The purpose of Christmas
First of three parts
Every machine and appliance has a purpose: stoves, fridges, cars and planes. Every part of machinery has a purpose or function.
When a mechanic or electrician opens a machine, they must know what the function of the various parts are, or figure it out, before they can restore the functioning of the machine to fulfill its purpose.
Every human being has a purpose: to be of value to someone or something. Within the limits of our nature and nurture (genes and experience), we have the freedom to choose how to be of value.
When the Son of God became a human being, there was a purpose for it. He lived and died as human in the place of humans, so that they could be forgiven and be reconciled with God.
When the first humans came to self-awareness, there was already a tree that gave knowledge of good and evil, and there was already a devil, disguised as a snake. Humans fell victim to evil which already existed.
God did not abandon them. He clothed them with animal skins (the first blood sacrifices), and promised that a woman would give birth to the Redeemer that would crush the devil (Gen. 3:15, compare Rom. 16:20, 1 John 3:8, Rev. 12:9-11).
Sin proliferated amongst early humans, and God decided to wipe them out with a flood. He saved only one family of eight, and many land animals with them, in Noah’s ark, a symbol of salvation in Christ.
From their descendants, God chose Abraham and Sarah to start a new nation, a chosen people. Their descendants became slaves in Egypt. God led them to freedom under Moses. Their liberation also pointed to the salvation Christ would bring.
They camped at Mount Sinai for a year, receiving God’s law and worship services centred in the Tabernacle. God provided food from heaven and water from the rock, symbols of the promised Messiah (John 6:32-33, 7:37-38).
Despite God’s outreaching love, they rebelled repeatedly. On one occasion, God sent serpents to torture them with painful bites. When they repented, God ordered Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole — if they looked to the effigy of their sin with trust in God, their pain stopped. Christ said that he would likewise be lifted up, so that those who believe in him would receive eternal life (Num. 21, John 3).
In the era of the Judges and Kings (about 800 years), Israel strayed many times, but when they repented and turned back to God, he forgave and restored them.
These history lessons portrayed man’s inability to save himself, and showed his need for a Saviour. Then Christ was born. Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.