Beyond Christmas Day

Amen and Amen! 

He was born to die. 
I hate that. What is there to like about that?
Because soon after we celebrate Jesus birth at Christmas, we will begin the 40 days of Lent where we prepare to celebrate his resurrection. There would be no resurrection if He hadn't been born; and then he died. Why did He have to die? It's actually a long story that I don't fully understand, but I'll try to explain a bit. In the beginning, long before the earth was created, God knew that when He created man, man would rebel. But He created mankind anyway. God is a just God and when wrong his done, sin must be punished. Because He is a just God. 

BUT WAIT! God set up a system whereby a blood sacrifice would cover your sins. The blood of a lamb. Many sacrifices were instituted, but the blood of the lamb is for forgiveness of sins. So every year, the Jews had to go to the temple to sacrifice an animal for the forgiveness of their sins. But all along God knew that He would provide a sacrifice, once and for all time, to cover man's sins. That sacrifice was Jesus. 

Pretend you stole something and were caught. Judge said you had to go to jail for 6 months. But at the last minute someone spoke up and said "I'll go to jail for him/her". Then YOU are free to go about your life to think about your sin no more. Christ died once for all, for all time. SO does this mean we go about sinning as much as we want because, after all, Christ's death covers our sins? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This act of Jesus should bring to us a forever thanksgiving for what He has done. And in recognizing what He has done for us we want to live in such a way that honors Him.

Blessings,
Mary

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