Before All Ages...

The Wisdom of God’s Redemptive Plan.

By Charles F. Stanley

There is a story more important than any other that’s ever been imagined, spoken, or written. It goes like this: Before man took his first breath of oxygen, God already knew that humankind would one day need rescuing. Sin would enter the human race and cause a break in relationship with the heavenly Father. As a result, all people would die and experience eternity apart from Him.

But in the mystery of divine wisdom, the Bible says that “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:18-20), a plan for our redemption was already in place: God would reach down into the darkness of human sin and redeem us as children of the light. This plan, meticulously devised and executed, has been revealed through the ages and testified to in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation—that in the fullness of time, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would be born to the Virgin Mary and become a sacrifice for all humanity, defeating sin and death. By this, He alone would restore our relationship with the Father.

If you’ve never heard this story before, it’s what Christmas is all about. But if it is familiar, you might be like many other people who no longer realize just how powerful this holiday really is. Whatever the case, as we walk together through each detail of Jesus’ birth story, observing the Father’s wisdom, I pray you’ll come to realize just how great and mighty is our God.

The Timing

Looking back in history, we might wonder what determined the “fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4-5). Why did God arrange to accomplish His redemptive purpose by sending His Son to earth as a baby then? Throughout the ages, some amazing civilizations and kingdoms developed, but God’s appointed time for the arrival of the Messiah came during the Roman Empire.

Although we don’t know all the reasons for His choice of this era, we do know that there was an air of expectation in the Jewish community. They probably didn’t expect their Messiah to come as a helpless baby, but they were looking for Him just the same. The Bible even records that a righteous and devout man named Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:25-26). Everything was in place, and the world was ready for the Savior.

The Conception

I’ll never forget the day I saw a church sign that read, “Jesus, just another baby.” I was shocked. How could a professing Christian church deny Christ’s deity? Jesus was no ordinary baby, because His life began before conception. He has always existed as the eternal Son of God (John 1:1), but He came to earth as a baby, miraculously conceived in a virgin’s womb by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30-35).

The Place

Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Micah foretold that a “ruler in Israel . . .from the days of eternity” would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Because of this prophecy, we know that the Messiah had to be born there, but why did God choose this small, insignificant town? From a human perspective, it makes more sense for the King of kings to be born in the capital of Jerusalem rather than in a small rural village. A clue is found in the meaning of its name. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” How appropriate that the One who would claim to be “the living bread that came down out of heaven” (John 6:51) was born in the “house of bread.”

The Lord not only chose the place; He also wisely orchestrated events to bring about the fulfillment of His Word. Although Caesar Augustus thought he was the one making decisions for the Roman Empire, God simply used him to proclaim a taxation decree which would draw Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem just in time for her to give birth to the Son of God in the preordained place (Luke 2:1-6).

The Setting

If you had been in charge of determining the setting for Jesus’ birth, what environment would you have chosen? A palace with servants ready to meet every need? Or perhaps a private room in someone’s home with a competent midwife to assist in the delivery? At the very least, wouldn’t we have given Mary and Joseph the shelter of a clean room in an inn? I don’t think any of us would have chosen a stable filled with the odors and sounds of animals, yet that was exactly what God arranged for His beloved Son.

Again, the question we ask is “Why?” A manger scene is a quaint setting for a Christmas pageant, but the reality of a dirty, smelly stable seems unfitting for the Son of God. Yet even this location displays the Lord’s wisdom. The manger scene is an illustration of the role Jesus came to fulfill. “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) was born among the livestock.

The Announcement

After Christ was born, the heavenly Father sent a birth announcement. Now, the most logical plan would have been to let the religious and political leaders in Jerusalem know that the Messiah had come, yet that’s not what God did. Instead, He sent an angel to a group of shepherds out in the field. Why should such life-changing news be shared with those who had no influence or prestige? Consider how fitting it is for shepherds to be the first to hear that the Good Shepherd had finally come to lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

The Name

God’s wisdom is also displayed in the name He chose for His Son. Before Christ’s birth, an angel told Joseph to call Him 'Jesus', a name that was common in Israel at that time. The Hebrew translation is reallyJoshua, which means Jehovah’s deliverer. To call the baby “Jesus” clearly stated the purpose for which He came, to “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

God of the Lowly

As you look back over all the details and plans God brought together to accomplish our redemption, the common factor is Christ’s identification with the lowly. He left the glories of heaven to become a helpless baby in a virgin’s womb (Phil. 2:5-7). His birth was in a small, insignificant village amid the sights and smells of a stable. Instead of fine sheets, he was wrapped in crude fabric and laid in the straw of a manger. Those who came to acknowledge His birth were a ragtag bunch of shepherds. Even His name was common but His mission was extraordinary. Although He is King of kings and Lord of lords, He came not to exalt Himself, but to live among us and die for us.

