The Birth of Jesus Christ

From the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2

 

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 

2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 

3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  

6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 

7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  

9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  

10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 

18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  

19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  

27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,  

28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation 31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 

34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

"And a sword will pierce through your own soul also."

Even within the birth story of Jesus the Babe, there is already the reminder that He came to earth to die for us, to be the only acceptable Sacrifice for our sins.

Celebrate the birth of Christ today, but more importantly, celebrate the reason for His birth. Jesus was born to lead a sinless life on a sin-filled planet, so that He could serve as the bearer of OUR sins when the punishment came, as it did when God had the Pharisees present Him to the Romans for scourging and crucifixion.  Nothing else was as important as that detail; never forget it. Without that impossibly amazing sacrifice on your behalf - yours AND mine! - we are doomed to an eternity in a timeless Hell. With our acceptance of His sacrifice on our behalf, we are allowed into Heaven. 

I don't care if you think it unfair, or a fairy story, or whatever else. There will come a time very soon - within the decade for every one of us, believe it or don't - that you WILL come to understand that Jesus Christ Is Lord. I'm praying it's soon. 

Have a wonderful Christmas!