Grace

First Born From the Dead.

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning,

THE FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD… Colossians 1:18

 

That phrase:  First Born from the Dead.

It hits me hard.

I have this picture of a great field as far as the eye can see, with nothing but shades of grey and black decay laying low to the earth.

Still.  Cold.  Empty.

Very slowly, the ground beneath starts to swell and tremble until the tiniest shoot of light breaks free from the deep.  And I sit quietly, breathless, as I watch and wait.

Can it survive?

Barely…

In our best of intentions, we try to make our Christmas celebration about the birth of Jesus, bringing the focus back to its truthful meaning.  It’s hard, however, to revisit a TRUTH we’ve just about distorted beyond recognition.

When Jesus was born, WAR — not blue booties — came with Him.  Satan was ruthless and blood thirsty.  We were all DEAD and now LIFE had come.  Life that changed everything about the past and everything about the future.  Jesus — the Pivot Point of mankind — opened His mouth and drew His first breath.

First born from the dead.  

Our manger scenes serve to remind us of Christ’s humble and sacred beginning, looking safe and cozy with their Shepherds and hay.  But Jesus wasn’t safe.  That King Herod ordered the murder of every male baby born in Bethlehem up to two years of age (just to be sure) proves He wasn’t safe at all.  Little ones were swiped from homes, slaughtered, heaped heartlessly upon each other in a wagon and taken away.

A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Luke 2:18

THIS is what/who Satan is… And the debates he’s devised surrounding Christmas are a curious diversion as to how deep and wide that birth truly was.  Because, ultimately, Christmas trees, Elf on the Shelf, “X-MAS”, or our insanity of gift giving is not the greatest thief of this worthy celebration.  It’s the fact we’ve forgotten that from Abraham to Mary the seed of Christ was FIERCELY protected.  Nations died in battle as Satan tried again and again to wipe out God’s chosen people.  He knew the prophecies.  And he knew this child could not be born.

But He was.

First born from the dead.

And from the first to the last moments of Jesus’ life, Satan tried mercilessly to kill him. That tiny shoot of light –that birth– was the enemy’s greatest threat.   While Mary surely lay exhausted, sore and bleeding from labor, now holding this gift that even she had yet to understand, angels filled the night sky singing to humble shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

Things were set into motion that we still don’t understand fully today.

Because of this, as well intended as we are, this birthday celebration is not at all meant to mimic our own.  Don’t misunderstand me, I love Christmas.  I love carols, family, gifts, everything.  But in my opinion, that’s just something fun we get do every year.  Because to celebrate the birth of JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD should bring us to our knees.

Against all Odds, He Came.

Against all ill intended Efforts, He lived.

Against all Understanding, He died.

Against all Rationale, He ROSE.

FIRST. BORN. FROM. THE. DEAD.

And you and me, we have LIFE because of this.  Now THAT is something worthy of celebration – the world over. Take a moment (or two) find a quiet place for your knees to hit the floor and praise this tiny baby we’re attempting to remember in the craze of this week.

He fought for you.  And He won.  The gift was His.

Luke 2:9-13 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but BORN OF GOD.” 

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  • Rachel December 23, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    My favorite so far – beautiful. “for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”. It sends chills through me – every renewed covenant, every trial, through a world flood, through captivity, through the desert, and through every bad word or deed spoken against God, He remained FAITHFUL to His plan to redeem us form our empty life. And this was no 50-year plan. This was a plan from the BEGINNING. Celebrate the LIFE reborn that thousands of years and thousands of people held their breath and waited for…the much anticipated Christ, who would both prepare and BE the sacrifice.

    • Heather Yoder December 23, 2014 at 8:18 pm

      Rachel… you need to start writing. This is beautiful and I’m so honored that I was a part of bringing it out in you. You are right on. “Who would both prepare and BE the sacrifice” EXCELLENT and moving.

      • Rachel December 29, 2014 at 3:12 pm

        This Christmas, I’ve been given an insight that I’ve never had before – and God made sure it was incorporated from you, my pastor, and from the lesson book I teach the 3rd graders…I just didn’t know it was building up the past 3 months! Thank you for playing your part in it, because it’s been the most meaningful & precious Christmas season yet.

  • Julie Hickman Strama January 8, 2015 at 3:56 am

    Thank you, Heather. So moving. I think I held my breath as I read!