A t last the time has arrived when a virgin named Mary pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David gives birth to a son. He is
named Jesus; he will be great and called the Son of the Most High, Luke 1:32. His coming had been foretold for centuries, several prophets had predicted the coming of Jesus, who’s also referred to as “The Christ or “The Messiah”, both means the Anointed One. However it should be understood Jesus did not first appear on the scene that first Christmas morning in Bethlehem, no he existed from the very beginning. Through him all things were made; as it is written in the book of John. In the book of Genesis God said “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”… We as Bible studying Christians are taught in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, John 1. The Word that John speaks of in his epistle is in reference to Jesus Christ. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”. John 1: 3-5. Jesus became flesh and walked among us for a brief time to fulfill God’s purpose for us, for mankind to be saved from eternal death and condemnation. Imagine the depth of that reality. Without Jesus we would have no chance of understanding God. As Jesus spoke with Thomas during his final meal with the disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me”… John 14: 6 During this holiday season let us all not forget to celebrate not only the birth of Jesus, but appreciate that his death had an even greater impact for the salvation of man. The gift of the Messiah is far greater than the pagan celebration the world has turned it into as Christmas. The word Christmas was actually created by the Catholic Church to designate the celebrating of the birth of Christ with a mass (service) on the evening of December 24th. I suspect we all shall get caught up in the Christmas season celebration as we have for most of our lives; cooking and eating large meals, gathering together with our families and, exchanging gifts. I don’t feel God will smite us for participating because he knows our hearts. Remember family a pure, honest, and contrite heart will always cancel out an evil thought. So let’s not forget the reason for Jesus’ birth would eventually cause him to serve as a propitiation for the sins of mankind. Let us all rejoice this holiday season as we focus on the grace and mercy God has shown us throughout the year 2014.
Let us all rejoice and recall the scripture from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah 9: 6-7 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Praise the Lord, and may God richly bless us all. Amen.