In the beginning
What are you going to tell your children and grandchildren this year about Christmas? Might it just be about presents, the Christmas tree, good food, fun, and a little bit of church? What is the ‘back story’? I’m going to share some significant points that I believe are pertinent. I’ll let you fill in those many points that I leave out.
Out of a deep love, God spent six days of hard work creating the universe, with the most significant part being the human race, you and me. The first parents were tempted and fell into sin, thus bringing a broken relationship between us and God. Right then was when the first Christmas was planned by God. But several thousands of years would pass before it actually happened. The world fell into total sinfulness, and God called a man of faith to build a mighty boat which took over 100 years. Noah and his family were saved.
As the population grew across the known world, God chose to call a man and made three promises to him. Abraham, because he believed God, would receive land, a nation and a blessing. (Gen. 12.1-3) Through Abraham all nations on earth would be blessed. The blessing of Abraham (his seed) finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. But there is more. The promise of a great nation came at an older age when Sarah and he became parents of Isaac. It was the beginning of Israel, God’s chosen people. But they fell into pagan worship and turned from God.
Then God called another man. Moses was chosen to lead God’s people out of bondage in Egypt. God parted the Red Sea, gave the Ten Commandments, fed them for 40 years in the wilderness, and then Joshua, Moses’ disciple, was chosen to lead the people into the land which had been promised. The Jordan river was parted, pagan nations were vanquished and the next generation moved into what would become Israel, the Holy Land, and in it was Nazareth and Bethlehem, both very significant relative to Christmas.
The foretelling
Not so fast. The Lord sent many prophets foretelling of Christmas and many other things. One was significant. Isaiah answered the call and prophesied about a child being born of a virgin. (Isa. 7.14 & 9.2-7) The people eventually wanted a human king like other nations. They chose Saul, but God chose a young teenager named David. He slew a giant, sinned greatly, repented, and God established a kingship lineage from which the person born on Christmas would descend. “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom…”
Time passes and several hundred years later an angel appeared to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary. Of course, she was frightened but the angel calmed her and told her that she was going to be blessed among women. Simultaneously, the angel spoke to her betrothed, Joseph, to assure him that this was not from man but from the Holy Spirit. Instead of putting her away, he believed and stood strong. And because God controls all events, present and historic, as well as future, he timed it such that Joseph had to go up and be counted in a census since he was of the lineage of David into Bethlehem. As was prophesied, it came time for her to give birth and they could find no place suitable, so they were placed in an animal stall.
Promises fulfilled
God produced a significant star, spoke to shepherds at night, provided an angelic host singing glory to God and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. Wise men were enlightened and came later. The Baby was born, thus Christmas!!!
It didn’t just happen; it started in the garden of Eden and transcended thousands of years, just as God foretold and brought about. If God would go to this much trouble, how very significant Christmas must be. Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, came into our world to save us. Hallelujah. We’ll deal with Jerusalem and the end of his human life at Easter. Stay tuned. Praise be to our God! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Click here to listen to Joy to the World by For King & Country!
