Love Came Down At Christmas

Meditating on three words in the passage: - LOVE A word we often used without much thought. But here it is speaking of God and His love and of our love for Him. John 3:16. We can see God's love clearest on the cross, where the eternal Son of God became the sin bearer. It was His love that held Him there. The greatest demonstration of His love. The Christmas scene at Bethlehem where Jesus was born, shows His love, because He came to die. Jesus is the reason for the season. |||| - SENT Vs 9, Vs 10, Vs 14 of the passage in 1 John 4 have this word. One can be sent on a mission against one's will, out of respect or obligation. But here, the Triune God of heaven sent Jesus. The Calvary scene and the Christmas scene was planned, not by angels, but by the Triune God, way back in eternity past. When the fullness of time was come, the Son of God came into the world in human flesh. Heb 10:5-7. ||| - PROPITIATION Seen here in Vs 10. Used only three other times in the NT. Rom 3:25, Heb 2:17, 1Jn 2:1. This word is used in some good Bible translations in spite of it being almost an unknown word, because it is almost impossible to find an equivalent word. It shows us the holy nature of God. Jesus was sent into the world to appease Gods holy anger against sin. Scripture speaks repeatedly about the wrath of God. Rom 1:18, Rev 6:14ff. We know that He came to save people. But we must ask - save people from what? From their sin. Why? Because God hates sin and must condemn the sinner. We need saving from the righteous indignation of a holy God. Isaiah 53:10 is amazing, as it says, 'It pleased the LORD to crush Him.' The righteous anger of God the Father was poured out on the Son, who was the propitiation. 'He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.'