Christmas is a season to Sing carols / give Cakes / Gifts to Family & Friends, Christmas tree lighting / Santa and many more. We miss the main reason for the Season. The reason for the season is Jesus.
When you read the Gospel of Matthew / Mark / Luke, it records the pre-events of Birth of Jesus and post events. I choose to give below what was recorded in Luke 2:1-21 'In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. '
There are many things for us to learn on Christmas on Jesus
Place that was chosen for Jesus birth
Luke 2:1-4 'In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. '
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, it was not a accident as it was predicted years before it came to pass Micah 5:2 '“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” '
Jesus was born where the Bible says He would be, the events surrounding his arrival there are amazing. Luke 2:4 tells us that Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. This city is some 70 miles north of Bethlehem.
For the Messiah to be born in the right location, a series of events worked together to fulfill the prophesy done earlier. A pagan emperor name Caesar Augustus living thousands of miles away issues a decree that all his subjects be registered and taxed. This order for a census is sent out far and wide. Remember the world of Caesar was not like the present 2020 world, All the old communications have to go thru Roman soldiers proclaiming the message. The call is issued in Israel reached Nazareth to make Joseph / Mary returning to their ancestral of his family, Bethlehem.
Learning for us
At a outset you see it may not mean much, but it does teach us that Caesar may have been ruling, but God was overruling! God, in his providence, worked out all the details necessary so that Jesus might be born where the prophets said that He would be!
If he can do that, then surely He can take care of our little needs!, Step back and realize the magnificence of our God Almighty, how powerful he is and how much he can influence things
So lets learn to trust God if he can do this, remove the unfaith in you to trust him, if he can do this, can he not do the small things in our lives ?
How the place was chosen
Luke 2:7 'and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. '
We know that Jesus was born in a manger - A manger or trough is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals.
Have you ever wondered why God choose a Manger as a place for him to bring his only Son Jesus ?, You and I cannot even begin to comprehend the enormity of the truth contained here.
Jesus said Matthew 8:20 'Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” ', Jesus could have chosen a better place or palace to be born, but his action to choose a place was to demonstrate this work “but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Second possible answer to why this place of Manger was chosen, was because of the love for us, he choose to ignore the luxuries of man and choose to humble himself 2 Corinthians 8:9'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. '
Learning for us
If Jesus has humbled with all the power and might he had, lets ask a question why are we living a proud and boastful life, Examine your self on the areas where you are proud
Lets humble ourselves so that he is greater and we become less. John 3: 30 ‘He must become greater; I must become less.
Pray for the same love to flow in your hearts that way the christ like behaviours will come in us, because of the cross we have given the assurance the spirit who lives in us will have the same power that raised Jesus from cross. Romans 8:11 'And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. '
Good news was proclaimed to Shepherd's first
Luke 2:8-12 ‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” '
Shepherds - These were men who were responsible for watching over flocks of sheep.
The work was dirty and hard. It required the men to be away from home for long periods of time as they searched for places to graze their flocks.
They were often crude, unpleasant men, known for their sinful lives and evil ways.
Shepherds were often considered ceremonially unclean because of the duties their occupation required of them. Also their work prevented them from regular attendance at the Temple where they could be cleansed. As a result, these men were considered the lowest of the low.
It was for these men angel of the Lord proclaimed the Good news Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people
Kings & Magi - While the message was proclaimed to Shepherd the Signs of the Birth was also given to Magi, no angle appeared to them to proclaim the Good news like how it was done to shepherds Matthew 2:1-2 'After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” '
As soon as the Shepherds heard the Good news the Savior’s birth, they leave their sheep on the hillsides and run into the town of Bethlehem to find the Lord Jesus. When they arrive, they find everything to be just as the angels had said. What a picture of grace!, They obeyed what was told by the Angel
As soon as the Shepherds realised the magnitude of the things they have experienced, they begin to share the news with whom they met. They told to everyone about the Baby in the manger Who is Christ the Lord. The people who head from them were astonished to hear shepherds talking about such spiritual matters
Learning for us
Jesus came to this world to redeem sinners 1 Timothy 1:15 'Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. '
People may look down on you / me in disgust because of who we are or because of what we have done in our past life. But, there is a God in Heaven Who loves you in spite of everything that we have done, thats the love of God for us. No matter what sin we have committed or how bad we are ,still he loves us, he is just waiting for us to return to him, so that he can wash us with his blood and take us to his kingdom and give a life of eternity
Like the shepherds, if the calling is there for you, obey for he is faithful in his promise. he will not turn us away John 6:37 'All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. '
Shepherds shared the joy to all, this came from their experiences like how David described Psalms 119:103 'How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ', this comes only if you experience the grace from Jesus.
One of the blessings of the Gospel of grace is that it is too good to keep quiet about. As soon as you experience its power, you want others to experience it also. In fact, those who know the good news of salvation through Jesus are under divine obligation to share that good news with everyone they meet as they pass through life
Mark 16:15 - ' He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. '
Acts 1:8 - 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” '
So the reason for the season is CHRIST, let the name of Jesus be proclaimed thru your actions, how you talk what you do, every action reflect what Christ has done when he was here in the world.
Let’s not get carried away with the Christmas tree / carols / gifts to miss the real reason for the season which is “CHRIST”.
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