The wisdom of God’s great plan of redemption can be summed up in only one way: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33). The Lord doesn’t do anything haphazardly. Every plan is meticulously carried out at just the right time. And the truth is, He has a specific plan for each of His children.

Thanks to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we’re now able to turn from a life headed toward death and embrace the eternal life God has planned for us. What we need to remember is that eternal life begins now. We no longer have to wander in darkness, because the Great Light has come.

Yet there’s something we need to do: to become lowly in heart and humble ourselves in submission to Him. That’s the only way to see His purposes for our lives fulfilled. “In Him we live and move and exist," the apostle Paul once said (Acts 17:28). That means true life begins in God and is sustained by Him. It also means real life continues with Him, never ending but stretching on forever in eternity. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better story than that.

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Let me add to this a song that sums up Christmas. What is Christmas without Christ? This is Christmas! from Kutless:

At the Cross

Remembering who was there and why it mattered

Illustration by Jeff Gregory

By the In Touch Staff
The crucifixion of our Lord and Savior is central to the Christian faith. We put together these brief sketches of some of the people who were in attendance that good Friday, in hopes that it would help you ponder more deeply the wonderful mystery, and gift, of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf.

The Religious Leaders
In this time of outsourcing, downsizing, and forced early retirement, many people have encountered the fear and identity crisis that come with losing a job. The chief priests, elders, and scribes would have related. That unsettling prospect had loomed for three and a half years as Jesus taught, not only “as one having authority” but also contrasting His message with theirs (Matt. 5:20; 7:29).

Distressed about the change they saw coming, the religious leaders concluded, “If we let [Jesus] go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48). They liked their life. A new regime could mean loss of position—or at least a less prestigious one.

We often think of the religious leaders as rejecters of Christ, yet many of them actually believed in Him. They just feared taking a stand for the Lord (John 12:42-43). So, though often at odds with each other over religious philosophy, the Pharisees and Sadducees united in their mutual desire to preserve the status quo. Their solution? Get rid of Jesus. At the cross, the religious leaders assumed their cherished positions were now safe. They failed to recognize that they shared the same spiritual position as everyone else—sinners in need of a Savior. They needed only to relinquish their treasured human status to receive a standing far greater: as heirs of God and partakers of His glory (1 Peter 5:1).

The Crowd
The Lord had become well known for the many good works He performed among the people—healing the sick, exorcising demons, and teaching with power and authority (Luke 23:8). But the people also considered some of His comments shocking, such as His claim to be God’s Son and the words they misconstrued as a threat to destroy the temple (John 2:19-21; 10:30-31).

Because so many in the multitude approved of Christ’s miracles and teachings, the religious leaders—who felt He was a threat to their authority—plotted His death secretly so as not to arouse suspicion (Luke 22:2). Later, the chief priests “stirred up the crowd to ask [Pilate] to release Barabbas for them” instead of Jesus. And the vacillating mob complied. Yet despite their influence, the power was not with the people. It was with the ultimate Judge, who allowed a weak and unworthy jury to crucify not just a famous man, but the only Person who had the power to release them from the bonds of sin and death.

The Soldiers
First they scourged Jesus. Then they mocked Him as “King of the Jews,” crowning Him with jagged thorns and clothing Him in purple, the color of royalty. And finally they nailed Him to a cross alongside two criminals. As Jesus hung before them, the soldiers engaged in a crass display of greed: Who would get to keep His clothes? They divided up His outer garments but decided the Lord’s tunic was too valuable to do the same (John 19:23-24). In casting lots for his clothing, their actions reveal hearts that had grown cold to human life and hardened to the divine.
Attending to Christ with no more effort than their duties required, they made sport of His death by gambling for His belongings—a momentary distraction from their work, with the dying Jesus merely a backdrop to frivolous entertainment. Untouched by the profound suffering in their midst, the soldiers unwittingly demonstrated their need for a Savior to once again make them truly human: Christ was the only One who could restore the image of the merciful, life-giving God within them.

