We are coming to the time of year that many of our friends and family will be thinking about and talking about the birth of Jesus Christ. Being New Testament Christians, we are people of The Book. That being the case, we recognize there are no Biblical commands, examples, or necessary inferences, to celebrate a religious holiday regarding the birth of Christ. The Bible does not tell us the day Jesus was born and in fact His birth was likely in the springtime as there were shepherds out at night with their flocks, Luke 2:8. This should not diminish the fact that Jesus’s birth is the most important of all births. No other birth anywhere or in any way compares to His. Time itself revolves around the birth of Christ. Prior to his birth we have B.C., Before Christ. After his coming we have A.D., Anno Domini, which means “in the year of our Lord.” Our recording of every day, month, and year signifies how long it has been since the birth of Jesus Christ.
Yet, since people are already thinking about the birth of Jesus, we should take the opportunity to teach people about Jesus. Such as…
Jesus’ Birth Was Fulfillment Of Old Testament Prophecy. Isaiah 7:14 prophesied of Christ being born of a virgin. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The place of His birth was prophesied, Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” We read of these being fulfilled in Matthew 1 and 2 as well as Luke 1 and 2. These prophecies spoke of Jesus and He fulfilled them all. See Luke 24:44.
Jesus Is the Foundation of Salvation. John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” John 14:6. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said of Mary, “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. “His people” are those who obey Him through the Gospel, both Jews and Gentiles. See Acts 15:14; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 21:3. Brother Foy E. Wallace, in commenting on Revelation 21:3 said correctly, “Here the fundamental truth that the Father and the Son are one found its expression. The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of God are one kingdom (Eph. 5:5); the throne of God and the throne of Christ are one throne (Heb. 1:8); the church of God and the church of Christ are one church (Acts 20:28); and the great voice from the throne was the voice of God and the voice of Christ in one united sound.” Whether described as the people of God or the people of Christ, the terms are describing the same people.
Jesus will be the Judge of Mankind. Jesus is now reigning on His throne, 1 Corinthians 15:25 (see also Revelation 17:14). Jesus is currently our Advocate and our Mediator. However, when He returns at the end of time, Jesus will then be the Judge of mankind. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” See also Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 10:42, 17:31; Revelation 20:11-15.
There are those who wish to only focus on the child “wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger,” Luke 2:7. They neglect to consider Him who is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Revelation 5:5. It is to Him mankind owes obedience and faithfulness because He is the Christ, Savior, and Judge of mankind.
-Jerry D. Sturgill
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