What Christmas Has To Do With Hell

But she was not nearly as surprised as the woman whose husband had just passed away. Her card read, "Hotter here than I expected. Wish you were here, too!"
We probably joke about hell because it is so uncomfortable to face squarely. I confess that it is one of the most difficult teachings in all the Bible. I would much rather set it aside or disbelieve it, but I cannot. Since Jesus taught it so plainly, I can't claim to follow him and at the same time reject his teaching about hell. Frankly, it is no joking matter!
Jesus taught a lot about hell. Here I can only touch on some of what he taught. He said that it is better to pluck out your eye or cut off your hand or foot, if they cause you to stumble, than to be cast into hell, which he described as a place "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-48



These descriptions are enough to show that Jesus did not picture hell as a wild party, a fun place to cavort with other sinners, as many jokes commonly portray it. He warned people of its agony in the most frightening terms. If Jesus knew what he was talking about, you want to avoid hell at all possible costs!
Many people think, "Yes, there is a hell and it is a terrible place. But I don't need to worry about going there, because I'm a basically good person. The only ones who will go to hell are the mass murderers, child molesters, and that sort."
Think again! Jesus indicated that if a man mentally lusts after a woman, he is in danger of his whole body being thrown into hell (Matt. 5:28-30


By now maybe you're wondering, "What does any of this have to do with Christmas?" Everything! Let me explain.
When Jesus was born, the angel announced to the shepherds, "I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10

Savior is a radical word. People who just need a little moral uplift don't need a Savior. People who are pretty good folks, but just need a little guidance, don't need a Savior. The only people who need a Savior are those in desperate straits. If you are lost at sea in a small boat in a violent storm, you don't need a little guidance. You need the Coast Guard to save you! You will perish if someone does not intervene. And if they do save you, you are overwhelmed with great joy!
In light of that, think about how Jesus described his mission: "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10
