For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Isaiah 9:6-7
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulder, And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Matthew 1:18-24 (NLT)
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a]quietly.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.”22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,[c] which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
John 1:14 (NLT)
14 So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)
6 Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]
Luke 1:35 (NLT)
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
As this Christmas quickly approaches, I have been thinking of the impact that Jesus’s birth had on this world. I am convinced that we will never be able to fully comprehend, or imagine the majestic grandeur that Jesus lovingly chose to leave, to come and dwell among sinners. It is quite mind-blowing to think that Jesus, being divine royalty, left His Father’s side to come to this cruel earth to save a sinful dying world. He knew that He would be rejected and despised and yet He followed through with the plan anyway. He also knew that to some, His birth and His sacrifice on the cross would mean nothing. Oh, the love He must feel for us, and even for those that He knew would reject Him. Jesus is our only hope. Apart from His loving sacrifice, we would literally have no hope of an eternal life of joy with our heavenly Father.
This Christmas as you gather for Christmas parties and wonderful meals, remember to take a few minutes to thank God for the gift that He gave to the world, by sending His precious son.
In sending His son, He sent the perfect example of what having a servant’s heart looks like, and what love in action should look like, as well as the perfect example of obedience and long-suffering.
Jesus is so worthy to be praised! Yes, He was a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth. Yes, He put on flesh and came to earth in human form, but let’s not forget that He is also the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
He is holy. He is perfect. He is without sin and He is love. Take some time during this Holiday Season, and just let this soak in. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords stepped away from heaven, in all of its majestic splendor
to come to earth to save us from eternal separation from Him. He came offering love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Though human, He was certainly no ordinary baby, and thus His story continues to be told, because with His birth came to the hope of eternal life with Him. Truly He is our reason to celebrate! How could joy not flood our souls, when we stop and really think of the divine gift we were given. Be clear no gift that you will receive this season will surpass what you have already been given.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Luke 2:7 (NLT)
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
Luke 2:11-14 (NLT)
11 The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:20-21 (NLT)
20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Matthew 2:10-11 (NKJV)
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Luke 1:78-79 (AMP)
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us, 79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”
