QT 12/25/2023 Mark 10:32-34, Christmas was intended to lead to the cross

Mark 10:32–34 (ESV) —

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

 

NOTE: This is a fitting passage for Christmas -- Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to die for our sins. This was the reason he was born.

 

Mark 10:45 (ESV) — 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

It wasn't politics that brought him to the cross or even the jealousy of the religious leaders. He was born in that manger to die on a Roman (Gentile) cross. His people would hand him over to the Gentiles to die. And so Jew and Gentile killed Jesus. But, that was the plan. It was not an accident. It was not a story of a good man whose life was cut short. It was the Son of God who was destined to die on a cross and pay the sins of all mankind. Christmas leads to Good Friday and then to Easter. And because of these three days, we can be born again and have eternal life. The birth, the crucifixion, and then the resurrection. Jesus was the first born from the dead, and if we believe in Jesus, we too can be resurrected from the dead.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I experienced the new life? 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2. Have I placed my trust in Jesus for salvation?

 

PRAYER: Father, many years ago, I prayed for you to be my savior and Lord. I believed in you and what you did on the cross for me. I experienced and am still experiencing the new life. On this Christmas day, I say "THANK YOU" again for changing the course and direction of my life.