CHRISTMAS AND EASTER BELONG TOGETHER

We only know about the birth of Jesus because Jesus died on a cross and rose again on the third day. Mark, the earliest Gospel account of Jesus' life, does not even bother with a birth narrative but begins with Jesus' baptism and adult ministry. It was only after there was an empty tomb that later Christians would become interested in the details of Jesus' birth.

Paul's letter to the Romans begins with what some scholars believe is part of an ancient Christian creed. It is easy to see why one might think so. It even reads like one, especially if you write it out in creedal form:
            The gospel concerning His Son,
                        who was descended from David
            according to the flesh
                        and was declared to be Son of God with power
            according to the Spirit of holiness
                        by resurrection from the dead.
            Jesus Christ our Lord,
                        through whom we have received grace
                        and apostleship. (Romans 1:3-5)

These words reveal that Christmas and Easter belong together. One cannot be fully comprehended without the other. Each event in Jesus' life interprets and harmonizes with the other. The great hymns "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" share more in common than Charles Wesley's authorship.

-- Kevin Baker in “Hail the Heaven Born”

#4077