Pathway to Victory

Speaker 1

Hey podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress.

And right now, your generous gift will have twice the impact, thanks to the Now Is the Time matching Challenge, active now through December 31st. To give a special year-end gift, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes.

Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

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Hi, this is Robert Jeffress and I'm.

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Glad to study Word with you every.

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Day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

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There could have been no Christmas without the cradle. But casting a shadow over the cradle was a cross.

If the cradle is the beginning of the story, the cross represents the main body of the Christmas story. It explains why it is that Jesus came to earth.

Speaker 1

Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. With the extra dose of chaos that the holiday season usually brings, it's easy to lose sight of what Christmas is all about.

But today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress brings us back to the heart of Christmas by looking at three symbols that reveal its true meaning: the cradle, the cross, and the crown.

But first, let's take a moment to hear some important ministry updates.

Speaker 2

Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. Our December teaching series is focused on Christmas and called Celebrate the Savior. But before we begin the message, I'll start with some very good news. Every week, millions of listeners and viewers across the world turn to Pathway to Victory for Bible teaching they can trust. In an age of confusion and compromise, you've made us your go-to source for God's unchanging truth.

But here's what concerns me. Many have listened faithfully for years, even decades, yet never reached out to support this nonprofit ministry. Others gave once long ago, but haven't given since. My friend, if Pathway to Victory has strengthened your faith or given you hope in turbulent times, now's the moment to respond. We can't afford to be pathetic. Gratefully, because of our Now is the Time matching Challenge, in the amount of $1.7 million, your contribution will be doubled, and the time to act is now.

You might be able to give a generous gift of $100 or $200. Perhaps God is moving you to give $500. Whatever the amount, it'll be doubled in impact. As a thank you for your gift to the Matching Challenge, I'll be sending you the brand new 2026 Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. I've written a reflection for every weekday in the new year. And a bit later on, I'll give more details on this beautiful book. At more than 500 pages, it's the finest we've ever published.

But right now, let's turn our attention to the study of God's word. I titled today's message Christmas: the Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown.

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Methodist minister Monk Brian tells a story about driving to church one Christmas Sunday morning with his family. His young son asked him a question. He said, "Dad, are you going to allow us to enjoy Christmas this morning or are you going to explain it?" I understand how that little boy feels. You know, the fact is, those of us who are pastors sometimes feel the need to overly explain the meaning of Christmas. And there's a reason for that. We've allowed secularists to obscure the meaning of this holiday. Even religionists have perverted the meaning of Christmas, missing the entire point of Christ coming. So there is a need to explain Christmas. But today I want us to do more than explain Christmas. I want us to experience it, to enjoy it together. And that's what we're going to do in the few minutes we have this morning.

If you were to ask the average person on the street, what are the symbols of Christmas, they would probably answer, the candy cane, the Christmas tree, Santa Claus. But today we're going to look at the three symbols that really explain the entirety of the Christmas story. And we're going to do more than simply explain. We're going to experience each of these symbols through song. The first symbol of Christmas is the cradle. This is where it all began, at least from a human perspective. The late designer Versace was one time asked if he believed in God. He said, "Yes, I believe in God, but I'm not the kind of religious person who goes to church who believes in the fairy tale of Jesus born in the stable with the donkey. I'm not stupid. I can't believe that God, with all the power that he has, had to have himself born in a stable; it would not have been comfortable."

Versace was right on one point. It wasn't comfortable for God to leave heaven and come to a manger. And yet that is exactly what happened. The Apostle Paul explains what Christ did in Philippians 2:5-8: "Have this attitude in yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus. Although he existed in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men, being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." One writer describes it this way: "Stepping from the throne, Jesus removed his robe of light and wrapped himself in skin, pigmented human skin. The light of the universe entered a dark wet womb. He whom angels worship nestled himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night and slept on cow's hay."

