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b'When discussing Christmas with family or friends, I get a variety of\\nresponses when I say these words: \\u201cNo cross, no cradle.\\u201d Some reply with a\\npuzzled look, others have laughed saying the opposite is true. Every once\\nin a while, someone will nod. They know exactly what I\\u2019m talking about.\\n.\\nGod became a real human and walked among us, but He didn\\u2019t choose to\\ndescend from atop a lofty mountain or emerge all muscled and powerful out\\nof the sea. No, Jesus chose to take the route we\\u2019ve all taken\\u2026 in order\\nto inhabit the earth. He came as a baby. He had a mom, an earthly dad (or\\nstepdad, depending how you look at it), and a heavenly Father. If it had\\nall stopped there, we might never have known a single thing about Him.\\n.\\nHow wonderful it must have been to hear Jesus speak, watch Him heal, and\\nlisten to His prayers. He challenged the ruling and religious authorities,\\nbut He was also able to speak aid and comfort to the downtrodden and\\nforsaken. The people must have thought He could be the promised warrior\\nMessiah.\\n.\\nBut then came the cross.\\n.\\nIn Mark 8:31, Jesus began telling a different tale, one that included His\\nsuffering, rejection, and death. What was this? Not at all what the\\ndisciples or the people wanted to hear. But as each of the four Gospels\\n(Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tells Jesus\\u2019s story, we get to an\\nundeniable truth. This wonderful, healing, gracious man was going to die.\\n.\\nBelievers know the reason Jesus had to die: to become the real Savior. A\\ntemporary ruler, a great president or general, would have come and gone\\nlike so many others before them. But Jesus? He died so that we could have\\neternal life. He saved us by rising from the dead.\\n.\\nIf Jesus had not done that, His manger-cradle that we celebrate at\\nChristmas would have no significance. No cross, no cradle. \\u2022 Susan Sundwall\\n.\\n\\u2022 What part of Jesus\\u2019s life and continued work gives you the most hope? How\\ncould you celebrate the gospel this Christmas\\u2026 and beyond?\\n.\\n\\u2022 If you want to learn more about the good news (gospel) of Jesus, see our\\n\\u201cKnow Jesus\\u201d page.\\n.\\n\\u201cGlory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom\\nhis favor rests.\\u201d Luke 2:14 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nIsa.9.6|Mic.5.2|Mark.8.31|Luke.2.7'