As Christendom is preparing to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, it is important to remember that He came bringing the greatest gift of all: salvation to those who will receive Him in their hearts.
This is the way that the prophet Isaiah describes Jesus’ birth and ministry:
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” Isaiah 7:14
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:1-2.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6.
Isaiah also describes the Holy Spirit’s characteristics leading Him to fulfill His ministry, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:1-2.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.” Isaiah 61:1-2a.
If someone who didn’t know anything about Jesus would read the portions of Scriptures above, he might think that as Jesus healed the blind, the mute, the lepers, and resurrected Lazarus from the dead, the people witnessing such miracles praised Him, worshipped and adored Him. Well, no. Isaiah tells us, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
In spite of the rejection and abuse He suffered from those He came to save, Isaiah tells us, “Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed…He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:4-5, 7
On Christmas, we celebrate the One who created us, came to the world He made to reconcile us with God the Father at the cost of His own life and the One who, one day soon, will return as the King of kings and Lord of lords. On that day, every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess: “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
But, today, don’t be shy to greet people with a heartfelt, “Merry Christmas!”, because Jesus is the reason for the season!
Merry Christmas!
