The Context of the Cross

(Joh 19:25 KJV)  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

When Christmas Day comes we tend to forget the rest of the story and focus on the birth of the Savior.  That is understandable.  We are marking the incarnation, God became flesh.  Celebrate.

But pause a moment and remember the purpose of the incarnation.  Why did Jesus come?  Was it so we would have a great  holiday?  Obviously not.  His coming was the first step of Emanuel toward the cross.  Here we see that His mother was at the crucifixion.  She has one more great event to witness in His resurrection but at this moment she is most likely filled with horror.

So?  Don’t ever get lost in the trappings.  God became man and we celebrate it but we celebrate the cross and the empty tomb even more.  Merry Christmas.