Jesus…..Chose US!

We have been reflecting on the choices we need to make if we want to see Jesus this Christmas season or any time.  But have we ever considered that Jesus first had some choices to make if we were ever to be able to see Him?  

These choices involved the two most significant events of his life – his birth and his death. Without one, the other would have been meaningless. His birth alone could not save us; his death alone meant nothing if he were not born as one of us.

As we close our time together, I invite you to spend a few minutes reflecting upon these two choices and what they mean for you.

Jesus chose to become one of us.

Philippians 2:6-7

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

Have we ever considered what it meant for Jesus to come to earth as a baby? What He gave up? Not his divinity, of course. He remains fully God. But He chose to become fully human with all the physical limitations that involves. He chose to experience pain, hunger, exhaustion, temptation so that we would have an example to follow.

 

¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God...      ⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18

 

What a gift for us! Take a moment to reflect on what this gift means and what you might give to Him in return. It might be your choice to obey, to change your mind, to overcome some fear or to believe His promise. Or it might be something else altogether.

When you have decided, take a piece of colored paper, write the gift you are giving to Christ on it. Find a place to put this paper - under your Christmas tree, in the wreath on your door, in your manger scene - wherever you will see it and remember your gift to Him.

 

 

Jesus chose to die on the cross

so that we might live.

John 10:17-18

¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

 

Jesus chose to suffer and die for us. It wasn’t a choice that was made lightly. We know that He struggled with what this decision meant. Luke 22 tells us that He agonized, sweating drops of blood as He wrestled with this decision. Yet He chose…..us.

 

Why did He do this? One reason and one reason only….Love.

 

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends... ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants … Instead, I have called you friends…                   John 15:13,15

 

Today I invite you to celebrate, not only Christ’s birth, but His death and resurrection that demonstrated His unconditional love for each one of us.

 

Many of you will celebrate communion during your Christmas Eve service at your church. As you do, remember that Jesus chose you!

 

If you would like to celebrate communion now as part of your reflection, I invite you to find a piece of bread, cracker or cookie and something to drink, juice, water or pop and follow the instructions below:

 

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”                  Luke 22:14-16

 

What would you have thought when you heard these words? How would they have made you feel?

  

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”                  Luke 22:19

 

Take the piece in your hand. While you hold it, think about what it meant for Jesus to go to the cross. As you eat it, thank him for offering his body to be broken for us.

  

 

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.^”                            Luke 22:20

 

Pour the juice or other liquid into a cup. Think about his life blood pouring out for us, washing away our sins, bringing us new life. As you drink, thank him for being willing to give his blood for us.

 

Sit quietly for a few moments and think about the choice that Jesus made. Because He chose us, we can see Him and have a personal relationship with Him - not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives. All we need to do is...

 

     choose to obey

 

               choose to change our minds

 

                         choose to overcome our fear

 

                                   choose to believe His promise.

 

 

 What will you choose?

 

 

 

 

May every blessing

of this Christmas Season be yours!