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he first Christmas night was dark, lonely, and
strange. It was not anything like other nights.
There was no Santa Claus, church choirs, bright
colored lights, hot apple cider, festive meals,
mincemeat pie, or raspberry chocolate candy.
The night was not laced with wonderful hopes
and expectations about presents under
tree, or stories about little elves at the
North Pole. The city was simply occupied with
travelers, and the citizens of the town.
The shops were closed and the day had come to
an end. There was no Christmas music in the background
or happy faces around the fire. The night was
just like any other night with hugs and kisses
and expressions of love as little ones went to
bed. Yet, the night was lonely and strange for
one very young couple.
The couple had just arrived in town
and their expectations were high. She was probably
nervous and already in pain because she was ready
to give birth to a baby. The inn keeper in Bethlehem
had done his best to give them a place to stay.
He let them stay with the animals. Christmas
was not about the mother, the mother's new husband,
nor the manger in which the baby lay. Christmas
was not about hopes for the future, or peace
in the world. It was only about the baby. Christmas
was only about the King who lay in that manager.
It was not about the shepherds in the field,
or the kings
who would come two years later. Christmas
was not about the star which would one day move
ahead of the kings to lead them to the baby.
No! Christmas was about only one thing - a baby
- a divine king - a baby named Jesus. The baby
was God in human form. He was born of a young
virgin, Mary, according to Isaiah 7:14. According
to Matthew 1:22-23, she did not have sex with
her husband until after Jesus was born. Christmas
was about a supernatural event - God becoming
a human through a virgin. Both were strange and
unusual events. Christmas is about a supernatural
being - God in human flesh - the baby Jesus.
Today, Christmas is still about that baby - nothing
more!
Gift To The World. The
prophet Isaiah predicted the following almost
650 years before Jesus was born,
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. (NASB) Is. 9:6-7 Isaiah predicted that a baby would be born as
a gift to the world. This is unusual wording
for the Old Testament. In other passages babies
are "begotten" - not given. That is,
babies are the product of husbands and wives
coming together, but not this baby. Isaiah tells
us that this baby will be "given" and
not "made." He would not be conceived
in the normal way. The gospel of Luke records
these wonderful words,
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." (NASB) Luke 1:30-33 |
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| The Christmas Gift | |||||
