The Story of
Christmas
The joyous story of the birth of our
Lord, Jesus Christ, as told in Scripture, makes
up the content of this post. In the first century the Gospel
Writers, Matthew and Luke, recorded the Scripture. Yet, we must realize that beyond the joy of the Christmas
story lies the “Resurrection” – for the true beauty of Christmas, displayed in the joy of many traditional carols and poems, lies not only in His birth but also
in our faith that our Savior lives forever.
Prophecy of His Coming
Centuries before the first Christmas,
the prophets had foretold the coming of Jesus. Also, the angel
Gabriel announced His birth to the Virgin Mary. In these Scriptures is expressed confidence in the
fulfillment of God's promise of a Saviour.
Old Testament Prophecies
-
Isaiah 7:14, “Therefor the Lord
himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
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Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem...out of thee shall he come forth
unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting.”
-
Isaiah 9:2,6,7, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a
great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of
David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with
judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Annunciation to Mary
Luke 1:26-33,38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named
Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in
unto her, and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord
is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
And when she saw him, she was troubled...And the angel said unto her,
“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold,
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt
call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son
of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of
his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” And Mary said,
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy
word.” And the angel departed from her.
The
Birth of Jesus
There is no better known story referenced than that of the birth of
Jesus as told by Luke. Who has not been awed, like the shepherds, as
the angelic hosts sang the first Christmas carol, praising God for
the Prince of Peace? As we read the Scriptures we share the
shepherds' elation and wonderment; and in many carols
and poems we continue to express their joy at His birth.
The Saviour is Born
Luke 2:1-20
And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the
world should be taxed...And all
went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went
up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the
city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the
house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child. And so it was, that, while
they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no
room for them in the inn.”
The Announcement to the
Shepherds
And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And
the angel said unto them. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 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,
good will toward men.”
The Shepherds Sought the
Child
And it came to pass, as the angels were
gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
“Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” And they
came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a
manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it
wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But
Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The
Visit of the Wise Men
The majesty of
God, the miracle of His Son, is no where so provocative to our minds
as in Matthew's account of the Visit of the Wise Men. From afar
esteemed men, magi, embassadors followed a wondrous star, that they
might bow down in adoration and worship before the newborn King.
They sought to go before the “temple of the Lord” and give their
gifts to the King of the Nations. What is that temple? It is Christ
himself who became man. It is that same temple which if destroyed
Christ said he would raise again, see John 2:19,21. Who among us has
not longed to do likewise, and with carols and poems pay homage to
Christ's Crown and Kingship?
The
Story Of The Wise Men
Matthew
2:1-16, 19-23
Now when Jesus
was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his
star in the east, and are come to worship him.” When Herod the
king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is
written by the prophet. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art
not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a
Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” Then Herod, when he
had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what
time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go
and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found
him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
When they had
heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in
the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the
young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding
great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young
child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and
when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own
country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel
of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, and
take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou
there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to
destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young child and his mother
by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of
Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet, saying. Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when
he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and
sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in
all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to
the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. But when
Herod was dead, behold, an angle of the Lord appeareth in a dream to
Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, and take the young child and his
mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which
sought the young child's life.” And he arose, and took the young
child and his mother, and came into the land Israel. But when he
heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go thither...And he came and dwelt in a city
called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
A
Christmas Prayer
Our Father, have
mercy and by thy grace guide us into a deeper understanding of His
love for us. May He strengthen our faith for the years to come. May
our lives proclaim to all the “Glad tiding of great joy”; and may
we ever look to Thee for comfort and strength. We do pray in the name of the only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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