It was impossible! An old woman, long barren, now pregnant? (Lk. 1:7,18) A virgin conceiving a child? (Mt. 1:18-23) A woman from Nazareth nine months pregnant traveling on a donkey to give birth to her baby in Bethlehem, 85 miles away (a five-day journey at best)?
And yet, all of those things happened…and more. There were many prophesies of the Messiah that were absolutely impossible—opposites, and yet every one was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It was just like the angel told Mary: “With God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
Was all Israel eagerly awaiting the coming of their King? God had told them enough about Him that they could know approximately when He would be there, where He would be born, why He would come, what His work would be, and so much more.
Were they all preparing their hearts for His coming? Quite the opposite! The birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Israel, found them all sleeping, not only physically but spiritually as well. The hearts of the leaders were so hard and full of pride that the birth announcement was not even given to them, it was presented to some humble shepherds on a hillside who believed. The star in the sky was ignored by Israel, but some wise men from the East believed and went through great pains, traveling great distances, to follow that star to where the Christ-child was.
Who was this miracle child that woke a sleeping world? “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Why did He come? “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Sin? What is sin? Why is it a problem? Sin is the violation of God’s holy law. Sin separates us from God and makes us His enemies. Sin -- no matter how "small" or "unimportant" -- destroys a person from the inside out. “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) He came as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
The Mighty God came as a servant to obey the Father in all things. “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7,8)
He came as a humble peasant. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)
What was His message? Did He commend the religious for their zeal? (John 3:1-3) Did He overlook the shortcomings of the sincere? (Mark 10:17-27) Did He condone the weakness of the lame and diseased? (Luke 13:16) What was His message to each who came to Him? “Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17) “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
He came as a sacrifice: to pay the punishment for our sin. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:14-21)
How was He received? “He hath no form nor comeliness (attractiveness); 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.” (Isaiah 53:2,3) “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own (the Jews), and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:10-12)
What about you? Do you believe His authority? Do you believe His message? Do you believe yourself a sinner in need of a Saviour? Do you believe that He and only He can help you? "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
As we remember Christ's birth this year, will you accept the Gift that He freely offers you? Will you come to Him to be relieved and cleansed of your sins...a new creature in Christ?
Will you believe?