Christmas

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: )  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:1-14

This might be the day after Christmas, but let us live in the light of the Christmas story all year long.  Let us always remember and be thankful for our Saviour!

Christmas From Matthew, Pt. 1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Matthew 1:1-5

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

Usually, around Christmas, I do a series of posts from the Christmas story in Luke.  This year, I thought we would look at the same story from the book of Matthew.

The book of Matthew and the entire New Testament begins with the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We would expect this line of Jesus Christ to contain the greatest men in history.  We would expect to find kings, warriors, and wise men in this line of the King.  There are some great men in this line, but it is important to see who else made it into the line of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have Thamar, with whom Judah (her father in law) committed incest.  We have Rachab (also known as Rahab “the harlot”).  We have David, the adulterer and murderer.  The list goes on and on.  We find liars, cheaters, harlots, adulterers, murderers, etc.  How did these people get into the line of the King?

I think that the answer in found in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  The people in His genealogy are just that – people.  They are people just like you and I are people.  They are sinners in need of a Saviour.  Just like we are sinners in need of a Saviour.  And that is what He came to do – to be our Saviour!

 

Christmas, Pt. 12

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every on into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: )  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and there were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:1-14

Merry Christmas to all who read this blog!  Have a wonderful day and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for all He has done for us.

Christmas, Pt. 11

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

On this Christmas Eve, we have come to the end of this passage.  The angel has given this glorious message to the shepherds, and they have received it.  It was the good tidings of great joy that unto them was born this day a Saviour.  And, just so that there was no confusion, the angel told them exactly who that Saviour was: “Which is Christ the Lord.”

The only reason for the shepherds to “Fear not” was Christ the Lord.  The only reason for the good tidings of great joy to all people was Christ the Lord.  The only reason for these shepherds to have a Saviour was Christ the Lord.  The only reason for the “peace on earth, good will toward men” was the Christ the Lord.

The “gods” of the Egyptians and Babylonians didn’t do those things.  The “gods” of the Hindus and Buddhists didn’t do those things.  Mohammed didn’t do those things.  The “gods” of the tribal peoples around the world didn’t do those things.  Christ the Lord did them and brought them to us.

Christmas is a celebration of Christ the Lord.  It is all about Him and what He has done for us.  We can look back and see His mercy and grace toward us and it gives us something to celebrate.  We should be thankful all the time for Christ the Lord, but Christmas is the time when we are especially mindful of it.  “A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Christmas, Pt. 10

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

We are nearing Christmas Day, and today we will look at what might be the most important part of these verses.  It is the simple phrase “…a Saviour.”  That is what Christmas is all about.  Without a Saviour, we would not be celebrating Christmas.  Without a Saviour, we would have nothing at all to celebrate.

The announcement to the shepherds  was one of “good tidings of great joy” because “unto you is born this day… a Saviour.”  Yes, it was a baby being born: just a small baby.  But that baby was the Son of God.  That baby would grow up to live a sinless life and would ultimately go to the cross to die for our sins.  That baby was the Saviour.  I Timothy 4:10 tell us that “we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

He would heal many people of many diseases.  He would raise people from the dead.  He would comfort those that were hurting.  But His main ministry was that of a Saviour.  When He healed people of a physical problem, He also healed them of their spiritual problem.  He truly did come to “seek and to save that which was lost.”  This Christmas, let us heed the advice of II Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.”  Amen to that.

Christmas, Pt. 9

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

Among the wonderful things that the angel told the shepherds in these verses, we find the angel telling them exactly where the child would be born: “…in the city of David.”  This had been prophesied many, many years before in Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

There are many things that we can now look back on as being fulfillments of ancient prophesies.  It’s easy to look back and see how these things happened, but I’m sure that it was a little different at the time.  I’m sure none of the people living back then (unless they had studied the prophecy) thought that the Saviour of the world would come to as insignificant a place as Bethelehem.  But that is where Jesus decided He would come to be born.  He put it down in the Bible for anyone to see, but, sadly, probably few did see it or pay attention to it.  It is the same with us today.  He has told us everything we need to know in the Bible, but so few people pay attention to it.

