We had a Christmas card from friends in the U.S.A. On the envelope was a Christmas sticker, fractionally larger than a stamp. It had on it a typical picture of a Christmas card-type Bethlehem, over which was an enormous star in a glory cloud, and in the foreground a cuddly little woolly lamb.
Normally that kind of symbolism turns me cold, but I am so glad I read the words printed on it, above the sender’s address. In one sentence it put the message of Christ’s coming into a single gem-like setting.I mean, could you say why Jesus came, and in one sentence? Scripture has some wondrous summaries in it, like for example, there’s one from Paul in Galatians Chapter 4 V. 4-5
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. He came to make us Sons of God. Here is St. John’s profound summary from John Chapter 1 v. 1, 14 and 18:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the he Father, full of grace and truth…. No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only … has made him known.
One of the favourite Christms Carols has this profound summary:Born, that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth; Born, to give them second birth.
Well, what was on that American envelope sticker that I found so impressive? Here we go …
“He came to pay a debt he did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.”
Let me repeat that:
“He came to pay a debt he did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.”
Live on that today – the price is paid. Hallelujah!