Luke 2.8-11
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Christmas is the celebration of a birthday … the most important birthday in the history of the world. And with the birth of Jesus on that first Christmas, the world changed.
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to reveal to us the truth about God and his kingdom. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to rescue us. He was born to redeem us from sin and death. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6.23). “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to reconcile us to God. “… in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” (2 Corinthians 5.19).
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to restore the image of God in us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to deliver us from Satan’s kingdom and transfer us to God’s kingdom: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13)
The message of Christmas is that Jesus was born to restore God’s purpose in us and through us. We are restored to the purpose for which God created us: agents of his kingdom. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation … Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20)
May the truth and blessing of Jesus fill your heart and direct every dimension of your life. Merry Christmas!
