Jesus Saviour 4 U n Me (Jesussaviour4unme): Buns, Cross, Hot on

On Hot Cross Buns

Buns, cross, hot on the heels of Christmas fruit pies.

January 2026 arrived local supermarket

Have you put your Christmas decorations away? Is Christmas stuff is now being sold for half price? For a time the display in the photo held fruit mince pies. Have you seen Hot Cross Buns in your shop?

The appearance of the fruit buns actually neatly connects to coming of Jesus with his atoning death for all who believe. Jesus as a newborn was described as Saviour. Mary, his mother, was warned of coming grief connected to her promised child.

The Bible writers summarise the Christmas/cross connection for us:

For example: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18 NRSVUE)

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28 NIV).

His death was the most meaningful of all. His death was in God’s plan.

His death accomplished for us what we could never do for ourselves.

We have seen (previous post) that Jesus was in Jerusalem for a particular Hanukkah, which was held in the 10th month (in our December). In between there was Esther/Purim in their 12th month (our Feb/Mar). The crucifixion took place at the following season of Passover in the first month of the Jewish calendar (our Mar/Apr). Long ago the angel of death had passed over the helpless captives; hence the name.

At that Hanukkah there had been displays of growing hostility and attempts at stoning Jesus, but he survived with apparent ease. At least, in the telling it appears easy.

Whilst I think it likely Jesus would have visited Jerusalem for all the festivals, I wonder if in the case of that final not mentioned Purim it was not wise for him to be there. We find a specific recognition of danger at the time of the earlier festival called "Booths": After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since he did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill him (John 7:1 CSB). The chapter has a specific question from his brothers. Somewhat curiously, Jesus is subsequently seems to change his mind and goes up "secretly". (The chronology is not spelled out.)

Jesus knew what lay ahead in the coming Passover season. He gave clear warnings to his close friends. So we read: “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans (Mark 10:33 (NLT). They will.... and they did.

I think it was only after Jesus' resurrection that the followers were able to grasp what it was all about. Jesus in correcting his followers had made this striking statement: So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45 NRSVUE). Perhaps thereafter they thought less about being the boss! I do not think on that side of the resurrection they could grasp that Jesus was to be their ransom. In fact the ransom for many.

There is nothing "marked down" in the meaning of Christ's coming: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV). See what the child to be born would do! From their sins - separated from the impossible debt. From their sins - separating the sinner from rebellion and disobedience with the due consequences. His people, then and now. Did that have a narrow meaning for Joseph? If so, not for long. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are (Romans 3:22 NLT). Everyone.

...For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified...

You name him Jesus? You name him "the Lord Saves".

May you be blessed by God

Allen Hampton

Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Jesus Saviour 4 U n Me (Jesussaviour4unme)

Thursday, 8 January 2026

Buns, Cross, Hot on

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