Irony
The great irony of the Baby, born in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, and adored by shepherds and wise men and angels, grew up to convey truth to mankind and to die for the sinner who turned his back on truth--is that HE DIED TO GIVE LIFE TO FALLEN MAN.
When most babies are born, great thought is given to what they may become...there is an old song that asks, "will she be pretty, will she be rich?" (Que Sera Sera by Livingston and Evans) The parents wonder if this offspring will follow in the family tradition or go off to great achievements of his own.
Mary was given some small insight into the destiny of the Christ Child
and she, "Kept these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19
The Jews rejected Christ essentially because HE did not fit the mold of their anticipated Messiah. The long-awaited ONE would be a conqueror who would put all oppressors under His feet. He would reign from Jerusalem over all the earth.
They failed to see the two aspects of the Prophesied One--the Suffering Messiah as depicted most clearly in Isaiah 53 and the Conquering One who would come to rule and reign.
So the irony of Bethlehem's Babe is that He came to die that men may live eternally. Because JESUS conquered death, hell and the grave, mankind need no longer fear death.
Death is a mere portal through which one passes to enter the realm of glory that Christ has prepared for those who love Him.
Perhaps another unfathomable irony regarding the message of LIFE brought by the Baby who came to die is that anyone would reject it.
The Jews rejected Christ essentially because HE did not fit the mold of their anticipated Messiah. The long-awaited ONE would be a conqueror who would put all oppressors under His feet. He would reign from Jerusalem over all the earth.
They failed to see the two aspects of the Prophesied One--the Suffering Messiah as depicted most clearly in Isaiah 53 and the Conquering One who would come to rule and reign.
So the irony of Bethlehem's Babe is that He came to die that men may live eternally. Because JESUS conquered death, hell and the grave, mankind need no longer fear death.
Death is a mere portal through which one passes to enter the realm of glory that Christ has prepared for those who love Him.
Perhaps another unfathomable irony regarding the message of LIFE brought by the Baby who came to die is that anyone would reject it.
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