Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

"Now in putting everything in subjection to Him, He left nothing outside His control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him. But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
   For it is fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers........
....Since therefore the cildren share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

I know what you're thinking: "This doesn't sound a lot like Christmas to me." However, I would beg to differ. In these passages of Scripture, we find the very reason why He came: He came to die. Too often we focus on the joys of Christmas (and Christmas certainly is joyful), but we often neglect to look at the dark side of Christmas. Even when Jesus was laying in the manger, His purpose was clear: He came "to save His people from their sins" and "to give His life as a ransom for many."
C.J Mahaney calls it the "disturbing side of Christmas." He said,

"During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. But the purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.

Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of our desperate condition before a holy God."

I hope that you will experience great joy this Christmas season, yet I also hope that you (or I ) will not forget the true purpose behind our Savior's birth.

I would also encourage you to read these two articles. These two men can explain it better than I ever could:
Born to die for Freedom by John Piper
Disturbing Christmas  by C.J. Mahaney
Also, here is a great song that speaks about the mystery of God sending His son to earth to die. The words are absolutely beautiful.