THE VERSE
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.~1 John 3:8
THE THOUGHT
If you're looking for a Bible verse to spell out "the reason for the season," it doesn't get much clearer than 1 John 3:8. The reason the Son of God appeared, the reason Jesus came, the reason for the incarnation, was to destroy the works of the devil. Christmas is the invasion of the kingdom of God into the kingdom of darkness. There is glory in the arrival of the King, in the triumph of the angels. But the real glory of Christmas is something deeper.Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, in a very specific and purposeful way. Hebrews 2:14 explains the reason for the incarnation: "Since therefore the children (that is, you and me) share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." The reason for the incarnation is this: Jesus took on flesh and blood so that His flesh could be pierced and His blood shed, making atonement for sins and thereby destroying the one weapon Satan has to damn us. God became human so that He could die. Christmas is really just the prelude for Good Friday; the cross is the whole point. The incarnation was necessary because the crucifixion was neccessary. We have Christmas because we needed Good Friday.
This Christmas, rejoice in the arrival of the King, but don't forget what made that first arrival necessary: your own sin. The sinless Holy One wrapped Himself in flesh and blood so that He could be nailed to a cross in Your place, winning a costly pardon for You. This Christmas, stand in awe again at the wonder of grace.
THE PRAYER
Jesus, What inexplicable love You showed for me in becoming human in order to die for my sins! Why would You look upon a rebel like me with such special favor and kindness? Why would You come, abasing Yourself, emptying Yourself of glory, laying down Your crown and taking up a cross? I cannot fathom such love. This Christmas, make me more grateful as I see the splinters of a manger foretelling a cross of wood.EXTENDED READING
1 John 3:4-9Hebrews 2:14-17
Hebrews 1:1-3
THE QUOTE
"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us." ~C.S. Lewis
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