The Gift List That Mattersনমুনা

The Gift of a Choice

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 (ESV)

Redemption is when somebody pays for your sins so that you can be forgiven and walk away justified. They do your time. They pay your penalty. All the things you've done wrong are paid for by somebody else.

That's what Jesus did for you. He didn't just come to earth at Christmas. He also lived a perfect life so that his sacrifice could satisfy God's judgment. All of your sins were paid for on the cross.

One day, Jesus came to John the Baptist so he could baptize him in the Jordan River. When John saw Jesus coming, he announced, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 ESV).

Every Jewish person knows the symbolism of this verse. Once a year in the Jewish faith, a perfect, spotless lamb was chosen and sacrificed at Passover to represent the redemption of the Jewish people.

After Jesus died on the cross for our sins, there was no longer a need for any symbolic animal sacrifice. But before Jesus' death and resurrection, the lamb that was sacrificed for the sins of the people had to be spotless. Only a perfect life was acceptable enough to die for everyone's imperfections. And that is why Jesus—the Lamb of God, who lived a perfect life—could satisfy the justice of God toward sin through his death.

When the religious leaders who wanted to crucify Jesus brought him to Pilate, the Roman governor interviewed Jesus and acknowledged that he was totally innocent: "Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, 'You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him'" (Luke 23:13-14 ESV).

Pilate found no fault in Jesus. He didn't see any sin or crime that Jesus should be punished for. How about you?

If you have not acknowledged that Jesus was the spotless Lamb who died in your place, why not? On what grounds would you refuse to accept what he did for you or reject him as your Savior?

Pilate gave the people the choice to decide what they were going to do with Jesus. After the Roman soldiers tortured Jesus, he "came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, 'Behold the man!'" (John 19:5 ESV).

Just as the people at Jesus' baptism and then his trial were invited to "behold" him, God invites you too to behold Jesus, the one who has taken away every sin you've ever committed or will commit.

Christmas comes not only with the best news ever—but also with a choice: As you behold Jesus, what choice are you going to make about him?

Have you chosen to trust Jesus for your salvation?

The Bible says we can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. And we don't need to earn God's love or work our way into heaven. The Bible says, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven't trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you're ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus and follow him, pray this prayer:

"Dear Jesus, you promised that if I believe in you, everything I've ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

"I confess my sin, and I believe that you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say that salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I'm turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

"Jesus, I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen."

Questions to Consider

·Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus but also points to his crucifixion and resurrection. Why is it important to acknowledge all of that at Christmastime?

·Who can you share the best news ever with this week so that this Christmas becomes the most meaningful one yet for them?

·What is your choice about Jesus?