Happy Birthday Jesus!
Happy birthday Jesus! Its been two millennium since you walked this planet. But Your footprints are forever embedded in history. You need no gifts except our love, which is not really a gift, but an obligation. What else could we do, considering Your amazing grace?
Happy birthday Jesus! We are sure that there was great sadness in heaven on that night in Bethlehem. Even though the angels sang of your arrival, surely other celestial beings wept because You had left Your royal throne. Your absence, no doubt, left a vacuum in that beautiful place.
Happy birthday Jesus! You were rich beyond our imaginations, yet you became poor so that we might become rich. And that we are! Our wealth is measured not in houses and lands, but in spiritual graces.
Happy birthday Jesus! Ezekiel spoke of Your coming ages ago:
“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken” (Ezekiel.34:23,24). The shepherds must have understood and believed this prophecy. As they knelt at the manger, thoughts of the Good Shepherd and the ministry He would offer must have filled their minds.
Happy birthday Jesus! When the wisemen presented gifts to You, did they understand that You were the greatest gift given to mankind? The wrapping of this gift was spoken of by an angel: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12). Luke also wrote of the trimmings in 2:13,14: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” The contents of this marvelous gift of Yours was revealed to a virgin: The angel said to her, “Do no be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33). The purpose of this offering: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Happy birthday Jesus! All across this world of ours, there will be celebrating on or near December 25th. You did not command us to observe this time, but how can we not do so? You clothed Yourself in human flesh. You became one of us. It was Your purpose to redeem us, even though we did not deserve it. We are so indebted to You. How can we not rejoice and lift our hearts in praise for the wonder of the Incarnation?
Happy birthday Jesus! We do not bring a cake. We bring ourselves. We meet in houses of worship, from gigantic cathedrals to humble, store-front churches. And we also gather together in our family settings–all with one purpose–to remember and rejoice.
Happy birthday Jesus! R.E. Neighbour penned the following words, as he meditated on the phrase, Unto you is born this day...
O what a Day!
Foretold in ages long since past;
By many prophets oft forecast:
God’s promises the world outlast—
O what a Day!
O what a Gift!
From God the Father up in heav’n,
To sinful mortals, Satan driv’n,
A Savior, Christ the Lord was giv’n—
O what a Gift!
O what a Babe!
A Child asleep on Mary’s knees,
Yet true incarnate God was He,
With “goings forth” eternally—
O what a Babe!
O what a Love!
Born purposely for men to die,
To save them, bless, and glorify,
And bear them to His Home on high—
O what a Love!
What shall we Do?
E’er this glad Christmastide is gone,
Accept Him now and love Him on,
His soulful praises e’er prolong—
This let us do.
Happy birthday Jesus! We’re throwing a party in Your honor. The invitations are out. Everyone is invited. We’ve told people that they can come as they are. Even grubbies are okay. You’ll be washing us and giving us new clothes anyway. Didn’t you say something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last? Admission is free. You have already paid for everyone. We could never afford to come had You not given Your all! Refreshments will be served: New wine, bread and a drink You call, “living water.” This will be followed by a supper, that promises to be out of this world! Gift suggestions: Our hearts. You have everything else. The entertainment will consist of songs by angels and the redeemed, with You as the audience. We’ll have a guest book conveniently located, called the “Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Happy birthday Jesus! There is a greeting card company that has as its motto: When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best. That’s what Your Father did. He sent His very best. And You taught us how to give our very best. The best thing to give our enemy is forgiveness. The best thing to give a friend is our heart. The best thing to give those who suffer is prayer. The best thing to give the lost is the plan of salvation. The best thing to give the discouraged is hope. The best thing to give yourself is respect. The best thing to give all people is love.
Happy birthday Jesus! On Christmas morning, a little girl was singing “Happy birthday to you.” Below in the kitchen making breakfast her mother immediately thought, “Dear little thing is all confused. She’s gotten Christmas mixed with someone’s birthday. But as she listened more closely she heard her daughter sing, “Happy birthday, dear Jesus, happy birthday to you.” We are reminded of Your statements regarding childlike faith. Matt 18:3: And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Help us to never lose that kind of faith–faith that is simple, yet pure–trusting in the Gentle Shepherd who cares for His lambs.
Happy birthday Jesus! We’re so glad you came. We cannot imagine a world without You. There is so much darkness as it is. But Your light shines forth brilliantly. It beckons to us. We step forth into it and are made whole. Some years ago a Christmas card pictured a world into which You had not come. A minister fell asleep in his study on Christmas morn. In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but no little stockings hung by the chimney. No Christmas wreaths nor holly decorated the house. He walked out on the street, but nowhere could he see a church with its spire pointing to heaven. Returning to his library, he wanted to read a book on the Christian faith, but every book about You had disappeared. His doorbell rang. A messenger asked him to visit a dying woman. He hurried to her home. Sitting down beside the lady he said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar New Testament verse, but the Bible ended at Malachi. He could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair. Two days later he stood beside this woman’s coffin to conduct the funeral service. But there was no message of consolation. As the service concluded by the grave, there was no word of glorious resurrection, no open heaven, but only “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” and one long farewell. Realizing that You had not come, the minister in his dream burst into sobbing. Suddenly he woke with a start. He heard the choir rehearsing in his church next door. A shout of praise poured from his lips as he listened to the message of the carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” This dream was really a nightmare. In fact, all of life would be just that had You not come with Your light and love.
Happy birthday Jesus! Your first coming reminds us of Your second. We celebrate in anticipation of that moment! You came the first time as a tiny, vulnerable babe; You will come again as a mighty warrior. You were born in obscurity. When You come again, the whole world will know it. You came the first time for the purpose of justification. But when You return it will be as Judge. You came in humility; Your second coming will be in power and glory.
Happy birthday Jesus! We await Your return. We pray for it. We expect it. We comfort ourselves with the thought of it. We purify ourselves in anticipation. We occupy till it happens. We warn others of its imminence. Even so come Lord Jesus!
