Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Christmas Story: Baby Chosen


The lyrics to the song, What Child is This, asked the question, “What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping?”  Who is this baby?  What is so significant about this sleeping child? 

According to Luke 2:11, this child sleeping on the lap of his mother is, “Christ the Lord.”  The Scripture also says that a “company of heavenly host appeared with an angel and began praising God saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.’” 

It appears that this baby isn’t any ordinary child.  The Prophet Micah 5:2 said of this baby, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among many clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  The gospel of Matthew 1:21 says that this baby will be called Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.  The cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist says that Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  John 1:29

What child is this?  He is the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 who said, The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.”  [Which means ‘God is with us]  Isaiah 9:6 says he is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I love Christmas.  It is a time we celebrate Jesus in a way we may not any other time of the year.  Going from one department store to another are songs proclaiming Christ birth.  Nativity scenes are scattered all throughout the town as a reminder that Jesus was born.  Joy is in the air.  Giving becomes a norm for most people.  Love and laughter seem to be felt and heard during this season.  They are feelings and experiences that is hard to let go. 

God is the greatest gift giver of us all.  Scripture says that God loved the world so much that he gave us his only son.  God’s love is indescribable.  It’s hard to wrap our heads around a father giving the world his only son.  It is even more amazing that when he gave us his son, he gave him while we were sinning.  Romans 5:8 declares that “God demonstrated his love for us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Crazy sounding, isn’t it?  God didn’t just give us a baby boy; rather, he gave us opportunity.  Without the birth of Jesus, there is no hope or forgiveness or grace or mercy or redemption.  Without the birth of Jesus the prophecies would have been written in vain and made God out to be a liar. 

Jesus isn’t just the reason for this season; rather, he is the reason for every season.  We have much to be thankful for and much to tell about.  I love the lyrics to, Go Tell It on the Mountain.  “Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and every where; Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.  It is true.  Jesus Christ was born.  His birth not only captivated the heavenly host, but wise men and kings, too.  Today, his birth still captivates an audience.  Jesus’ birth is significant for all people in all generations. 

Jesus’s birth gives us an opportunity to make something out of our lives.  I’m not talking about a career; I’m talking about a relationship with him spiritually and personally.  Jesus’ desire for each of us is to be saved. 

Throughout Scripture are promises from God to us when we turn our hearts and lives toward Him.  The spiritual life is a journey.  It isn’t a quick fix, rather a lifetime commitment.  The spiritual life does get hard to live at times and there are no promises from God that it will be an easy road to travel.  However, He does promise a lifetime with him when it is all over. 

This baby Jesus grew up to become the triumphal Passover lamb.  Revelation 5:12 says, “ Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain….” Jesus was slain in order to passover our sins.  He desires to have a relationship with each of us.  That is why God “gave his only son” to each of us.  If you’re willing to know more about having a relationship with this Jesus, I would be excited to sit down and tell you more about this Jesus.  You can email me at thegreatestcommandislove@gmail.com or call my office at 836-2874. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

No comments:

Post a Comment