Christians all around the world open their Bibles to Luke chapter two this time of year. They do this to draw to remembrance the Birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s is an amazing account that proves who Jesus truly was. Showing through the fulfillment of ancient prophecy that He truly is the messiah described in the Old Testament. But I do not believe this is the only passage of scripture we should focus on as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.
Long before Luke two was pinned lived the Prophet Isaiah. Who actually wrote many of the prophecies that Jesus filled. But he also wrote of the very reason Jesus came to our world. Not to be celebrated, made king, or amass great wealth. Instead, He came into this world to bear our iniquities. To lead us with the gift of salvation the stretches through every generation.
Isaiah 53:1–12 (ESV)
53 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Long before Jesus was born, God knew the fate He would suffer. That everything described in that passage would come to be one day but still, He sent Him into this world. Because long before we knew Him, He already knew us and loved us. So while we were still lost sinners He made a way for us to be saved.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christmas is not just a day to be celebrated because God humbled himself and stepped into our world. But because through love, He started a chain of events that would result in the greatest gift that one could ever receive being offered to all people. That being the forgiveness of every sin and the promise of a much better life to come. In which we will get to meet the one who even knowing the perils He would face still stepped into this world out of a love for me and you.
Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV)
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 15:13 (ESV)
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
So this Christmas let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. While also remembering and celebrating the great gift that His life brought with it. Let’s also be sure to not get so caught up in everything going on this year along with the holidays that we forget to share the great gift of salvation God gave us with others. Not just giving gifts of this world but giving an introduction to a loving God who only wants to see the world he created saved.
From my family to yours I just want to take a moment to wish all those who read this a Merry Christmas. This day on the calendar exists so that you could receive forgiveness and a right relationship with God. I pray you will be blessed in it and find peace from this trying year. God Bless!
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