our Lord still carried out His master plan to redeem us. 

December 20 - Before the Religious Authorities

Key Verses: Matthew 26:59-66

Jesus stood before the religious leaders of His day. They had brought in numerous witnesses to find fault with Jesus and thus far Christ stood without a single charge sticking. The leaders were at the end of their rope. They needed something, anything, with which to accuse Jesus. They had to get rid of Him. But how? Finally, they bring two men up who had heard Jesus' prophecy about the future where Jesus said He'd come back to life in three days. 

But Jesus remained silent. He gave no words in His own defense. Then the chief priest asked Jesus directly: are you the Messiah? Jesus, always truthful, answered the chief priest directly. Yes, it was as the chief priest had said. Finally, they had a charge: blasphemy. But it was a false charge since Jesus really was the Christ, the Messiah, God in the flesh. In Jesus' final hours not only did he suffer physically, but He also suffered false accusations and false charges. 

December 21 - Before the Government Authorities

Key Verses: Luke 23:13-25

Finally Jesus is brought before the Roman government. After examination, the Romans could find no charge against Him. They had beaten Him, they had ridiculed Him, but they could find Him guilty of no crime. Prepared to release Him, Pilate offers Jesus back to the people gathered in Jerusalem. He tells them the official findings of the Romans. It doesn't matter.

There are a few people with an agenda against Jesus. These few people drove the religious council earlier and they drive the people now. They stir up the people to vote for Barabbas and thus sentence Jesus to death. Through it all Jesus remains quiet to His own defense. He needs not speak for the charges against Him are false. Jesus knows all of these things have to come to pass. The only choice is the Cross and Jesus has chosen it willingly.

December 22 - The Road to the Cross

Key Verses: John 19:16-17, Luke 23:26-27

Forced to carry His own Cross, Jesus struggles under the weight. We saw how Jesus' body was racked with stress due to what was to come. The long night, the beatings, and the stress of it all has driven our Lord's human body to exhaustion. As He walks the road to the Cross he stumbles and falls. The Romans call a man, Simon of Cyrene, to assist in carrying the Cross.

Not only was Simon present, but a large group of others. Jesus had touched many lives and they knew the charges against Him were false. Days earlier they celebrated Him as a king entering His crown city. And now they mourned as Jesus went to His certain death. But Jesus did it because it had to be done. He straightened out Peter when Peter thought fighting to the end was the right way to go. Jesus told Peter armies of angels stood ready, but Jesus chose not to call them. Upon the Cross our sins would be taken. To that Cross Jesus would go. He would redeem His creation. 

December 23 - Our Savior's Sacrifice

Key Verses: Luke 23:44-48

Hanging upon the Cross, Jesus had redeemed another soul. One of the criminals who had hung beside our Lord had accepted Christ and asked Jesus to remember Him. Jesus promised the man he would be in paradise. But now it was time to finish the sacrifice. Jesus called out one last time as the Father watched His Son die. In the temple the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies tore in two. This heavy curtain which shielded the holy room strictly for God was ripped asunder. Jesus' death now opened the door for any one of us to come to the Father.

So powerful was Jesus in death one of the Roman centurions at the site cried out, glorifying God. The people gathered in witness went home, changed forever. They had seen God's sacrifice with their own eyes. Though they didn't understand then what Jesus had done, they would never be the same.

December 24 - The Empty Tomb

Key Verses: Luke 24:1-8

God had placed His angels there to offer an explanation. They reminded the women of Jesus' own words. Jesus had predicted the acts of sinful men. The Savior had predicted His death on the Cross. And our Lord had predicted He would rise from the dead after three days. There, at the empty tomb, the women witnessed the fulfillment of Jesus' words. The plan for redemption had been completed. Jesus, who was born a baby boy in Bethlehem, had died and rose from the dead. He had come to save His people from their sins. With this final act, Jesus completed the promise for us all.