Why is it so important to remember Easter at Christmas

Almost everyone loves the Christmas season. The lights are festive. The holiday traditions that many families have are enduring and fun. We go out and find the right Christmas tree to take home and decorate while the Christmas music plays on the radio. My wife and kids love the Christmas season, and after all Andy Williams reminds us of every Christmas season which is the most beautiful time of the year.

What I find fascinating about the Christmas season is that this is the only time of year when it is okay to sing about baby Jesus. Think of all the Christmas carols you hear on the radio and how many of them sing about this savior or king born on this day.

Now, for those of you who may be more learned, it's not very likely that Jesus was born on December 25th; that's just the day we choose to celebrate his birth. By the way, if you want to have that discussion, we can, but that's not the point of this article.

Here's what I want you to think about today: Isn't it amazing how comfortable people feel about singing about baby Jesus? We take time to celebrate her birth, just like people celebrate when other babies are born. However, we know that Jesus came to die for our sins and to be the savior of the world. He was not just a man, but it was Emmanuel who is God with us.

When you start moving away from the Christmas story and start moving towards the Easter story, then something happens. The applause and the celebrations seem to wane. There is no month of playing songs celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus. The atmosphere is completely different. Why does this happen? This is the focus of my writing today, helping you to reconcile Christ at Christmas with Christ at Easter.

Why does the world love the Jesus of Christmas?
When people think about children what do they usually think about? Cute, cuddly and innocent little bundles of joy. Many people love to hold babies, pick them up, squeeze them on the cheeks. To be honest, I didn't really like children. I didn't feel comfortable holding them and shied away from them. The defining moment for me came when I had my son. My feelings for children and for holding them have all changed since then; now i love them. However, I told my wife that our quiver is full - we don't need to add anything else to our quiver.

The truth is, people love children because of their innocence and because they are not threatening. No one is really threatened by a child. However, there were many in the history of Christmas who were. Here's how Matthew records it:

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, the Magi from the east went to Jerusalem and asked: 'Where is he who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star when he rose and came to worship him. Upon hearing this, King Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him ”(Matthew 2: 1-3).

I believe this disturbance was due to the fact that Herod felt threatened. His power and his kingdom were at stake. After all, kings sit on thrones and would this king come after his throne? While there were many in Jerusalem celebrating Jesus' birth, all were not in that festive atmosphere. This is because they did not see the baby Jesus, they saw the king Jesus.

You see, many in our world don't want to consider Jesus beyond the manger. As long as they can keep him in the manger, he remains an innocent and non-threatening child. However, this one who lay in a manger would have been the one who would die on the cross. This reality is usually the one that people don't consider at Christmas time because it challenges them and makes them answer questions that many want to avoid.

Why do people quarrel with the Easter Jesus?
The Easter Jesus is not celebrated so much by the world because it forces us to answer difficult questions about who he is and who we are. The Easter Jesus forces us to consider what he said about himself and decide whether his statements are true or not. It is one thing when others proclaim you savior, that is the Jesus of Christmas. It is another thing when you make these statements yourself. This is the Jesus of Easter.

The Easter Jesus makes you face your sinful condition, to answer the question: is this Jesus the one or should we look for another? Is he really the king of kings and lord of lords? Was he really God in the flesh or just a man he claimed to be? This Easter Jesus makes you answer what I believe is the most important question in life that Jesus asked his disciples.

"'But you?' churches. 'Who do you say I am?' "(Matthew 16:15).

The Jesus of Christmas does not require you to answer this question. But the Easter Jesus yes. Your answer to this question determines everything about how you will live this life and, more importantly, how you will spend eternity. This reality forces many not to sing so loudly about the Easter Jesus because you have to come to terms with who he is.

The Christmas Jesus was cute and tender. The Passover Jesus was wounded and broken.

The Christmas Jesus was small and innocent. The Easter Jesus was larger than life, defying what you believe in.

The Jesus of Christmas was celebrated by many, hated by few. The Easter Jesus was hated by many and celebrated by few.

The Jesus of Christmas was born to die. The Easter Jesus died to live and to give life.

The Jesus of Christmas was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Easter Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

In other words, the truth of Christmas is made crystal clear by the reality of Easter.

Let's close the gap
Jesus was born to be our savior, but the road to becoming a savior would be paved with nails and a cross. The nice thing about this is that Jesus chose to go down this path. He chose to become this Lamb of God and to come and sacrifice his life for our sin.

Revelation 13: 8 refers to this Jesus as the lamb who was sacrificed before the foundation of the world. In eternity past, before a star was ever created, Jesus knew this time would come. It would take on meat (Christmas) that would be mistreated and broken (Easter). It would be celebrated and adored (Christmas). He would have been mocked, whipped and crucified (Easter). He would be born of a virgin, the first and only one to do so (Christmas). He would rise from the dead as a resurrected savior, the first and only one to do so (Easter). This is how you bridge the gap between Christmas and Easter.

During the Christmas season, don't just celebrate traditions - as wonderful and exciting as they are. Don't just cook food and exchange gifts and have fun. Have fun and enjoy the holiday season, but let's not forget the real reason why we celebrate. We can only celebrate Christmas because of Easter. If Jesus is not a resurrected savior, his birth is not much more important than yours or mine. However, it is because he not only died but rose again that is our hope of salvation. This Christmas, remember the resurrected Savior because in all honesty the resurrected Jesus is the real reason for the season.