The Birth and Death of Jesus: Two Pillars of Our Faith

 The Birth and Death of Jesus: Two Pillars of Our Faith

As we reflect on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ during this season, two events stand out as foundational to the Christian faith: His humble birth in Bethlehem and His sacrificial death on the cross, followed by His glorious resurrection. These moments are not isolated; they are deeply connected in God's redemptive plan. The birth made the death possible, and the death accomplished what the birth promised—salvation for all who believe.

The Miracle of His Birth: God Entering Our World

The birth of Jesus is the Incarnation—God becoming flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). In a world under Roman occupation, a young virgin named Mary gave birth to the Savior in a lowly manger, as there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7). Angels announced His arrival to shepherds, proclaiming, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). This was no ordinary child; He was Immanuel, "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).

Yet, this joyful event carried shadows of danger. King Herod, threatened by the news of a newborn King, sought to destroy Him, leading to the massacre of innocents and the Holy Family's flight to Egypt (Matthew 2). The Christmas story is one of divine intervention amid human oppression—a reminder that Jesus entered a broken world to bring light into darkness.

For a deeper exploration of this powerful narrative, I highly recommend my book *Born Under Occupation: The Christmas Story Caesar Tried to Kill*. 

It uncovers the political tension, divine sovereignty, and revolutionary hope of that first Christmas.

Available here:

- Amazon: https://a.co/d/gVuAbtT

- Gumroad: https://mulemena.gumroad.com/l/oklhvy

- Related video teaching: https://vimeo.com/1145750821?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci<grok:render card_id="83a4d9" card_type="image_card" type="render_searched_image">

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The Triumph of His Death and Resurrection: The Heart of the Gospel

While the birth of Jesus is cause for celebration, His death and resurrection form the very core of our salvation. As Scripture declares, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment we deserved, crying out His seven final words that reveal His love, forgiveness, and victory (John 19; Luke 23; Matthew 27).

These words—"Father, forgive them," "Today you will be with me in paradise," and culminating in "It is finished"—declare the completion of God's plan of redemption. Without the cross, there is no atonement; without the empty tomb, no hope for eternal life (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17).

The early church centered its worship and message on these events, commemorating them through the Lord's Supper and weekly gatherings on the day of resurrection. The death of Jesus is what secures our forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation with God.

To dive deeper into the profound meaning of Christ's final week and His seven words on the cross, check out my book *The Last Seven Days vs. The Last Seven Words of Jesus at the Cross*. It contrasts the chaos of those final days with the eternal power of His declarations from the cross.

Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5b9znSQ<grok:render card_id="61a5da" card_type="image_card" type="render_searched_image">ñ

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Which Should We Commemorate More?

Both the birth and death of Jesus are essential, but biblically, the death and resurrection hold primary importance. Paul calls them matters "of first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:3). The birth points to the cross; the cross fulfills the promise of the manger. As believers, we rejoice in Christmas, but we live daily in the power of Easter.

May these truths draw you closer to the Savior who was born to die—and rose to give us life.

Blessings in Christ,

Phillimon Mulemena

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