Merry Christmas, precious Children of God.

In our current Bible Study, we are in the Gospel of John, in chapter 19. The first verse of that chapter begins, “Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head.  They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ And they slapped Him in the face.” (John 19:1-3)

Just 33 or so years before that, our Lord Jesus had been born into this world as the King of the Jews, the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer for us all.  His birth was miraculous as He was born of a virgin.  The Word says, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel.”  (Isaiah 7:14)  (Matthew 1-23) Immanuel means: “God is with us”.
Before He was born, the angel of the Lord appeared to His Mother Mary, and earthly father, Joseph, and told them the name of that one being born of the virgin was to be ‘Jesus’, which is the Greek form of Joshua, which means ‘the Lord saves’.  And this he does.
On the 25th of this month, we who believe will celebrate the birthday of that man we call Jesus.  Opinions vary as to the correct date He was born on, but for those who believe, there is no doubt as to the fact that He was born, and why.  He came to save us from the sin and death that had captured our being when Adam failed God, and mankind.  One man, Adam, failed.  One man, Jesus, had been born to save us, and bring us back to the loving presence of our Abba Father.
Mary and Joseph were en-route to Bethlehem about this time in her pregnancy. They had been required to register for the census, but it was actually fulfilling the prophecy as to where the Savior would be born. (Matthew 2:6) (Micah 5:2)  When they arrived, there was no more room at the Inn because of the number of people coming in.  So they were provided some space in a manger there, and this is where our Lord Jesus was born.  The Angel of the Lord came to some Shepherds in the field around them and said, “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.” (Luke 2:10-11)
We celebrate that life-changing event that did indeed change everything forever.  The Lord had come to live among us and be our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord.  He grew up without sin and began to display His miracles among men in His early thirties to show the world that His time had come to bring salvation to all who believe.  He taught that He and the Father are One, and that His job was to show the Love of the Father.  Many rejected Him, as is shown in the verse from John’s Gospel.  They slapped the face of God Almighty, but still He loved them.  Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” This was true – as it is today for so many.  They do not mean to slap our Lord in the face, but because they reject Him, they do.  Those who have found favor with our Lord, by believing in all that He is, and receive Him as Lord, have much to celebrate on the 25th.  He is the gift of gifts. He is Love.  Let us show that in every way to the world that He came to save. Merry Christmas.  He loves us So.
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