There are two moments when our theology tends to go askew, one is at funerals when seeking to comfort the bereaved.
The other is at Christmas. Thanks s year, I’ve seen the sound bite going around that “Jesus risked everything.”. This perhaps links to the song “Reckless Love”.
It’s problematic because it begins to make the incarnation sound like a gamble as though God staked the wealth and majesty of Heaven and indeed The Son’s life on a last throw of the dice.
This is not the case. The good news of Christmas is not that Jesus took a risk, not being certain of the outcome. To be sure, he gave up the glory of Heaven and stooped low to live among us, suffer and die.
However, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus were certain as was the definite effectiveness of the atonement. Our redemption was never in doubt.
This is important both because of the doctrinal implications and because of the pastoral application that Christmas is not about us taking a gamble either.
Furthermore, the good news of the Gospel and the wonder of His love us found not in an uncertain gamble but in certain hope.
Faithroots 