Let us draw even closer to Him and give even more attention to His Word this Christmas!

Christmas, Pt. 8

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

Today, as we continue through these two verses, we come to the little phrase “this day.”  The angel had come to the shepherds to give them the “good tidings of great joy” that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour.”  The good news that the angel brought was very specific good news.  It was not just a general announcement of hope and happiness.  It was not a “someday” type of prophecy.  It was specific.  It was happening “this day.”

Our lives are lived one day at a time.  All we have is “this day.”  Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.  But we have today.  II Corinthians 6:2 tells us “behold, now is the day of salvation.”  Many people try to avoid making a decision for the Lord by saying “maybe tomorrow.”  But this is the day of salvation.

Jesus didn’t come “someday.”  As the angel told the shepherds, He came “this day.”  We need to live each and every day as “this day.”

“This day.”  There were many verses and passages in the Old Testament that had foretold His coming.  The Jews had been looking for their Messiah for hundreds of years.  But “this day” had come.  This was the day that the Saviour was to be born.  Specifically, “this day.”

Christmas, Pt. 7

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

In going through these two little verses, we have seen some great truths about Christmas and about the coming of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, to Earth.  Today, we will look at two simple words from verse 11: “is born.”  It’s what celebrating Christmas is all about.  The birth of Jesus Christ is the only reason that we have for celebrating this whole Christmas season.  We are celebrating the birth of the Saviour.

But let us stop for a minute and think about what that statement means.  This God-man, Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe, was born.  He was born as a man.  He did not just appear.  He did not just “manifest Himself.”  He was born into the human race.  That thought never ceases to amaze me: God Himself would humble Himself and be born as a baby.  But His birth was important, and our birth is important.  Our physical birth gives us life, but He is involved in our spiritual birth.

This baby that was born on that night would, later in His life, tell Nicodemus “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  Jesus humbled Himself to be born.  We must humble ourselves to accept this new birth that the Saviour offers.

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born.  Jesus was born that we might be born again.  What a wonderful Saviour!

Christmas, Pt. 6

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

Yesterday, we looked at the fact that these “good tidings of great joy” would be “to all people.”  The Saviour that had come that night would extend His offer of salvation to “all people.”  But the passage doesn’t stop there.

While He was bringing good tidings of great joy to all people, He was not going to be some impersonal “force.”  His offer of salvation was not just to all men generally, but to all men specifically.  Verse 11 begins by saying, “For unto you is born this day…”  This was going to be a personal Saviour.  This Saviour was coming and these good tidings of great joy were going to be to you.

Yes, this Saviour is coming to all people.  But, more specifically, this Saviour is coming to you.  These shepherds weren’t rich, powerful or important.  But they were people to whom this Saviour would come.  Think of what must have gone through their minds.  Of all men, they were probably the least worthy of this Saviour.  But He was coming, and He was coming to and for them as individuals.

This Christmas season, we can and should be thankful that our Saviour is a personal Saviour.  He came for me as an individual and He came for you as an individual.  “Unto you is born this day… a Saviour.”

Christmas, Pt. 5

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

As we once again enter the Christmas season, I would like to spend the next several days looking at these two verses, which I believe give us the best summary in the entire Bible of just what Christmas is all about.

Today, we will look at the last phrase of verse 10: “…which shall be to all people.”  These “good tidings of great joy” would be to all people.  This Saviour wasn’t coming for just a few people.  He wasn’t coming just for the rich or powerful.  He wasn’t coming just for men or just for women.  He wasn’t coming just for the Jews.  He was coming to “all people.”

II Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  Titus 2:11 says “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”

Jesus came to all men.  This joy and salvation shown to the shepherds would be offered to “all people.”  Jesus is the “way, the truth and the life.”  He is the only way.  But He is the way for all mankind.  He is the way for any man who would turn to Him and accept Him.  There was a certain universal aspect of His coming.  He came to die for the sins of all mankind.  These “good tidings of great joy” truly were “to all people.”  What a wonderful message from a wonderful Saviour!