If you looked on the platform this month and noticed the cross, you also saw that we put in our version of a manger right next to it. I personally love the striking simplicity of this picture. The King of kings, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace came in the flesh to someday have his flesh torn. He did this, in the flesh, to give us eternal peace and to experience God’s eternal pleasure in the flesh. At the cross, he experienced the justice of God our sins deserved so that we could experience the justice of God that Jesus’ righteousness deserved! As I’m saying this, you might be saying, “Hold on. This isn’t Easter, Pastor Timothy.” But, we can’t talk about the wonder of Christmas without understanding why he came. This is why even the apostle Paul said, “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech of wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” This doesn’t mean Paul only talked about Jesus’ death, but this does mean that Paul believed Jesus’ death was central to everything. And so today, as we sing Christmas carols, you will notice the themes of them. Songs of peace and joy – and we today have peace and joy because of the reason Jesus came – to die and rise again in our place and for our eternal joy in God.