THE DAWN OF REDEMPTION

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord” – Luke 2:11

The Birth of Jesus, our Saviour, as a baby in a manger represents the DAWN of REDEMPTION: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk.2:11). The world may vehemently reject the portrait of this Baby in the manger or get offended by what His birth, life, death, and resurrection signify; but their efforts can never erase the impact of His mission of Redemption. This same birth is the platform for Perfection and the Dawn of Death’s Destruction. Today being for most Christians the day of Celebration of Christ’s birth, let’s reflect further on its value and significance.

Perfection unfolded as Baby Jesus matured into childhood and adulthood, “and the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Lk.2:40). Specifically, His Birth marked the beginning of the end for the last enemy of humankind, death: “The last enemy that will be destroyed is DEATH” (1Cor.15:26). Without the Messiah’s birth, there wouldn’t have been His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glorification. The Redeemer and redemption wouldn’t have mattered. Paul’s victorious declarations would have been hollow boasting: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor.15: 55b-57).

All over the world, millions are mourning, grieving the death of departed loved ones, particularly amplified by a strange pandemic. Oddly, Christmas tends to heighten this pain: seeing certain decorations recalls hands one will never hold again; some gatherings accentuate precious absences; and stilled sonorous voices echo in the lyrics of songs and the narratives of shared stories. The eternal mystery however is that physical death does not fully capture the meaning of death in Scriptures. The death Jesus came to save humankind from was spiritual death. “The sting of death is sin” refers not to grief, but something far worse – condemnation (1Cor.15:56). Again, Paul affirmed that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23). His main concern was the wrath people would face if they stood before the judgment seat of God still in their sins (Rom.14:10).

The worst possible experience of any human being is to be cut off from Christ! This is spiritual death: separation from the Life of God! And it is the main issue in life: to have our sentence of hell cancelled and be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). This comes by receiving the free gift of God – forgiveness of sins and eternal life through His Son, Jesus (Rom. 6:23). That’s why Jesus came; and the reason for His birth. His whole purpose for being born was to die that we may live: “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15). But He didn’t just come to die; He was born to be raised from the dead (Rev. 1:18). He is the Resurrection and the Life and whoever believes in Him “though he may die, he shall live” (Jh.11:25).

Jesus’ birth was the dawn of death’s destruction; it activated the eternal time-clock toward this impending prophecy: “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken” (Isa. 25:8). In tune with the angelic gospel, Jesus came to save: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt.1:21). And when sin is removed, death’s days are numbered; when all bottled-up tears shall be wiped away (Psa. 56:8). Christ’s birth is the Dawn of Redemption – of the Resurrection and the Life – that infuses all pain and grief with Living Hope (1The.4:13).