Submitted by Pastor Julie Sanders, Tarkio and Westboro United Methodist Churches

Christmas. It is one of the most joyous Christian holidays, a time to remember the birth of Christ our savior. Christmas is a time to share our blessings with one another, and to be surrounded by the people we love. It is a time for giving, and a time for forgiving. Most importantly, it is a reminder of how much God loves us.

As Christians we like to remember the good times in Jesus’ life. At least, I know that I do. I love to tell the Nativity story. We all love to tell the story of that little baby in the manger, but we forget that shortly after His birth, that little baby needed to flee from Herod’s army. We tell about His wisdom, His love, and His healing, but we forget about His suffering. We forget the price He paid, for our sins. We forget the lengths that God went to, to show us His love.

To be honest, thinking about this leaves me dumbfounded, because God knew what would happen to His Son. God had told Isaiah along with many other prophets of the suffering the Savior would endure. God knew that the very people He had created would crucify Him for trying to save us from ourselves.  And yet, God lowered Himself in Christ, feeling physical pain and suffering. God lowered Himself, and let mere humans beat Him and mock Him. The God who has all the power of the universe humbled Himself to be lower than the angels and to die at our sinful, hateful hands. God knew this would happen ahead of time, and yet He loved us so immensely that He sent His Son, to suffer a painful death, so that we could spend eternity with God. That’s the story of love. That is the story of Christmas.

This Christmas, remember the price God paid for you, in that babe born in Bethlehem. Remember how much God loves you and his prevenient grace that seeks your return. Remember what true love is, and share that same love with everyone you know. Merry Christmas!