Do we really know the depth of the meaning of Christmas? For many, it’s the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, but that birth was just the beginning of a massive plan prepared by God the Father before the foundation of the world. (1 Peter 1;19-20). Yes, God had a plan from the beginning to deliver man from sin and all of sin’s cousins. Then down through the centuries, from the day of Adam and Eve, God continually spoke to His prophets, telling them that a Messiah was coming, and to advise all of God’s people to look for Him.
And, finally, Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” So Christmas is really just the beginning of the culmination of the master plan of God begun before He even created us.
Actually, 337 times in the Old Testament, He foretold of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, and here is just a short sample of what He told His covenant people to look for:
1 – He who is to come will be a prophet like Moses. Deuteronomy 18: 15,18
2 – He will be the Son of God. Psalm 2:7
3 – He will be of the tribe of Judah (A Jew) Genesis 49:10
4 – He will be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14
5 – He will be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
6 – He will be rejected, despised and forsaken. Isaiah 53:3
7 – He would be silent. Isaiah 53:7
8 – He would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9
9 – He would be tried and condemned. Isaiah 53:8
10 – He would be crucified with his hands and feet pierced. Psalm 22:16,18
11 – He will be our sacrifice. Isaiah 53:5-6
12 – He will be raised from the dead. Psalm 16:10
Why did He speak all of these words and over two hundred more to His people? Because He cared for them. He did not create man to be lost and separated from Him. Here is a glaring example of the goodness and love of God.
He wanted to redeem fallen man. And for Jesus to be the Word made flesh, that Word had to be spoken by the prophets into this world. As God spoke through these prophets, He was giving people hope so that they would have something wonderful to look forward to. What was to come was no more animal sacrifices, no more living in doubt and fear.
The Messiah Jesus would be the once and for all sacrifice for the whole world.
Christmas is more important than all of the outside glimmer we are used to. Christmas is the culmination of all that God said about the Savior to come. We celebrate with glimmer and lights – nothing wrong with that. But we also celebrate Christmas because we recognize that Jesus actually “came down” for us.
He “came down” so that one day we might “go up”.
He “came down” to a lowly stable so we can one day have a mansion.
Simple shepherds welcomed Him to earth, so that one day angels will welcome us into His presence.
He “came down” to put the devil completely out of business.
God has not changed. He wants us to reap and enjoy the benefit of Christmas, and to rejoice in our Savior who came to deliver us from sin, sickness, and everything the devil tries to throw at us.
Because of Christmas, we are overcomers. KAVOD! GLORY!
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A Walk In The Word 