“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
As Easter draws near, it’s worth remembering the promise of Christmas. Jesus, the Christ, our Lord was born to be a Savior. His saving work was never meant to be accomplished by military means, through starting a revolution and setting up a mighty earthly empire. It was never meant to be accomplished by political means, reforming the government of Israel or Rome. There was only one way Jesus was going to save His people: through the cross.
Jesus entered this world because His people needed saving from something far worse than earthly oppressions. We needed saving from the vile power of sin and the crushing grip of death. To save us from those evils, Jesus, the eternal Son of God stepped into our world at Christmas, so He could be nailed to a cross on Good Friday and rise from the dead on Resurrection Sunday.
Our sin was nailed to the cross when our Savior was. He died in agony to pay the penalty for that sin, so that we won’t have to. His shed blood established a new covenant of grace in which His followers stand clean before God. He triumphantly rose from the dead so that all who believe in Him will likewise rise to glory. Even at Christmas, Easter was always in sight. A Savior was born that He could one day die and rise to life!