Christmas 2011 Part Two: December 23, 2011

CHRISTMAS 2011
PART TWO

DEFINITION:

The celebration of the birth of Jesus.

SCRIPTURE:

And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the Inn. Luke 2:7.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

As we prepare our hearts for tomorrow (Christmas Eve) and Sunday (Christmas) we want to share with you several of the most unusual events involved in the coming into this world by Jesus Christ the Messiah (Shiloh).

We talked yesterday about the miraculous timing of the taxation in the land. Another significant circumstance was the location that God chose for our Saviors place of birth. He was born in a smelly stable. He was laid in a manger which is a feeding trough for animals. This is certainly not the kind of place that anyone, even in their wildest imagination, would expect to be the place of birth for the Christ-child, the promised Messiah, and the very Son of God. His birth is covered in the scriptures in one simple verse but there is so much that could be said about the humble circumstances of His birth and birth place.

He was neglected and turned away by men from the very beginning of His life. There was no room for them in the inn but if someone had cared, room could have been made for Mary and Joseph. Jesus was born in poverty. If Mary and Joseph had the money they could have bought a room for the night, but they were too poor.

Jesus was born in obscurity and loneliness. The birth took place away from people, all alone. Note that the scripture says that Mary wrapped the Babe in swaddling clothes. No one was near her to help. There was no hospital, no doctor, no family or friends. They were under the stars of heaven in a smelly stable, really the lowest imaginable place someone could be born.

Another unusual event was the appearance of an angel to the shepherds. In the eyes of many an angel would never appear to a shepherd. Shepherds would seldom be seen or heard praising and worshipping God. Their reputation was lowly at best and religious people snubbed them and ignored them. They were despised because they were unable to attend services and keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing. Their flocks demanded all their time and they were just too busy. Yet God gave His first message of the birth of the Messiah to the common shepherds, those looked upon as sinners.

And then there were the Angels. What a spectacular event it must have been to see THE HEAVENLY HOST --- ten thousand times ten thousand --- singing GLORY TO GOD! The angels did two things. They sang for Glory to be lifted to God and they cried out for peace and good will toward all men. The alienation and separation, restlessness and fear, struggles and divisiveness caused by sin needed to be solved. And the Angels were singing that now there was true hope for peace and joy in the world. The MESSIAH, THE PRINCE OF PEACE HAS COME!!

It is our prayer that this Christmas 2011 will be a most blessed Christmas for you and yours. Make Christmas special in your home by worshiping the Messiah that God sent to this world to pay the penalty of our sins. We are excited because we are looking toward that day when we will meet Him in the air and spend all eternity with Him. Make sure you are prepared to join us.

LEARNING:

Memorize these verses today if you have not already:

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, goodwill toward men.”

PRAYER:

Help me to recognize that the unique events concerning the birth of Jesus were part of God’s divine plan to bring mercy and forgiveness to sinners like me so that I may know Jesus as my personal Savior. May this Christmas have a special blessed meaning for me and my family.