"What's That Cross Got To Do With It?"

So, every year for Christmas I like to
decorate the outside of the house.

Multi lights, big lights,
little lights, icicle lights...
Snowman, Santa, wreaths...
and in some shape or form
a cross (which usually stays
up a lot longer than the rest of
the lights).

Usually (as pictured above) I use this
certain lighted cross in my display.
One year, I made a huge one on
the roof out of red lights... a good
'copter pilot would probably been
able to land on our roof if he needed to.

"What's the cross got to do with it?"

Isaiah says:
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Yes, without the birth, there is not sacrifice.
But I say, without the sacrifice, the birth
means nothing. So what then if God became
man? He didn't just need to do that to be
among us. He did it to redeem his people,
and the rest of us as well.

Isaiah says again:
This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."