The Child of Christmas is God

[SERay]

Painting by Gerard van Honthorst: Adoration of the Shepherds (1622)

For many, Christmas is the time to think of Jesus Christ as a baby in a manger. While the birth of Christ is a special and miraculous event, it isn't the primary focus. The central truth of the Christmas story is this: the Child of Christmas is God. Christmas is not about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.

How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming mere human. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant. He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

The Christmas origin begins with the predictions of Christ over the many centuries before His birth. The scepter (a Hebrew symbol of governmental authority) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Hebrew, the "Messiah") come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be (Genesis 49:10).

"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" (Micah 5:2).

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (literally, "God-with-us" in Hebrew) (Isaiah 7:14).

"For unto us a child is born, unto to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, KJV).

The fulfillment of over three hundred (300) Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah started with Christmas. All of these prophecies show up in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint versions of the Jewish scriptures, which have been established by secular sources as predating Jesus Christ by between 100 and 250 years.

The glamorized Christmas origin has pagan roots. That is well documented. The Christmas season is sadly over-commercialized. That is apparent to all of us. The modern world's version of Christmas and consequently for the greater part of humanity, has no legitimate spiritual meaning at all. However, the message of Christmas is profound, and the implications of Jesus' historical birth in Bethlehem 1,982 years ago are enormous for all of us. Regardless, the actual date or season of His birth (whether in late summer, early autumn, or otherwise) cannot be denied. Jesus Christ was undoubtedly an historic figure, and His purpose was simply to fulfill the meaning of His name, "The Lord Saves."

Christmas is a time to genuinely open our hearts and earnestly seek the truth about our Messiah. Jesus told us who He was and is - He didn't mince words. "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6). "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).