What is the significance of Jesus humbling himself by being born in this cradle? Two things. The fact that Christ was willing to come and to be born under such humble circumstances reminds us, first of all, that God loves us. He took the initiative in establishing a relationship with you and with me. Pastor Tim Zingsdale tells a story about a five-year-old boy named Tommy. Tommy loved to run and play like most five-year-olds. When he smiled, people said he looked like an angel. But Tommy didn't smile much. His parents had died a few years earlier, and he was in an orphanage. One day, while Tommy was out playing dodgeball by himself, he was totally unaware of what was happening right down the street at a courthouse. There, Judge Johnson was listening to a couple explain why they wanted to adopt Tommy to become their own. They had driven by the orphanage one day and seen Tommy playing outside and decided they wanted him to become a part of their family. Tommy was completely unaware of what was happening. Right down the street, a decision was being made that would alter the course of his life forever.

You know, the Bible says that the judge of all of the universe, before the beginning of time, decided that he wanted a relationship with you. And he set plans into motion—the plan by which you and I could be adopted into God's family through Jesus Christ. And that's exactly what this cradle represents. God took the initiative in establishing the relationship with you to put you into his forever family. Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and gave himself as the propitiation for our sins. The cradle means that God loves us.

But secondly, the cradle means that God forgives us. We'll talk about this more in just a moment, but God became flesh so that he could be one of us and accomplish the mission of salvation. If you've ever been to Hawaii before, you may have heard the story about the island of Molokai. The island of Molokai was used as a refuge, as a place of seclusion for those who had contracted the then deadly disease of leprosy. The lepers had to be separated from the rest of the population, so they were put on this island of Molokai. In 1873, a young, dedicated priest named Father Damien volunteered to go to Molokai to spend his life serving the lepers. When he arrived, he was startled to see people suffering, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. As outcasts, they were victims of hopelessness. And because of that, they were given to acts of immorality, drunkenness, and violence toward one another. What he saw on that island were people who needed hope. They had the same questions that many of us have today: Is there a God? And does he really care about us?

And so, in 1873, Father Damien went to this desolate island of Molokai to spend his life among the lepers. He helped them build a church, a hospital. While he was there, he built 600 coffins as well. Every Sunday, he would stand up to lead the worship service for the lepers. And he always began the service by saying the same thing: "My dear brethren." But then one morning in 1885, at the age of 45, in a calm, clear voice, Father Damien, instead of saying, "My dear brethren," began, "My fellow lepers, I am now one of you."

Jesus Christ, for no other reason than the love with which he had for us, left the realm of heaven. He came to this island of hopelessness called Planet Earth. He willingly took the curse for our sin in order that he might point us to God. And that's why we say his name is Emmanuel: God with us. God became one of us so that we might be a part of his family. I want us to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the one who was veiled in flesh, so that we might have a relationship with God. To celebrate what Christ did in coming to be born in this manger, let's stand together and sing the hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angel Sings."

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Sure! Here is the text separated into paragraphs:

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Glory to the newborn king,

Me his honor and mercy mine.

God and sinners, reckon the sky.

Joyful nations rise, joy not strong of the skies.

Sing glory to the Lord.

Christ by high, Christ the everlasting Lord.

Filled in flesh, the God has seen.

Filled in covenant, ease as man with men to dwell.

Jesus, Emmanuel, heart the heaven.

Glory to the new one King.

In the heaven, Prince of Peace,

Hail the Son of righteousness.

Light and light to all he reigns.

Praise with fear in his sweet while he lays his glory.

One night the Lord may die,

One to raise the sun, summer.

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Let me know if you need any further assistance!

Speaker 3

There could have been no Christmas without the cradle. But 2,000 years ago, on that night, Jesus was born. Casting a shadow over the cradle was a cross. If the cradle is the beginning of the story, the cross represents the main body of the Christmas story. It explains why it is that Jesus came to earth.

One writer says it this way: here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told. Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that the nails might be driven through them. Those little pink feet, unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant's head, with sparkling eyes and eager mouth, was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns upon it. That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a Roman spear. Jesus was born to die. Jesus came to take the penalty we deserve for our sins.

