In the midst of the Christmas season we get caught up in the rush of shopping and wraping gifts and preparing for the dinner and making cookies, candies and pies, while trimming the tree and decorating the yard that we forget about the very one whom brought us this wonderful holiday.
You see before Jesus was born the people had to shed the blood of a lamb and if they could not affored a lamb, then it was 2 pigeons or 2 doves for sinning. It could not be just any lamb, dove, or pigeon, it had to be perffect, without spot or blemish. And not just anyone could go to God and ask for forgiveness, only the high pries could and he had strict rules he had to follow before entering into Gods presence or he would be struck dead. Because there was no grace yet and God could not have sin in his presence. "This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. "Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. "Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. (Leviticus 16:3-14)
You see, we have all Sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). that is the whole reason Jesus came to earth as a baby. He became our perfect sacrifice....our passover lamb. Jesus is the way the trueth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6). God loved us all and he knew we needed a savior so he sent his only Son to die on a cross that we might live. (John 3:16) and that is why we have Christmas.
Mary was a virgin who was going to marry Joseph, but before they were wed the Holy Spirit was inside of her and she became pregnant. They traveled to a town called Bethlehem but there was no room for them in the inn so she gave birth to Jesus in a barn. They wrapped him in swaddeling clothes and laid him in a manger. Three magi followed a star they seen in the east until they reached Jesus.(Matthew Chapter 1 and 2)
Jesus lived a perfect life. He came to show us the way to live, He decipled people and did awesome miracles then He was taken by Roman soldiers and put on on trial. He was mocked, spit on, beaten and had a crown of thrones shoved on his head, then they took him and drove nails through both wrists and ankles and raised the cross so it stood up, and then they shoved a sword through his side. Yet He still remained sinless. In fact He could have called angels down to save him.... but he didn't. He could have yelled I hate them....but again He didn't. He could have even shouted profanities at them....but He didn't, instead He said forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Jesus Prayed to the Father in heaven on our behalf (Matthew 27: 11-65).
Then three days later Jesus rose from the dead because death did not own him. Jesus said that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:9)
JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE....THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
You see before Jesus was born the people had to shed the blood of a lamb and if they could not affored a lamb, then it was 2 pigeons or 2 doves for sinning. It could not be just any lamb, dove, or pigeon, it had to be perffect, without spot or blemish. And not just anyone could go to God and ask for forgiveness, only the high pries could and he had strict rules he had to follow before entering into Gods presence or he would be struck dead. Because there was no grace yet and God could not have sin in his presence. "This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. "Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. "Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. (Leviticus 16:3-14)
You see, we have all Sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). that is the whole reason Jesus came to earth as a baby. He became our perfect sacrifice....our passover lamb. Jesus is the way the trueth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6). God loved us all and he knew we needed a savior so he sent his only Son to die on a cross that we might live. (John 3:16) and that is why we have Christmas.
Mary was a virgin who was going to marry Joseph, but before they were wed the Holy Spirit was inside of her and she became pregnant. They traveled to a town called Bethlehem but there was no room for them in the inn so she gave birth to Jesus in a barn. They wrapped him in swaddeling clothes and laid him in a manger. Three magi followed a star they seen in the east until they reached Jesus.(Matthew Chapter 1 and 2)
Jesus lived a perfect life. He came to show us the way to live, He decipled people and did awesome miracles then He was taken by Roman soldiers and put on on trial. He was mocked, spit on, beaten and had a crown of thrones shoved on his head, then they took him and drove nails through both wrists and ankles and raised the cross so it stood up, and then they shoved a sword through his side. Yet He still remained sinless. In fact He could have called angels down to save him.... but he didn't. He could have yelled I hate them....but again He didn't. He could have even shouted profanities at them....but He didn't, instead He said forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Jesus Prayed to the Father in heaven on our behalf (Matthew 27: 11-65).
Then three days later Jesus rose from the dead because death did not own him. Jesus said that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:9)
JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE....THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
