Treason is the Reason for the Season?

In the very beginning, God created humanity for an incredible purpose—to live in perfect union with Him, to enjoy His presence, and to be His co-workers in the care of creation. There was no separation, no shame, no suffering. But everything changed in the moment of the Fall. When Adam and Eve chose to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they didn’t just break a command—they committed treason.

Treason isn’t just breaking a law; it’s the betrayal of a king.

Think about it. Treason isn’t just breaking a law; it’s the betrayal of a king. It’s turning your back on the one who’s given you everything, who’s established the good and the right. That’s what happened when Adam and Eve sinned. They weren’t simply being disobedient children; they were rejecting the very reign of the King who made them. They were asserting their will over His, saying, “We know better, we want to decide what’s right and wrong for ourselves." And that moment of betrayal shattered the perfect harmony that God intended. It introduced sin, suffering, death, and division into the world.

Adam and Eve rebuked by God

But here’s where the story takes an incredible turn. God, the King, could have justly wiped humanity out. He could have said, "You’ve chosen treason, and the penalty for treason is death." But instead, He chose mercy. He chose love. And He didn’t just send a messenger to announce His forgiveness—He sent His own Son. The King, the One who was wronged, became one of us. He took on flesh, entered into our broken world, and came to restore what had been lost.

This is what we celebrate at Christmas. We don’t just celebrate the birth of a child; we celebrate the coming of the King who chose mercy over justice. We celebrate the incredible act of love that God didn’t leave us in our sin and separation, but instead, He entered into our world to rescue us from the very treason we committed. And He did it not with a sword to strike us down, but with a cross to lift us up.

We don’t just celebrate the birth of a child; we celebrate the coming of the King who chose mercy over justice.

So this Christmas, as we look at the manger, we’re not just looking at a baby; we’re looking at the King who, despite our betrayal, came to save us. In His mercy, He chose to forgive, to redeem, and to restore. And He’s still offering that same mercy to us today. Treason is the reason for the season—but mercy is the gift we receive.

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