Christmas Story

Long ago, in ancient Israel, people lived in hope for their Messiah - the One who would come and rescue them from their sins, something they could not do for themselves. Until that Savior came, they had to make sacrifices to the Lord God to atone for their sins. Prophets like Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord concerning the Messiah. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 9 verse 6, it says:

“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.”

Several chapters later, Isaiah goes on to recount:

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors"

The prophet Micah spoke of where the Messiah would be born:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”

Thus, the people knew what their Savior would be like, where he would be born, and what would happen in His lifetime.

More than six hundred years after these prophecies, a young woman named Mary was visited by an angel, who told her that she was going to have a baby who would “be called the Son of the Most High”. Mary wondered how this would happen, since she was a virgin. The angel told her “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” And Mary replied “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”
Well, Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph. Joseph, when he heard about Mary’s pregnancy, thought about divorcing “her quietly”, because it was shameful for Mary to be pregnant outside of marriage. But an angel also visited Joseph and told him to take Mary as his wife, not to be afraid, because “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” And Joseph obeyed. He took Mary as his wife, but “had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.”

Here is the story of the birth of this child as told by Luke.

"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] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
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.
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.
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. "

So it was begun, the fulfillment of so many prophecies. And all the prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled. He lived for 33 years, the last three of which, He spent teaching and healing. Then He was falsely accused and, after enduring slander, flogging, and malice, was crucified. And he did it out of love, to save the world from their sins. Even from the cross, as He was dying, he asked God His Father to forgive those hurting Him, “for they know not what they do.” He was buried, but in three days was raised from the dead, and he still lives, in heaven with the Father. The Israelites were free from having to present sacrifices to atone for their sin. And through him we, also, have redemption from sin today.

Let’s remember, throughout the rest of the Christmas time, why we celebrate this holiday. And while celebrating and opening gifts, may our minds be on our Saviour and His matchless gift for us, the gift of salvation.