Introduction:

Another Christmas Eve has arrived as we come toward the end of a year that has been quite challenging for many of us. In the midst of our human predicament you and I have gathered to celebrate the birth of Christ, the babe of Bethlehem, the greatest miracle of love. Christmas, and the Christian faith have symbols, such as the Advent Wreath and the lights on the Christmas tree. This evening I want to briefly talk about three Great Symbols of Our Faith, the cradle, the cross, and the crown. The cradle certainly seems fitting for the celebration of the Christ child's birth.

I. Cradle

Several months before Rachael was born Sue and I got some detailed plans for building a cradle. I do not have many tools and had not built many furnishings. I bought some wood and carefully began to cut, sand, and assemble, what would become the first cradle for our daughter. We still have that piece of furniture in our home and have a hard time remembering when Rachael was small enough to sleep in it.

The fantastic Christmas story is the great news that God sent a baby to the doorstep of the world! He was not born in a king's palace. He was not even placed in a nice smooth wooden cradle the night He was born, even though Joseph, as a carpenter, probably could have made Him a fine cradle, like a skilled woodworker today.

However, they were not able to be at home and Jesus' birth was in a humble stable and His cradle was a manger from which animals were fed. Yet that rough-hewn manger, probably cushioned with straw cradled the miracle of the universe, God became a man! Tharsis Rivera wrote: "The hands of God that had tumbled galaxies and solar systems into space became the 'small hands of an infant'. The feet of God that had roamed through fiery planets became 'the tiny feet of a baby'. . . That cradle hosted the 'mighty miracle of the INCARNATION'. - - the ONE WHO spoke the universe into existence, taking upon HIMSELF our humanity."

This is why the NATIVITY SCENE is a sacred reminder of what Christmas is supposed to be all about! In that cradle was the heart of God wrapped in human flesh.

II. Cross

Even over the cradle was the shadow of the cross. On the inside and outside of our church building we have a number of crosses. Some wood workers have made some beautiful crosses that decorate our homes and offices and that we may hang around our necks. I hope they are not only beautiful, but also symbolic of our faith, the faith of the cross.

The preacher, Sam Shoemaker, once asked the question, "What do you think God told Jesus that holy night He send Him down to earth? Then he went on to suggest, that as Jesus left the portals of heaven, He might have asked, "Father, what shall I tell the people down on earth?" The Father might have replied, "Son, don't complicate it with big words, make it simple, just tell all the people of earth that I love them."

My friends, that is clearly the message of Christmas. God is telling us, "I love you. I love you enough to send my only son to earth to live and die for you." Mary and Joseph were told before Jesus was born that He was to be the Savior of the world. The reminder of Jesus' being born to be our Savior may be among those things that Mary pondered in her heart, even the very night her Son was born.

III. Crown

Bethlehem was the city of David, the king. From his human ancestry, Jesus was born in the family of King David. That is the very reason Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, rather than elsewhere, when the time came for the babe to be born. They had travelled to their ancestral city to be enrolled.

Recall the words of Isaiah 9:6,7: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

We may also recall the question of the wise men from the East who came to Jerusalem. "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship Him?" The chief priests and scribes provided the answer from the prophesy of Micah. "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"

Not only is the kingship of Jesus mentioned in many of the great hymns of the faith, it is mentioned in several of the Christmas carols we love to sing. Think about some of them: "Peace on the earth goodwill to men, from heaven's all gracious King." "Praises sing to God, the King." "Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels." "Come adore, on bended knee, Christ, the Lord, the Newborn King." "With the Angels Let us sing, Alleluia to our King." Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity."

Even as He was cradled in the manger, realizing that a cross lay before Him, He was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Conclusion.

The cradle, the cross, the crown, are all tremendous symbols of our Christian faith. My friend, a "Cradle faith" is not enough. Do you also have a "Cross faith" accepting Christ as your Savior and a "Crown faith" submitting to Christ's Lordship as the king, the ruler, in your life?

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