The Joy Set Before Us – by Bermie Dizon

Please follow and like us:

When we celebrate Christmas, we tend to focus on the joy of a newborn baby, the hope of new life, and the excitement of gifts. But one of the first gifts given to Jesus was myrrh—an embalming spice. It’s a strange gift for a baby, isn’t it? It reminds us of the bigger picture: Jesus was born to die, but not just any death—He came to die for us.

From the very beginning, Jesus’ life had a purpose beyond what we could imagine. As soon as sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, humanity needed a Savior. Jesus came to fulfill that role, to take our place in death so that we could have life.

In Hebrews 12:2, we are told, “For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus didn’t shy away from His mission, even though it meant suffering and death. Why? Because He could see the joy beyond it—our salvation and eternal life with Him.

That’s the joy of Christmas. Jesus didn’t come just for the cradle—He came for the cross. And through His death and resurrection, He has brought us the greatest gift: eternal life.

As we celebrate this Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus came to bring us hope, not just for today, but for eternity. He endured the cross because He saw the joy of our salvation, and now we can experience that same joy, knowing we are saved through Him.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus came to give us life. The joy set before Him was our salvation, and that same joy is now ours. Let’s embrace this season with gratitude for the greatest gift—eternal life through Christ.

Excerpted from “God in Every Step” now available at Amazon.com. Bermie Dizon is a husband, father, grandfather and retired pastor living in Southern California.

If you have found this article helpful, please consider subscribing (free). And if you’d like to help us help others, please consider sharing it with others and hitting the “GIVING” button at the top of the page.