The Manger and The Cross – Sunday Thought For The Day

As I prepared last week’s Sunday Thought titled: “The Glorious Appellation,” it occurred to me that there is a noticeable similarity of instruction and discussion at the announcement of Messiah’s birth and the angel of the Lord – and the angel of the Lord and the women who were first to arrive at the tomb of Jesus in the early morning following the crucifixion.

In the second chapter of his epistle, Luke tells us that the angel of the Lord came suddenly upon the shepherds tending their flocks in the field by night.  The angel instructed them to “fear not.”  The angel told the shepherds where to find the Christ child and how to identify Him.  When the angel and the multitude of the heavenly host had gone away, the shepherds determined amongst themselves to find the Child and see Him for themselves.  When they had done same, Luke tells us that they made known abroad what they had witnessed and what they had been told regarding the Child.

Matthew, in his epistle, tell us in chapter 28, that as the women arrived at the Messiah’s tomb, there occurred a great earthquake: “the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”  He instructed the women to “fear not” because he knew they sought Jesus.”  His message from there was straightforward.  He instructed them to come and see for themselves that the tomb was empty – that “He had risen just as He said.”  The angel instructed the women to “come and see for themselves” and to go quickly and tell his disciples that “He is risen from the dead.”

How beautiful and how glorious that this time of year, we as born again children of God, celebrate the birth of our Savior.  We believe the birth announcement of Christ and received Him as our Savior.  We came to the realization that there was nothing to fear, but everything to celebrate.  We have become recipients of the “on earth peace, good will towards men.”  But, before any of that could happen, we had to come accept the empirical evidence by faith that Christ Jesus was the true Messiah/Savior and our remaining time on earth and our dwelling in eternity was predicated upon whether or not we believed by faith that we needed a Savior the Son of God.

But, it didn’t end there.  We were not able to keep this truth secret unto ourselves.  If we are truly born again, we cannot help but tell others about our Savior.

Ergo, as in both Messiah’s birth announcement and at the empty tomb, the message was and is: come and see, go and tell.  The difference between the messages delivered to the shepherds and the message given in conformation to the women at the tomb: the manger contained the new born child.  The tomb was empty.  Because the women were witnesses to the angel rolling the stone away from the tomb, we know it was empty and we know Jesus had left the tomb with the stone still covering the opening.  We know He was born because the shepherds made known abroad what they were told about the Christ child that they had seen Him.

My friends, the message of Christmas, i.e., Messiah’s birth, is in part the same as the message of the cross and the tomb.  The only difference being that the tomb had to be empty to complete His taking the penalty of our sins upon Himself and the manger had to hold Him, because He was the only begotten Son, though whom salvation came.  If you are a believer, who have you told about the Christ child’s birth and resurrection?  And, if you are a believer and you are not actively sharing what Christ is doing in your life; why not?  If we say we are saved, why are we not more vocal in sharing same, so others can hear they need Christ?

We cannot celebrate Christ’s birth without celebrating that He was crucified, dead, buried, and rose again on the third day.  Why are we not embracing the message come and see, go and tell others that He was born and that He is risen?  Somethings to think about as we celebrate Messiah’s birth.

READ:

Luke 2:15-17 (KJV)

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

READ:

Matthew 28:1-8 (KJV)

28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.