Matthew 1:23-“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
If Christ had not come, the world would still be in darkness.
If Christ had not come, we would not know what love is.
If Christ had not come, there would be no good news to tell.
If Christ had not come, there would be no hope beyond the grave.
If Christ had not come, there would be no hope for the world.
Because He Did Come!
He descended down here that we might ascend up there
John 6:38-For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me
John 14:3-And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
He became poor that we might become rich
2 Cor 8:9-For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
James 2:5-Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
He was born that we might be born again
John 1:14-And the Word became 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 3:3-Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:7-Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
He became a servant that we might become sons
Philippians 2:7-but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Gal. 4:6-7-And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
He left His home that we might have a home in heaven
Matt. 8:20-And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
John 14:2-3-In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also
He was hungry that we might be fed
Matt. 4:2-And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
John 6:48-51-I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
He was thirsty that we might drink of the Living Water
John 19:26-After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
John 4:13-Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
He was stripped that we might be clothed in righteousness.
Matt. 27:28-And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
Matt. 27:31-And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
Matt. 27:35-Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”
Galatians 3:27-For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
He was forsaken, that we might not be forsaken
Matt 27:46-And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Deuteronomy 31:8-And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Matt. 28:20-teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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It seems like when Christmas time starts to get close, bad things seem to happen in our lives.
Things like sickness, loss of a job, a death in the family.
I know that this time of the year many have to deal with loneliness because of the
loss of a spouse, a parent, or a child.
I think I know why so many problems came right at the holiday season….Because Satan hates Christmas and he will do anything to take our focus off of the birth of Christ.
When we start to look at the baby Jesus, we began to remember the reason He came.
He came to save us from our sins and He did that on the cross.
I am sure that Jesus being born in a manger was not how Joseph and Mary had pictured His birth.
They had to take a long and treacherous journey to Bethlehem.
Then, they had to flee to Egypt, because Herod was killing babies.
They had problems, heartaches and fear, but with everything that Satan threw at them, God had a answer.
This Christmas and the ones in the future, when the feelings of loneliness and
depression begin to set it, it’s just Satan’s way of taking away the joy of the birth of
Christ.
Do what Joseph and Mary did. They depended on God. Even with all their problems, it was still a day to celebrate and it still can be for you and me.
I pray that all the presents that you receive this Christmas,
you will receive and accept the gift of God’s love that He offers to all of us.
