King James Daily Bible Study Devotional-Special
Message Title: Merry Christmas
Date: Saturday December 24, 2011
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version, words in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

Merry Christ-mas! I pray that the holiday season has been joyous for you. I always get a little sad around the Christmas season, especially as it gets closer to Christmas day. Oh, I love Christmas, but I am not sure if it is all the commercialism, the atheism, or the hustle and bustle, that saddens me, maybe it's a combination of them.

The last few weeks I began to perk up a bit as my pastor decided to use the kids from my Sunday school class as well as other elementary aged kids in the annual Christmas program. For the past two weeks we had what I called “Upside down Sunday” the kids had Sunday school class during the church hour so they could practice for the program. Of course, we have been teaching about the Birth of Christ, I was amazed and quite taken by how much the kids were learning and remembering. The lessons actually taught me something as well, while Christmas is a time to rejoice of the Savior's birth it is also a time to observe why He came to earth. Speaking of why He came to earth, the question was asked, “What does Christmas mean to you?

Here are some responses given:
“For me, Christmas is a time of family...and I love it. We all lead such busy lives and this is one time of the year where we can all relax and be together.”

“For me, christmas is all about love, family and children. It doesn't even really matter what we eat or what presents we get, as long as I can spend the holiday with my loved ones, I am happy happy happy.”

“Christmas is the one time of year when even if you're mad at a relative, or they're mad at you, it's hidden, and everyone's all loving and stuff. And seeing the looks on the little ones faces when they run downstair (at least one tripping and hurting herself!) to see all the beautifully wrapped presents. And, of course, fighting over who gets to read the note from Santa! Every Christmas eve we all get together at my aunt's house, and spend the night. we read christmas books outloud, we open one present each, and we go to bed hours earlier then usual! It's the best!”

“Christmas does have a kind of magical feeling about it. But I think it would be a shame if we didn't take time to reflect on the true meaning. Jesus came to earth as a baby for our sakes. He left His heavenly home - a perfect place - and came to earth so that we would have a chance at salvation. Let's not get lost in all the gift buying and family time. They're great, but let's remember to thank Him for the reason we are celebrating.”

There were dozens of responses and I agree Christmas is a wonderful time for family, traditions, reconciliation, giving and receiving gifts, and of course, feasts, but these are not the purpose for Christmas. The hustle and bustle of the season can even take the strongest Christian away from the true meaning of Christ-mas. Jesus was born to die for us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He 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.” - John 3:16-18.

Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?

It was LOVE! It was necessary, if you were to be saved from condemnation! To explain this a little further, we need to look back over 700 years before His birth, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14. Immanuel, also spelled Emmanuel, is interpreted as “God with us”, that virgin would be Mary and she would be conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” - Matthew 1:18-25.

Incidentally, many people have the assumption that Mary was sinless and that is why she was chosen to bare Jesus. This is incorrect, she was born a sinner just like everyone else (except Jesus) because she was conceived by normal conception. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” - Luke 1:26-31. Mary, had God's favor, she was not sinless, she was a servant of God and she believed. It was important that Jesus not be conceived through normal conception, otherwise He would have been born with the sin nature everyone else is born into. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” -Psalm 51:5.

Here is something I found interesting that I taught my Sunday school class, Emmanuel means “God with us” and Jesus' name means, “Savior” So, God came to us in the form of a man, through His Son, Jesus who is our Savior. God loves us so much that He came down here in the flesh and give His life to give us life. Even when Christ was born, they knew He was born to die for them, when the wise men brought gifts, they brought gifts representing His birth, death, and burial. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” - Matthew 2:11. The gold was given as it is the purest form of dust on the earth, representing His virgin birth, the frankincense, an oil poured on the sacrifice to be offered to God, represented His sinless sacrifice, and the myrrh, which was a spice used to preserve a body during it's burial, represented His death.

Jesus did not just begin His life that day, He already existed, He is God in the flesh “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1-3,14.

God showed His love for us through the death His Son, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8. He also showed He love for us by resurrecting three days later and given eternal life to all who believe in Him. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” -Romans 10:9,10. Praise God for Jesus, our Savior!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, I pray that 2012 is a wonderfully, blessed, and prosperous year. God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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