From the Cradle to the Cross
Dear Church Family,
As we enter this blessed season, we are reminded that Christmas is far more than a festive holiday—it is the celebration of the moment God entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ, the One who changed the world!
On that night in Bethlehem, the Child born in a manger was no ordinary baby; He was Immanuel, “God with us!” The infant Jesus in the nativity has warmed and captured our hearts, while the fully grown Jesus has strengthened and empowered our hearts! Luke records that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. He has revealed His glory from manger to majesty!
Jesus of Nazareth is God the Son, the Eternal Word made flesh, the radiance of the Father’s glory, and the exact representation of His being. He is the promised Messiah, the Light of the world, the Prince of Peace, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He came not merely to inspire us but to redeem us and give us His abundant and eternal life. The birth of Jesus changed the world in ways no other event ever has—or ever will!
Jesus redefined history: Even our calendar turns on His arrival—time is divided into before Christ (B.C.) and after Christ (A.D., Anno Domini, “the year of our Lord”).
Jesus revealed the heart of God: In Jesus we see compassion embodied, holiness displayed, and love poured out without measure.
Jesus opened the way to salvation: Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has brought forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal hope to all who believe.
Jesus transformed lives and nations: Wherever Christ is proclaimed, darkness retreats—families are healed, the broken are restored, the oppressed are lifted, and hearts are made new.
Jesus birthed the Church, which is His Body: Through His Spirit, He created a people from every tribe and tongue, united not by culture or background, but by His grace.
Christmas gently reminds us that God did not wait for us to reach up to Him—He lovingly came down to us. In Jesus, light broke into our darkness, joy touched our sorrow, and hope was offered to every heart ready to receive Him. The cradle of Bethlehem spoke softly of Calvary’s cross, where our Savior brought to completion His mission that began in the manger.
As we gather with family and friends, may we pause to worship the One who is the center of all things—Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the One through whom all things were made and in whom all things hold together. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He sustains all things by His powerful Word, so that in everything He has supremacy!
My heartfelt prayer this Christmas is that you meet Jesus not only as the precious Child in the manger, but as the living Savior, Redeemer, and King—still changing hearts, still moving mountains and still transforming the world today. May His presence rest upon your home, filling every corner with His love, His peace, and His joy!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Paul