Good morning, today, as we approach Christmas this week, I want us to take a look at what it is that we should truly be celebrating.  To start, allow me to share with you a passage of scripture that is a little bit different than what you would be use to hearing around the Christmas season.  If you have your Bibles with you, go ahead and turn with me to Philippians 2:5-11.  In that passage, we are reading about Jesus, but it isn’t the typical Christmas passage.

Well, here in Philippians 2:5-11 it says, “1”

A well known Baptist preacher once wrote, “There never was another who caused all creation to be ransacked in pursuit of words appropriate to convey to human hearts and minds His glorious pre-eminence.  There never was another who was a human child and also a divine Son; who was wounded by Satan and who, at the same time crushed Satan; who was appointed the Savior of men, yet was crucified by men; who was Judge of men; yet was led as a felon from one tribunal to another.”

He goes on to say, “There never was another who died and was buried and yet lived; who saved others, but Himself could not save; who had no sin in Him, yet all sin on Him; who was the King of Glory, yet wore no crown but a crown of thorns…  There never was another who was the Prince of life, yet died on Calvary; who was as old as His Heavenly Father and ages older than His earthly mother.  There never was another Who was the victim of a Roman cross and victor at a Jewish grave.”

“There never was another who poured all seas, all lakes, all rivers out of the crystal chalices of eternity, yet on a cross said with a mouth hot like a parched desert that cries for rain, “I thirst.””

All of this was written to describe Christ.  And our text tells us that God has given Him a name far above every name.  Now, the earthly ministry of Jesus can be divided into 3 stages.  Today, as we approach Christmas, I want us to take a look at each of these stages.  The 3 stages of Jesus’ earthly ministry would be: The Cradle, The Cross, and The Crown.

Before we take a look at those 3 stages, let’s begin with a word of prayer.  Let’s Pray!

First, Let’s Take A Look At The Cradle:

Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger to common parents.  Common, that is by human standards.  While the birth of a child would normally be cause for great rejoicing, the joy this birth would bring is to be short lived.  You see, this child was born to die.  I can see this little baby, lying in that manger.  I can almost hear Him cry, I can almost see Him jerk His arms and legs around.  His soft baby skin.  Here lies, in a manger, “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”  Here He lays, God’s great gift to mankind.  Here He lays, the perfect sacrificial lamb.  Here He lays, the payment for our sin.  Here He lays, a baby born to die.

But why?  Why was this baby born to die?  The answer is found in I Corinthians 15:3 which says, “… Christ died for our sins ....”  There was the answer.  He died because of OUR SINS.  Sin, these 3 little letters can sum up the need for the cradle.

And in the midst of the sin of the world is plunged a perfect baby, one that would pay for all of the sins of the world.  A star was shining brightly on the night of Christ’s birth.

But, if we look closely, we can see a Cross looming in the shadows.

Secondly, Let’s Take A Look At The Cross:

Jesus was born with the shadow of the cross upon Him.  With the shadow of the Cross upon His heart He learned to walk, He learned to talk, and He learned to work.

The cross was the cruelest instrument of death know to man.  It showed the depths of man’s depravity and inhumanity to his fellow-man.  Suspended between Heaven and Earth, the victim of the cross waited helplessly for death.  After a matter of hours on the cross, the victim would look forward to the arrival of death, in order to relieve themselves of the awful pain and suffering they were experiencing.

Such helplessness associated with the cross.  No one there to pat your head or cool your brow.  Many mothers looked on in horror as their son suffered on the cruel Roman cross.

Such finality associated with the cross.  There was only one way to come down from the cross, that being in the hands of those who were appointed to carry you to your grave.  When the nails were driven in the hands and feet, it was as though the icy hands of death had clutched its victim, and would be patient as the life was slowly and excruciatingly drained.

Such horror was associated with the cross.  The Hebrew writings gave this warning, “Cursed is the man that hangeth on the tree.”  Any attempt to truly understand the horror of the cross would prove futile.  The ripping of the skin, the bursting of the arteries, and the severing of the nerves would bring pain and death to those who hung upon it.

Yet, Jesus, God’s Son was born under the shadow of the Cross.  It loomed before Him as His greatest exploit.  All the challenges of His life would wane in significance when compared to the challenge of the Cross.

He didn’t enjoy the sight of the cross.  In the garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to “let this cup pass” from Him if there might be another solution to the problem of sin.  However, He submitted Himself to the will of God.  Scripture tells us that He, “… endured the cross, despising the shame ...”

Now, I doubt we will ever fully understand the awfulness of Christ’s crucifixion.  At Calvary we find the creator being put to death at the hands of the creation.  Or, allow me to make it even plainer.

The sins of Josh Book caused Jesus to be crucified.  The sins of Ruth Reis, the sins of Dwight Ruark, the sins of Brenda Allen, the sins of Ted Gilbert, the sins of all of us, put Jesus on that cross.  It was our sins that caused Him to go through such torment.  A debt had to be paid, one that we are unable to repay.

As the song says:

I was guilty with nothing to say
And they were coming to take me away
But then a voice from heaven was heard that said
Let him go, take me instead!

I should have been crucified
I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, God’s Son took my place!

Is it any wonder then that the Apostle Paul stated, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The great preacher Spurgeon advised young preachers by saying this, “No matter what text you take immediately cut cross the country to the cross and begin there.  The cross is the strength of the minister and I would not be without it for the world.  I would feel like a soldier without his weapons or a laborer without his tools; like an artist without a pencil or a pilot without a compass.”

Here are some lyrics to another song that we all know:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all!!

I don’t know about you, but I thank God for the Cross of Calvary, upon which our freedom was purchased.

So, we have the cradle, where the Son of God was born.  Then we have the cross, where the Son of God paid the price for our sins.

And Finally, Let’s Take A Look At The Crown:

You know what, the cross was not the end, it was only the beginning.  Make no mistake about it, Jesus is alive and well today.  Our text declares that, “… at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus Christ is a conqueror.  He never leads to defeat.  He never commands a retreat from or surrender to Satan.  He is a conqueror in Heaven, “Every knee should bow ... in Heaven…”  He is a conqueror on Earth, “Every knee should bow ... on Earth…”

In Daniel 7:13-14 it says, “2”

And then in I Corinthians 15:24-25 Paul says, “3”

You see, Jesus was born in a cradle, and He died on the cross.  But then He rose from the dead and was crowned with glory by God.

If you’re searching for Jesus today, don’t look in the cradle, because the cradle is empty.

If you’re searching for Jesus today, don’t look at the cross, because He is no longer there.

If you seek the Lord today, don’t stoop to look into the tomb, because it stands forever vacant, a memorial to the Resurrected Lord!

Instead, if you are searching for Jesus today, turn your gaze Heavenward.

Stephen saw Him standing at the right hand of God.  Paul heard His voice thunder from Heaven while on the Damascus road.  Isaiah saw Him sitting on His throne, high and lifted up.  Daniel saw Him reigning as the “Ancient of Days.”  The Psalmist saw Him riding on the wings of the wind.  And John the revelator saw Him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, unto whom is due all power, and glory, and honor, and praise!

So, we have the cradle to the cross to the crown.  He came as a babe to a cradle, but now He wears a crown.  The cross was once an object of shame, but now it has become a symbol of His glory.                                                                                           Let’s Pray!