From the Jews, For the World–Merry Christmas 2023

As we close out this devotional series for Advent “From the Jews, For the World” we look at a marvelous mystery: that Jesus would leave behind all of heaven with the riches and relationship He knew before the “Word became flesh”, and that He would choose to make His dwelling among us for three decades so that He might live for us and die for us. 

We are blessed in every way because this gift would be from the Jews through their faithful stewardship of God’s promises.  But by fulfilling the Law entrusted to the Jews in His person, Jesus would destroy the barrier that the Law represented—that kept Gentiles out of the salvation story—and now both Jews and non-Jews would be able to share in something that had previously been for the Jews alone. For the world!

During the days of the stewardship of the Law, “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool.

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:11-23)

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So, while Bethlehem with its non-Christian majority might do a Total Grinch and take down every celebration, and its minions globally protest—even vandalize—tree lightings, assault and diminish everything associated with Christmas and “gloom prevails in the streets of the capital Damascus” we praise You, Jesus Christ, the truth is that in the heavenly realms, the cosmos rejoices at this Christmas gift with an unrestrained rejoicing.  It’s because You came.

Christmas means so much more!  Now, there is hope of eternal life because of what Jesus did, from the miracle of His birth as a tiny baby to the miracle of the empty tomb.  We eagerly anticipate the eternal rejoicing at Jesus’ return.  Merry Christmas!