The first Christmas was intended to bring lasting satisfaction. However, the message of that first Christmas is that, before human beings could ever be fully satisfied, God Himself had to be. In fact, the great purpose for sending the Son of God into this world was to satisfy God. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
The Bible begins with the story of a wonderfully satisfying relationship between God and humanity – a relationship which was then deeply fractured by sin’s entrance into the world. Our Creator knows that we cannot possibly achieve full and lasting satisfaction apart from Him, but how can a righteous God reconcile sinful people to Himself?
When Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, God “placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). The way back into God’s presence, and to eternal blessing, was guarded by a flaming sword representing God’s justice. For us to be reconciled to God and eternally satisfied with Him, God’s righteousness needed to be upheld and the demands of His justice met. So God “sent His Son to be the [satisfying sacrifice] for our sins”. The righteous God is also a God of love, and what His justice demanded His love has provided.
Shepherds heard an angel announce, “there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Wise men followed a star until they “saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him” (Matthew 2:11). Each group understood that tremendous events were unfolding as the Son of God visited this planet, but only God could fully appreciate the tremendous cost of the Gift He was offering the world.
Our full satisfaction will only be realised when our sins are gone, the barrier between our souls and God is removed, and we are reconciled to Him. For that to happen, the Son of God had to suffer. God’s justice demanded payment for sin, and no partial payment would suffice. At the cross the sword of justice fell upon Jesus. Having paid all that justice demanded, He cried “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The sacrificial death of the Son of God has made reconciliation to God possible for us.
God has been satisfied as a result of the first Christmas. Have you? Your eternal satisfaction is not only possible, it is offered to you as a free gift. Jesus Christ alone gives eternal satisfaction; He was heaven-sent for this purpose. Will you trust Him now?
“Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled!’”
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