Christmas Countdown Day 24 focused on the cross. As our family looked over the Advent tree and all we learned this month about Immanuel, God with us, we understood that the manger wasn’t the end of the story. Jesus grows up, just like Jackson and Lauren are growing up. Jesus becomes a man, and He dies on the cross to save us. Our Scripture tonight was Philippians 2:6-8.

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Jesus came to earth to be born in a manger, so He could die on a tree. He came so that you and I could truly live. Christmas is really all about the cross.

We made cross ornaments tonight to remember that Jesus came for each of us.