IT IS CHRISTMAS – THE BIRTH OF
JESUS!
Matthew 1:18-25 NIV: “This
is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be
married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with
child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man
and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce
her quietly.
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But after he had
considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,
because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth
to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins." All this took place
to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel"-which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up,
he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his
wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave
him the name Jesus.”
Charles
Spurgeon's Daily Devotional commentary is also apt here:
"Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14
Let us to-day
go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi,
let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an
interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our
brother and friend; let us adore and admire.
Let us notice at the very first
glance His
miraculous conception. It was a
thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and
bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman,"
not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin
which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer
of Paradise.
Our Saviour,
although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us
reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its
ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory.
Fail not to
note His
humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a
virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True
the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one,
for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her
position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the
accommodation afforded to the new-born King!
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in
our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we
with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor”.
POSTSCRIPT
Do you know that Jesus is the reason
for the season? Do you know Him?
He came into the world and the world
has never been the same again.
I pray for you and I pray for myself:
On earth we will make impact, and we will make heaven @ last!
Merry Christmas and a prosperous new
year, everyone!
