2005-09-10 - Christmas and Easter

Psalm 10, Part 1

We recommend that you open the Bible version of your choice, and read Psalm 10 before beginning this study.

There are two advents which scripture identifies. The first advent we celebrate as Christmas. This is the celebration of the first coming of Messiah. He came to reconcile fallen man to Himself, through His sacrifice on the cross. We give this holiday a substantial amount of recognition.

As an aside, I believe we should probably give Easter as much or more attention than we do Christmas, since it is the celebration of the work on the cross. For it was by the shedding of Christ's blood that we are saved. And although Christ's birth is the story of God's love through the incarnation, Easter is the message of how His boundless love for us was sealed and completed, when He voluntarily gave up His life as He hung on the cross.

For hundreds of years, many have been looking forward to His first coming. They realized this world was not what it should be, the way God had intended it to be. Since man had been created in the image of God, he has had an innate desire for life to be just. (We have often noted that one of the most important things we teach children is that life isn't fair.) Anyway, it was hoped that with the coming of Messiah, God's justice would be found on the earth.

After all, Isaiah said, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Series to be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org