Bible Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Today is the last day in our series about the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. Let’s finish this series by talking about the last words of the song: “a partridge in a pear
tree.”
The partridge represents Jesus. A partridge protects it’s young by pretending to be injured and drawing a predator away from the nest. The partridge is willing to sacrifice itself to save its babies. Partridges nest on the ground in fields or near ditches. They don’t belong in pear trees or any other kind of tree.
Jesus was hung on a “tree” – a cross – and died in our place. Like the partridge, Jesus didn’t belong on that tree, we did. Jesus protected us from an eternity of death and separation from God. He willingly sacrificed Himself to save us. In Acts 10:38 Peter wrote, “They killed him [Jesus] by hanging him on a tree.” That was the sad news.
Peter went on to write, “…but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen…that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:39 & 43).
The Twelve Days of Christmas might be a Christmas song, but it ends with the Easter message – the message of the partridge in a pear tree – Jesus, hung on the cross then resurrected to make a way for us to have forgiveness for our sin and eternal life in heaven.
What a beautiful song! What a powerful message!
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 & 4
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place. In Jesus’ name. Amen.