by Jerry Senn
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:20).
Millions who profess Christ around the world choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus during this time of year — some on Dec 24, or 25 and others on January 7 — while many others choose not to celebrate at all. Whenever a Christian decides to celebrate, or if he elects not to celebrate his birth, we can all rejoice in that he came. By putting on humanity, the Son of God became one of us to deal with our sin problem by dying in our place, sacrificing himself to satisfy the wrath of God on our behalf.
The events connected with the birth of Jesus brought to fruition many Old Testament prophecies given centuries before the event itself took place.
The Old Testament was what we might call “history in advance.”
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which means, God with us (Matthew 1:23).
Matthew quoted a prophecy Isaiah made 700 years earlier.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was also predicted (Matthew 2:3).
“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Juday; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Micah 5:2; John 7:42).
In thinking about the circumstances around Christ’s birth, we should rejoice that the Messiah has come to earth and dealt with our sin problem. We can praise Him for in Jesus’ sinless life we can have complete confidence that he will be faithful to do what he had promised.
“But when the fullness of time has come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem [us] … so that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).
“Rejoice in the Lord, always.”
He has come & lives in our hearts today!!!