Good morning and happy Christmas Eve day.
Our Christmas Eve service will be at 5:00 pm this evening and will feature special music from the choir, a message from God’s Word, communion, and candlelight. The message will be interpreted in Spanish. I hope that you can join us for this special evening of worship of Jesus. On Christmas morning, we will be having a family service at 11:00 am. It will also be interpreted in Spanish.
In the times in which we live, there are more and more people that don’t understand why Christians are so excited about a baby born 2,000 years ago. For many people Christmas has become a holiday to spend time with family and friends, to buy presents for one another, and to express warm sentiments to others. Ironically, Jesus often only receives honorable mention. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus sought to reveal His identity to the people He encountered. Some understood, most were confused, and the majority rejected Him. That is why the Gospel of John teaches that, “10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to bechildren of God, to those who believe in his name…” (John 1:10-12).
In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we read of the time surrounding the birth of Jesus. We learn about the prophecies surrounding His miraculous conception and birth, His life mission, and a myriad of words and phrases that are used to identify who Jesus truly is. From approximately nine months before His birth until He was around one and a half, possibly up to two years of age, here are some of those words and phrases that help reveal who He is to us:
Matthew 1 and 2:
Jesus Christ
Son of David
Son of Abraham
Jesus, who is called the Messiah (or Christ)
Named Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins
Called Immanuel, which means God with us.
King of the Jews
Messiah
Leader and shepherd of Israel
My Son – a reference to Him being the Son of God
Luke 1 and 2
Jesus
Great
Son of the Most High
King on the throne of David with an everlasting kingdom
The Holy One
The Son of God
Blessed
The Lord
The Dawn from on High
Savior
Messiah, Christ
Jesus – which means the Lord saves
Salvation
Light for revelation to the nations (Gentiles)
Glory to your people Israel
Redeemer
There are probably a few more that I missed. However, this gives an incredible list of descriptors that help us to understand that Jesus was the most unique person that was every born. He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He was the One that the world was supposed to be watching and waiting for. In fact, the announcement made by the angels to the shepherds on that night 2,000 years ago ended the 400 years of silence from the end of our Old Testament to the beginning of the New.
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly hostwith the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:8-20)
Obviously, we are not just celebrating the birth of a baby. We are celebrating the arrival of Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He came in fulfillment of Old testament pophecy, He lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again, and He will return one day. In the meantime, the mission He has given to those that would follow Him is to proclaim the Good News that salvation is available, forgiveness is possible, through Jesus.
Merry Christmas. Let’s continue to proclaim the news that a Savior has been born, He is Christ the Lord!
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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