The Centurion
Executing outlaws in Palestine was all in a day’s work for the Roman officer presiding over Jesus’ crucifixion. The breastplate that covered his heart bore the seal of his master—Caesar, Emperor of Rome. There was honor in being a centurion, a mighty warrior in charge of 100 brave soldiers trained to defend the Roman Empire. Innumerable sentences had been carried out on crosses such as the ones before him, for the purpose of protecting the peace.

But Jesus was like no other criminal he’d ever seen. Stripped naked, whipped, and bleeding, this man didn’t fight as others had. Nor did He beg or curse. Even after the soldiers had cast lots for His clothes and dripped vinegar on His dry tongue, He didn’t plead for mercy. When the Lord eventually cried out with the last of His breath (Luke 23:46) and the earth began to quake, something seemed to change in the centurion. He could utter only one thing: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).

Mary Magdalene
She watched the crucifixion from afar. What would it mean for her now that Jesus was gone? Before meeting Christ, Mary Magdalene had been possessed by seven demons. It’s hard to imagine a worse spiritual condition than imprisonment within your own body: to be so utterly misunderstood that you must live as a complete outcast. Jesus had given Mary a new life, not only by casting out the demons but also by welcoming her into the fold. She went from the sidelines of society to Christ’s entourage, traveling with Him as He taught and healed others (Luke 8:1-2).

To certain onlookers at the cross, it might have seemed as if Mary had fallen for the words of a fellow lunatic, a man who thought he was God. But at that moment, Jesus was actually proving Himself to be God by taking on and defeating man’s worst enemies: sin and death. And in just three days, He would return and ask Mary Magdalene to join Him once more in sharing the miracle of new life, free from Satan’s grasp (John 20:17).

The Women Who Followed Jesus
Among Jesus’ many followers, there was a group of faithful women, some of whom gave financial support to the Lord’s ministry. Read more about them in this month’s Strong in Spirit feature, A Sacred Sorrow.

Mary, the Mother of our Lord
A mother’s first concern is to protect her child. That realization makes it difficult to imagine how excruciating the crucifixion was for Mary to endure. With others at the foot of the cross, she looked on as her child hung upon the Romans’ cruel instrument of shame and torture. However, unlike those there for the spectacle of His death, or even those who had loved Him as Teacher, Mary had carried Him in her womb and had experienced the delight of rocking Him to sleep. She’d soothed His hurts and watched Him grow in wisdom—pondering and treasuring it all in her heart (Luke 2:19, 47-51). For 30 years, they had shared the simple comforts of home and enjoyed one another’s love and companionship.

As she cared for His physical needs, He provided for her by working as a carpenter, the trade He’d learned from His earthly father, Joseph. Perhaps these memories sustained her as, recalling her infant Son wrapped in swaddling cloths, she would now face the sight of Him in burial linens. More importantly, however, she could rely upon promises of the Almighty. For she knew even as a young woman that His “mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him” (Luke 1:50).

The Disciple John
Jesus’ last command before the resurrection was directed to Mary and His cherished disciple. The two-fold decree, “Woman, behold your son! . . . [and to John] Behold your mother!” was one that spoke of the Lord’s compassion and love. In this, even as He hung from the wooden beams of the cross, Jesus was providing for His beloved mother, just as He’d done through carpentry. But also, by commanding the disciple to assume His role as Mary’s son and caretaker, the Lord suggested a kind of kinship between John and Himself—that John was called to be a son of God, a “little Christ” to the world. Master and disciple were one, just as the Father and the Son are one. And so it is with all who call upon the name of Jesus.

The declaration was also one of forgiveness and compassion. John, like the other disciples, had abandoned his Master at Gethsemane, but he alone returned to witness Christ’s sacrifice. In this moment, the implication was that Jesus not only forgave John’s lapse in conviction but also entrusted him with His cherished mother. Imagine it—even atop Golgotha, while experiencing a misery none can comprehend, Jesus extended mercy and grace. He continues to do so for all who come to Calvary. Those willing to lay themselves down at the foot of the cross and accept His will for their lives can, like John, experience untold blessings freely given from the Master’s nail-scarred hands.

