The tiny babe who in Bethlehem manger lay was no ordinary child. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God. He whose name is Emmanuel, meaning God is with us, was not born to someday become a king, but rather He was born the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This precious baby whom Mary held in her arms was the promised Messiah – even Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God the Eternal Father.
For hundreds of years, prophecies had foretold the birth of a Messiah. On that starry night in Bethlehem of Judea, in the City of David, the One who would fulfill those prophecies was born in a humble stable with a manger as His cradle.
Throughout His mortal life He did all things according to the will of His Father who had sent Him. And because of His great love for us, He would willingly give His life as a ransom for us by becoming sin’s final sacrifice. However, the Good News is that the story does not end there. Three days later He triumphantly arose from the grave and lives forever more seated at the right hand of God the Father. And because of His glorious resurrection, death has been forever conquered, and we too shall be resurrected and live again. What a wondrous blessing Jesus Christ is to mankind. Heavenly Father had promised to send a Savior, and He kept His promise.
Isaiah, the prophet of old, tells us the purpose of the wondrous birth of Christ. In Isaiah 61:1-3 we read:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
For some people, Christmas day is nothing more than another day to have another celebration. It is a time to celebrate, however, we should be rejoicing in the fact that two thousand years ago our loving Heavenly Father gave to the world the greatest Christmas gift ever known to humanity. It was a very special gift, wrapped in the Divine love of the Father Himself. That gift was His Only Begotten Son – He who was born King – the Messiah – the Savior of the world – the Redeemer and Lover of our souls – the Hope of Israel – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sadly, there are those who doubt Him and say they don’t need Him. There are even those who will argue that He was just another man. Yes, He was a man, but not just an ordinary man. He was both God and man. He lived and walked among men, yet the life that He lived was not an ordinary life. His life had a major impact on the entire world. No other life can begin to compare to this One Solitary Life.
Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!
