2016 Worship Guide

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2016 Worship Guide December 7, 2016 A Lincoln Daily News Publication Page 25
If Jesus’ family tree were picture perfect, then
there would have been no need for the Messiah
to come. But because there are sinners in
every family tree, the world needed a savior.
You might not have the same skeletons in
your closet; the same ugly Christmas sweaters
wrapped up and out of sight. But we do all
have ugliness in our past that we would rather
the world not know about.
The Good News is that Jesus came as the
Messiah because of that ugliness. The
ugliness of the world, of my sin and yours, is
why Jesus was born in Bethlehem and why he
died in Jerusalem. But because he died for the
ugliness of sin, we have been given the beauty
of forgiveness, life and salvation.
There are a lot of beautiful things this time
of year: decorations, lights, the smell of our
favorite foods. But at the same time there is
a lot of ugliness in the world, and no amount
of decorating can cover that up. Jesus came
to turn our ugliness of sin into the beauty of
salvation by his death and resurrection.
So when you see the beautiful things all
around this season, let it remind you of the
Beautiful Savior who takes away the ugliness
of sin and death, and instead gives you eternal
life and salvation.
And if you’re disappointed with your
Christmas presents, remember the Messiah
born in Bethlehem: best gift the world has ever
received.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Jonathan Buescher
Zion Lutheran Church & School -