The Thief
Having witnessed Jesus’ death march up Golgotha and the frenzied mob behind Him, the thief at first joined in with the crowd as they derided Jesus: “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:29-30). But somehow, deep within this nameless criminal something shifted, perhaps as He heard Jesus pray (Luke 23:34). “Father,” the Lord said between labored breaths, “forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

In the midst of the world’s blindness, revelation came to a criminal hanging on a cross: This man really was the Messiah, the King, the Savior, the Lord. The thief was moved by Christ, and his eyes were opened. His final request was full of humility and hope, even as it boldly named God the Son with sudden familiarity. “Jesus,” he said, “remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” (v. 42). Even as Jesus’ disciples despaired, failing to understand His mission, this common criminal grasped that His kingdom wasn’t of this world—and His death would somehow become part of His triumph. This helpless sinner, who was so aware of his inability to save himself, demonstrated the path for us all: He was the first to be carried out of darkness by Jesus the Victor, into glorious light.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea
Quite often, lifelong friends are those who share a past of similar mistakes and a testimony of common redemption. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were possibly two such men. When each had listened to Jesus teach, something deep within bore testimony to His heavenly origin. He spoke as one with authority, full of grace and truth, satisfying a deep-seated thirst within them. At the same time, a dilemma remained. Other influential friends criticized the miracle worker and demonized those following Him. So apparently, the two decided to “tone it down” and default to the safety of peer approval (John 19:38-39).

But in light of the cross, where redemption always begins, their hearts must have become less afraid. While they had feared the loss of social standing, the One hanging there never feared the loss of life. They had dodged criticism, but the One bloodied beyond recognition embraced it, and much more, for them. After Jesus had been removed from the cross, Nicodemus and Joseph, moved by love, acquired His body. And as is sometimes true to a funeral’s irony, these men drew closer to their Lord in death than they had while He was living, and buried Him—their devotion no longer hesitant, but full, fulfilled.

A Final Thought
As you reflect on the people present at Golgotha on the day our Lord was crucified, consider how at different times of our lives, we may see ourselves in each of them, for better or worse. Though the dispositions of some are more desirable than others, we may find that our hearts are not always in their proper place regarding Jesus. Will we stay near to Him, devoted, regardless of the consequences? Or will we allow our circumstances to distort our hearts and taint our affections? Wherever we find ourselves, there is hope—in drawing nearer to the One who is able to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or think (Eph. 3:20), as we repent of our sins, take up our crosses, and follow Him.
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from Intouch magazine April 2012 issue

Preparing for A Better Christmas

 from InTouch Magazine December 2011 issue

Have you ever woken up on December 26th and felt you missed the opportunity to make Christmas more spiritually fulfilling? Consider these suggestions.

Embrace Fasting

Since the church's earlisest days, Christians have fasted in preparation for significant holidays or 'holy days.' This advent, try giving up certain foods from the beginning of the season (November 27th) until Christmas. Traditional fasts include meat and dairy, but what we give up matters less than the spiritn in which we do so. Fasting should be challenging but it need not be excessive. The purpose is greater awareness of, and devotion to, God - letting Him reimain the focus of our attention in the midst of activities that would otherwise distract us. Other options include limiting media, such as television, films, music or internet usage to allow more time for Scripture reading and prayer.

Pray Daily

As we prepare for Christmas, regular communion with God helps us avoid many snares, from over-indulgence and materialism to judging others, idolatry or apathy. Constant prayer keeps our hearts sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading from moment, to moment, making this season a fruitful time - not one we simply pass through, attending party after party or shopping for gifts, with little spiritual benefit  Prayer is also a safeguard against pride as we fast, keeping us connected to our humble Lord as we confess our sins to Him and rely on His strength, not on our own.

Serve Others

Advent is a time for growing Christlikeness, and being molded into the Lord's image requires that we follow His example of service. There's nothing wrong with giving gifts, but the giving of self is perhaps the most powerful expression of love we can offer another person. Through this, especially as we serve those less fortunate than ourselves, we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the people around us, demonstrating that God does in fact live among men. After all, isn't that what the Christmas story is really about?