28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled… 30 …He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28, 30 NKJ).
My 2025 Bible engagement plan is about to wrap up in the Gospel of John. Looking ahead to the Christmas day reading, on the day we celebrate His birth, the Scripture focus is His death. It shouldn’t seem so odd. As Christians we are called to think about the joy of His birth and simultaneously share in the suffering of His death.
The angels announced the “good news,” “great joy” and “peace” that was for everyone! This good news, this great joy and this peace was because of a baby. The angels expressed how they knew Him: The Savior; the Messiah; the Lord. A gift of God’s love. But He would have to die for us to receive His gift of salvation.
There is no need to celebrate Christmas without understanding Who Jesus is and Why His birth matters. If Jesus, as the Apostle John makes clear, accomplished all that He was sent to do, (John 19:28) then we can find joy in His birth while sharing in His death? Why?
Jesus reveals the Father to us
Matthew 11:27 (NIV) records Jesus saying: 27 “…no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Jesus helps us to know the Father, and gives the way to the Father. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well…” (John 14:6-7).
Jesus is the outpouring of the Father’s Love
The Apostle John made the connection of Jesus’ sacrificial death to the great love of the Father. “9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10) 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s love was reaching for us (preveniently) before we even knew we had a problem. 8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Jesus announced the Kingdom of God
Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom of God. He embodied the fullness of the Kingdom and brought the light of heaven to a dark world. When he sat down in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus opened the scroll of Isaiah and then proclaimed the prophecies of Him had come true. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Then, 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23).
Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for our sins!
In the Old Testament, the priest offered sacrifices for the atonement of sins according to the law. The trouble is that they had to repeat these sacrifices over and over, because sin is a repetitive cycle and we can’t live up to God’s glorious standard without help. That help came through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In Hebrews 10:8-9 it is explained these sacrifices were not pleasing and didn’t hit the mark, so Jesus offered Himself as the pleasing sacrifice, 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). We could not be holy on our own. A perfect sacrifice had to be made. Jesus took on our sins and nailed them to the cross. “18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
To give Salvation to all who believe!
Jesus was clear about His purpose on the earth. “10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We cannot save ourselves. “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The gift is free and we cannot earn it on our own. Only Jesus offers salvation. Yet, He asks for a response to His offer of salvation so that the gift may be applied to our lives. Jesus proclaimed, 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).
To Break the power of sin and death!
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). It is by grace that we can say, 12 “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”…) (Titus 2:12).
At this point, I have to agree with John, “25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). As you celebrate Christmas this week, whether in joy or in grief, whether a loud family gathering or a quiet day of reflection, Jesus came with a purpose. That purpose was you! Never forget that. And if that gift of salvation, love and grace means something to you, go and share that gift with someone else who needs to know that Jesus is the answer!
Rev. Kari Howard
Associate Conference Superintendent