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Echoes of a Crimson Christmas A kindergarten class was on a field trip to their local police department. One of the youngsters pointed to a picture on the bulletin board, and asked if it really was a picture of a wanted criminal—one of the 10 most wanted! "Yes," said the officer, "the detectives want to capture him very much." It was then the little boy asked, "Well, then, why didn't you keep him when you took his picture???" In this child's mind, it was a rather logical question, and, actually, it is a very good one! In his thinking, if the criminal had been bad enough to get his picture taken, why not keep him there—it doesn't make sense to let him go. As we enter the New Year of 2008, we need to see the flip side—do we truly recognize how good the Lord has been to us, even from the very first time we "took His picture," so to speak, and then, not let go of Him? If the only thing that the Lord had done for us was to redeem us from our sin—and He has done much more than that—He has done all! Why do we find it so easy to shove Him aside and pursue our own pleasures and plans, especially as we look to a brand new year? As we have recently come through the Christmas season, do we still hear the echoes of His merciful redemption—even from the stories of His miraculous birth? Oh, sure—through the Cross, but Christmas? The Cross, most certainly, is both the focal and pivotal point of Scripture, as well as all of history. It was the vehicle for the central Christian message of deliverance from sin—redemption. This is why the Bible is sometimes called the "Crimson Book." In Hebrews 9:19, we read, "Moses…took blood…and sprinkled…the book." While many modern pastors, with their modern translations, don't like this red word—blood—it is the central theme throughout both Testaments—the Old pointing to the New! Dinsdale T. Young, one of the great evangelicals from years gone by, once wrote, "Let sneerers dub the Book as gory; we glory in its ruby redness. To us, the blood-besprinkledness of the Bible is the guarantee of its everlasting veracity. The blood of Jesus streaks its every page." The author of Hebrews continues—"…without shedding of blood (there) is no remission." (9:22) Paul even referred to the ultimate sacrifice as God's own blood! (Acts 20:28) Obviously, our redemption, through the blood of Jesus, is an eternal mystery, which we must accept by faith and not by logical understanding. That God prepared the world for the coming of His beloved Son as its Redeemer by giving that world countless Old Testament clues, is just as obvious. The redemption of Israel at the time of the Jewish exodus from Egypt, depicted in the spotless lamb, surely prefigured the Messiah, to whom John the Baptist pointed, and declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) Job stated, "For I know that my redeemer liveth,"(19:25) and that that Savior would bring about his own final transformation. King David repeatedly labeled Him as his Redeemer, and the Book of Isaiah is absolutely replete with such divine identifications. While the crimson-stained cross of Jesus comes immediately to mind, let me suggest to you that it began with a crimson Christmas—without the cradle, there could be no cross. I am reminded of this, even now, as I can look at our outdoor Christmas tree, decked in crimson red lights and topped with a red cross. Oh, the power of redemption—the word itself implies the gift of freedom, an entire change of state or condition. It differs from the word "purchase," which intimates a change of ownership. When God speaks of redemption, He makes possible both a change of condition and a change of ownership. The Hebrew word, "goel," means to buy back what was sold, pledged, or forfeited, and so a redeemer was one who ransomed something or someone by paying the price. In the Book of Ruth, Boaz would be found to be the "kinsman-redeemer," willing to rescue Ruth and her mother-in-law in their time of need. This sinful world is truly in need of such redemption, for the price of sin is death. You see, man has bartered away his magnificent inheritance, and must now find himself in bondage to his sin. But Christ, by assuming our manhood, became our kinsman-redeemer, and paid the price on the Cross. His sin-free life shows the way back to a full inheritance—through the washing of the blood and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus can now live within each and every one of us. Yes, it can—change in condition and a change in ownership—if we will be willing to put the ear to the wind and hear the echoes of that Crimson Christmas. You see, it is all a matter of a gift of freedom—freedom from bondage. Let me show you this from two quintessential events—one from the Old Testament, and one from the New—the exodus from Egypt, and the beginning of its future fulfillment, the Christmas Story itself. If we will listen carefully, we will hear four aspects of a Crimson Christmas. First, the Source! Israel's redemption was wholly of God, and no one else! Exodus 3:7-8 tells us, "And the Lord said…I am come down to deliver them…" It was with this announcement at the burning bush that there came the revelation of Yahweh—I AM THAT I AM. The coming Messiah, in His own day, was first heralded by the angel to Zacharias. At the birth of the forerunner, John the Baptist, his father would declare, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people." (Luke 1:68) Secondly, the Servant! Moses would be such a deliverer, divinely chosen and divinely preserved through his first 80 years to be the channel of God's redemption from bondage. And all of it points to the ultimate Servant, Jesus! Mary knew—"My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour…He hath shown strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree…He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy." (Luke 1: 46,47; 51-54) Can't you just hear the echoes of His redeeming love wafting forth, even from this past Christmas? Thirdly, the Seal! God had said on the last night of Israel's bondage, "I am the Lord, and the blood shall be to you for a token upon your houses where ye are: and when I see the blood I will pass over you." (see Exodus 12:12,13,21,27) Their houses were sealed with the blood of the lamb, and it all pointed to a far greater seal. When the baby Jesus was dedicated in the temple eight days after His birth, Simeon told Mary, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34,35) Praise God—the fall and rising again—we are not just left in a fallen state or condition; through His death and resurrection, we also may die to our sin and rise again into the newness of abundant life. And fourthly, the Strength! When God responded to the prayer of Moses at the Red Sea, He promised, "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God." (Exodus 6:6,7) In this, Moses was assured of the power behind the promise, and so it is today. When Mary and Joseph left the temple after the dedication of Jesus, the Scriptures tell us, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40) Yes, there is power in the promise—if we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ—not just wanting more of Him, but receiving more of Him, we are assured that His life has been released to live within us. The degree to which it does not, is the degree to which we have yet to give our lives over to His control. Praise God—every page of the Holy Scriptures is streaked with blood—even those that proclaim the Christmas Story. May the echoes of a Crimson Christmas draw you to the true Source—to be His Servant, Sealed by the Strength of the Holy Spirit. This year, listen & live! Copyright (c)
2008 Christ Our Rock Bible Church. |
