There are two birthdays in December I like to celebrate.

First comes my father’s birthday on December 8. He would have been 102 years old this year. When we remember the birthdays of people in the past, we remember the things they were known for. My father was known as a great businessman. He had a natural bent toward finances and helped many people make decisions about their finances – both the church as a whole and individuals. He was also known as a great church leader and family man. But the greatest thing he was known for was his decision to place his faith in Jesus. He knew that all the money in the world wouldn’t give him a home in heaven. He knew that working in church or being the best father around wouldn’t get him a place in heaven. He knew and firmly believed that Jesus was the only way, the only one who could save him from his sins which were separating him from God.

We also celebrate Jesus’ birthday in December. It is not absolutely certain that he was born on December 25, but the day the early church leaders chose December 25 as the day to celebrate Jesus. We see a lot of nativity scenes around during this time to celebrate his birth. Even though we don’t know the exact date, this much we do know. Jesus was known for his birth in a stable, among the animals, with the manger, the feeding box, as a bed. Angels appeared to shepherds on a hillside to announce the birth of Jesus and proclaimed him as Christ, the Lord. The shepherds came running looking for the baby lying in a manger and fell down and worshipped him.

Joseph, his surrogate father, was instructed to name the baby Jesus, a form of Yeshua or Joshua, which means “savior”. When the angel spoke to Joseph in a dream, he said this baby would save people from their sins. He would not just cover the sins as the animal sacrifices in the Jewish temple up until now had done, but people would be completely saved from their sins.

When Jesus grew up, he was known for his miracles and his teaching – he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made the lame to walk, and cast out demons. Along with the miracle, he taught the people with authority on many relevant topics. Many people flocked to him to hear his teaching, and many people believed in him.

But there were some people tried to trip him up in his teaching. They hated him because he wasn’t at all like they had pictured a Messiah (Savior sent by God) to be. So they plotted to kill him. Jesus is also known for his death on the cross, a terrible, shameful death. Yet, this whole experience was in God’s plan for Jesus. Jesus was to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Because God loved us so much, He was willing to let Jesus, His only Son, be treated like that. They had to go through with the entire plan of shame, suffering, and death so He could ultimately show He had the final victory over death by rising from the dead. Jesus is also known for his resurrection from the dead. No other person in all of history has ever done that – to die and come back to life to never die again. So, now Jesus can offer eternal life to anyone who puts their trust in him.

My father was trusting in Jesus for this victory over death and for eternal life. He died physically, but we know that my father is alive in heaven right now because he put his trust in Jesus. And, we, as a family, know we will see him again someday because we have put our trust in Jesus.