Merry Christmas

 

O how we love to use and hear the phrase “Merry Christmas”!  The first part of the word Christmas tells exactly what Christmas is all about - Christ. Christmas is celebration and remembrance of the birth of God’s Son Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter one, we read about His miraculous birth! 

 

Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”  This verse of scripture tells us that the birth of Jesus Christ is unlike any other before or since for the scripture says He was a “child of the Holy Ghost”.

 

As we read on down in that passage, we come to verses 22 and 23 where the scripture says “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

 

So the birth of Jesus Christ in the manner that He came into the world was the fulfillment of Prophecy where we read in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

 

This passage in Matthew chapter one also tells us something very important to understand about the ministry of Jesus Christ and that is what we read in verse 21

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Not only was this the fulfillment of Prophecy but was also the announcement that this baby being born to a virgin would be the Saviour

that would save His people from their sins. This message of Jesus Christ being the Saviour points directly to the Cross where Christ would die for our sins. I like the way Peter says it in I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” The word tree in verse 24 is a reference to the Cross where Jesus bore our sins in His own body.

 

I am reminded of the song “Born to Die” in a Christmas Cantata (by Ron Hamilton with the same title. In the song’s chorus we read these words “Born to die upon Calvary, Jesus suffered my sin to forgive; Born to die upon Calvary, He was wounded that I might live.”   Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” That verse speaks of Christ’s Humanity, His Humility and His Obedience to death on the Cross, which was for our sins and what we read back in Matthew 1:21, the reason He came.

 

The question is - is what you have read so far what you think of when you think of Christmas? Do you think of Jesus Christ being born to be the Saviour of the world and dying on the cross for your sins? Are you trusting by Grace through Faith in the Saviour Jesus Christ who was born to die on the cross for your sins? In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Biblical salvation by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ - I hope you are trusting simply in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and if not do so without delay!

 

So when we say Merry Christmas, we are using a greeting that highlights a reference

to Jesus Christ the Virgin born Son of God and Saviour of the World! “Merry Christmas!”