From The Cradle to the Cross

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- It is known as the greatest story ever told.  The incredible story of the miraculous birth of Christ and His unique life and ministry has raised both dedicated believers and skeptics alike.  The story of Jesus Christ has inspired millions of believers all over the world in praise to God for sending mankind hope for eternal life. 

It has also raised skeptics all over the world that not only question the credibility of the stories about Jesus Christ but also deny His very existence. Whichever side you may rest upon, the story of Jesus Christ has impacted human history like no other. 

In this article we will look at the story of Jesus Christ from the very first promise of His coming, to what prophets said about Him centuries before His actual birth, and then to the culmination of His earthly life at the cross of Calvary when He paid the ultimate price for mankind.

One of the greatest aspects of this incredible story is that it did not begin at Bethlehem’s manger.  It is true that Jesus Christ was born in a lowly stable and placed in what is described as a feeding trough for animals.  However, the story began at the Garden of Eden when everything was perfect.  One of the saddest days recorded in the Bible is when mankind decided to rebel against God for the first time.  The curse of the first sin devastated mankind as it ruined man’s perfect fellowship with God.  The Apostle Paul summarizes that event in the following verse:

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12, KJV)

This event brought a serious dilemma to man’s eternal destiny.  The ultimate payment for sin is death.  But God, though His infinite knowledge, had a plan.  When God judged Satan who disguised himself as a serpent, He said in the following verse:

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."  (Genesis 3:15, KJV)

As mentioned earlier, sin impacted man’s eternal destiny. The only way of escape was for sin to be put to death.  God promised, according to the verse above, that the seed of a woman would put a mortal blow to sin.  Sin would forever be put to death with the sacrifice of a perfect lamb—the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Hebrew writer gives us a simple yet profound explanation of this important event in the following verse:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"  (Hebrews 2:14, KJV)

Since that event in Genesis, godly men and women awaited the coming of the promised “seed” that would give mankind hope for eternal life.  Later on in the Bible, God would establish a sacrificial system for His people that foreshadowed everything about Christ and His ultimate sacrifice at the cross. 

Prophecies were then told to God’s people about the coming Messiah.  These prophecies were told generations before yet, all of the Messianic prophesies were fulfilled with pinpoint accuracy in the life of Jesus Christ.

Bible scholars believe that there are over 300 prophecies about Jesus Christ that are foretold in the Old Testament. Here are some that concern His birth.  He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:35).  The Bible tells us of His lineage (Isaiah 11:1, Luke 3:23,32).  He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6).  These and many more were all fulfilled.

Jesus Christ is the seed that God promised His people would be the Savior of the world.  The Apostle John wrote, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14, KJV).  He would be the King of the Jews.  But He is unlike any other royalty born in a palace. 

Though King of kings and Lord of lords, God would choose a lowly stable where animals would welcome His birth.  His grand entrance as a child into this world was heralded not to dignitaries or monarchs but to humble shepherds watching their flocks at night.  The Apostle Luke described this dramatic announcement in the verses below:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  (Luke 2:8-14, KJV)

What seemed to be just a night like many other nights for the shepherds as they watched their flocks, turned into a night that would be embedded in their memories forever. 

The shepherds quickly rushed to the place where the Savior of the world lay, not in royal garments, but in swaddling clothes, and not in a fancy crib, but in a lowly manger.  Jesus Christ left the magnificent glory of Heaven to dwell among men and then to suffer for their sins.

There were others that had the privilege of seeing Jesus as an infant.  After all the Jewish customs were fulfilled by His earthly parents, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord.  There awaited a man who had been given a tremendous promise from God. 

According to the Scriptures, Simeon was promised by God that he would not see death until he saw “…the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).  Simeon was described as a man that waited “…for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). 

For many years Simeon waited for the coming Messiah.  Perhaps the story of this tremendous promise was passed down from generation to generation.  Simeon was no doubt overjoyed to know that in his lifetime the Messiah would be born. 

Jesus grew up in a normal Jewish home.  He learned His earthly father’s trade of carpentry.  He had half brothers and sisters (most of which rejected Him and would not become believers until after the resurrection).  However, His development was far from normal.  At the age of 12, unbeknownst to His earthly parents, He remained in Jerusalem after the feast of the passover.  Three days later He was found at the temple amongst the Jewish scholars and experts of the law of Moses disputing with them. 

These Jewish religious elders were amazed by His ability and knowledge of the law.  The Bible then continues to say, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man"  (Luke 2:52, KJV).

There has been much debate and speculation about the early years of Jesus.  The Gospels only give us a few details of His early years.  Perhaps volumes could have been written about Jesus’ boyhood if God would have allowed it.  However, the record that we have is sufficient for what God wanted for us to have.  For some reason Jesus shielded His true identity until about the age of 30 when He began His ministry.  John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and boldly proclaimed, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"  (John 1:29, KJV). 

Jesus would begin His earthly ministry along the shores of Galilee as He summoned the first few of the disciples.   Through His miracles and powerful messages, multitudes believed on Him as the Messiah—the Savior of the world.  The Jewish leaders became His most hateful critics as they saw many turning away from tradition to truth.  The Apostle John says, "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God”  (John 5:18, KJV).  In His critics’ eyes, Jesus’ greatest crime was making Himself equal with God—a crime worthy of death. 

Jesus Christ would be condemned to death before the Jewish high priest and Pilate, the Roman procurator of Judea.  He would be scourged by the Roman soldiers with a scourging that is unlike any cruel torture known to man today.  Then Jesus Christ would be nailed on the cross where He would die in writhing pain.

From the cradle to the cross, Jesus Christ completed His mission.  Moments before He died, He said, “It is finished.”  His greatest task had been completed.  The Bible says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  (1 John 4:10, KJV).  The word propitiation means “satisfaction.”  His ultimate sacrifice became the satisfactory payment for our sins. 

In closing, the story that began from the cradle and journeyed to the cross is actually a story that is all about you and me.  It is all about the restoration of that perfect relationship of man with God at the Garden of Eden.  All the suffering that Jesus endured was so that you and I can be forgiven of our sins and that we can be secured with eternal life in Heaven.