There is an ancient story told about a Tibetan ruler who had decreed that anyone in his nation who was caught stealing would have his hand chopped off. One day, an elderly woman was brought before the king. The king looked at her and said, "You have been charged and found guilty of this crime. But because you are my mother, I will take the penalty for you." And with that, he placed his arm on the chopping block and had his hand severed from his arm. You see, if the king had simply overlooked his mother's crime, he would not have been a just king. So a penalty had to be exacted, and he was the one who was willing to bear it.

The same thing is true for you and me. God is a holy God. And that's why it is impossible for God to simply look away, to look over, to excuse our sin. If he did that, he would no longer be a just God. But God was willing to take the penalty for you and me. And that's what he did. When he came to suffer and die on that cross, Jesus experienced the full wrath of God so that one day we could receive his blessing.

A famous religious leader made headlines just a couple of years ago when he said, "Even unbelievers can be saved. All who live a just life will be saved, even if they don't believe in Jesus." The gospel teaches us that those who live in accordance with the beatitude—the poor in spirit, the pure of heart, those who bear lovingly the sufferings of life—will enter God's kingdom. What he said was absolutely wrong. If there were any other way to be saved, then God did not need to come into a cradle. He did not need to suffer that excruciating death on the cross. The reason he did that was that the cross represents man's only way to forgiveness and hope.

In Jesus, 700 years before Christ came, Isaiah the prophet prophesied of what Christ would do for us. In Isaiah 53, he writes, "But he, the Messiah, was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening of our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned his own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity, the sin of us all, to fall upon him."

Jesus—the whole purpose of Christ's coming is summarized on that cross. And today, we offer our deepest thanks to God for what he did.

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That cross for us.

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I want us today to sing a special arrangement of that hymn. When I survey the Wondrous Cross. Would you stand with me as we sing.

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And for content O. Save in the death of Christ, my God.

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All the.

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Jesus sa.

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Don't you just love the message of this familiar hymn?

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Well, I sure love it and for good reason. When we survey the wondrous Cross of Jesus Christ, we're awestruck by his amazing love. In closing today, I'm asking you to join us in an all-out effort to bring this message to every corner of the globe. What could be more relevant or more important?

Gratefully, Pathway to Victory is the recipient of a generous matching challenge in the amount of $1.7 million. And when you give a generous gift, this matching challenge enables us to double the size of your gift. We're calling it the Now's the Time Matching Challenge.

The Apostle Paul understood urgency. Writing to believers in Rome, he said, "The night is nearly over. The day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light, my friend." If that was true in Paul's day, how much more true is it in ours? We're watching prophecy unfold before our eyes. The darkness is pressing in, but so is the dawn of Christ's return. Now's the time to act decisively.

As like-minded partners in this ministry, we must seize this moment together. Your generous gift to the Now's the Time Matching Challenge will advance the Gospel when it matters most. Don't let this opportunity pass. Stand with us. Your gift will make all the difference.

Bear in mind, when you give a generous gift to the Matching Challenge today, I'm going to say thanks by sending you our brand new Pathway to Victory daily devotional for 2026. The time to reach out is right now. Here's David with all the details today.

Speaker 1

When you give a generous year-end gift toward our Now is the Time Matching Challenge, we'll say thanks by sending you the brand new 2026 Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. To request your copy, call 866-999-2965 or visit ptv.org. When your gift is $100 or more, we'll also include the teaching series Celebrate the Savior on DVD, video, and MP3 format audio discs.

Remember, right now, because of our Now Is the Time Matching Challenge, your gift will be doubled in impact by another generous donor. So request your copy of these resources today by calling 866-999-2965 or visiting ptv.org. If you'd prefer to write, jot down this mailing address: P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. That's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins. Join us for part two of the message called The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown. That's coming up Thursday on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. Right now, your special year-end gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact thanks to the Now Is the Time Matching Challenge.

Take advantage of this opportunity to double your impact before the deadline on December 31st. To give toward the matching challenge, go to ptv.org/donate or follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.