The story of Christmas is an amazing story! Songs are written and sung all over the world with this theme. Believers rejoice that the Savior has come. The Scriptures foretold of His birth in many details. The Scriptures went on to tell of the fulfillment of the prophecies, but also described the purpose of Christs coming to this world. Matthew 18:11 states, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus prepared for our salvation by being born. Jesus paid for our salvation by being put to death. Both His birth and His death were necessary that man might be saved. Christmas is the story of the incarnation. John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us,…” Philippians 2:7, “…and was made in the likeness of men:…” II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” He became a man that He might become our Substitute and our Sacrifice. I Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” Jesus came into the world to be our Savior, but He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. We know that He was crucified and that He was buried, but that was not the end. I Corinthians 15:4 states, “…that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” You really can’t talk about Christmas without talking about Easter.
Let me say to you today that the best is to come. We rejoice in the birth of Jesus because of what that means for our future…our eternity! We, who are believers, have read the last chapters of the Bible. Revelation 21:4 states, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” God is careful to tell us that in Heaven there will be no more sorrow, crying, pain or death. He is saying the best is yet to come. I Corinthians 15:53, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Psalm 16:11, “…in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” There are not enough words to describe what is ahead for the Christian. Suffice it to say that the best is yet to come.
The last verse of “Good Christian Men Rejoice” shows us the reason for our rejoicing.
Good Christian men rejoice, With heart and soul and voice.
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save.
Calls you one and calls you all, To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!