Special Christmas Advent Edition

15 December
Jn. 1:14, 17
The birth of grace

When Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, He was born full of grace (Jn. 1:14). Thus, He came with a new way of knowing God and relating with Him (see Jn. 1:17). His birth brought grace along with it (Jn. 1:14, 17). Hitherto, the world used to think of God in terms of what they can do for Him. With Jesus’ birth, we now know and relate with God as the one who has done something for humanity without any cost to them. Put more clearly, the salvation that Jesus brought when He was born more than two thousand years ago is entirely by grace (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:22-24). With Jesus’ birth, the world is not required to pay any cost in order to receive salvation. Our salvation does not depend on anything that we have done but God’s grace which Jesus brought at His birth (see 2Tim. 1:8-10; Tit. 3:4-7). All that is required is to believe in Jesus and salvation will readily become ours (see Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 10:9-10). And since salvation is entirely by grace as a result of Jesus’ birth more than two thousand years ago, everybody who believes is entitled to it without any cost. Salvation by grace is available through Jesus alone. As we celebrate Christmas all over the world every year, we must remember that the salvation that Jesus introduced when He was born more than two thousand years ago is entirely by grace and that everyone who believes is entitled to it. As we celebrate Christmas today around the world, the grace of God unto salvation is still available to anyone who believes in Jesus whose birth we celebrate.

One of the most common opinions concerning the birth of Jesus more than two thousand years ago is that the accounts are legendary and mythological and that such a birth never took place in human history. But here we find the account of Jesus’ birth not only in human history but as part of it (see Lk. 2:1-7). His birth account makes reference to historical figures who are well known in the history of mankind in general, and the Roman empire in particular (Lk. 2:1-7). His birth coincided with a major verifiable event in human history (Lk. 2:1-7). With the facts now available to us, His birth can be safely and accurately dated (Lk. 2:1-7). Numerous Roman and Jewish contemporary literatures make undisputed references to Him as part of human history. Those who keep alleging and teaching that the account of Jesus’ birth is legendary and mythological do so against the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. All the evidence put together – biblical and non-biblical, internal and external, point to a true, real, verifiable, historic, and historical birth. Therefore, when we celebrate Christmas throughout the world today, we are actually celebrating an event that has its origin and basis in human history (see Lk. 2:1-7). It is not an event shrouded in legend and myth but in human history. The benefit of this one, same birth, belongs to all mankind until the end of the age (Lk. 2:9-10; Jn. 3:16; Jn. 1:29). Every human being can put his trust in the one whose birth is celebrated all over the world today as Christmas without being disappointed (Rom. 10:11).

Since Jesus was born for a divine mission to save mankind, God the father personally took charge of His personal safety (Matt. 2:13). He ensured that Jesus lived in a safe location (Matt. 2:13). Even when Herod conducted a massacre of infants with the deliberate intention of killing Jesus, God the Father ensured that Jesus was completely safe (Matt. 2:16-18). He protected Jesus for the sake of the mission He sent Him to fulfill. Jesus’ mission to save humanity was so important that God the Father had to guarantee His safety personally. He protected Him until the time was ripe for Jesus to fulfill or accomplish His mission (see Matt. 26:53-54; Matt. 27:46; Lk. 24:46). As we celebrate Christmas today, we should note that as God protected Jesus until the time for Him to accomplish His mission was ripe, He is able, ready, and willing to protect us until His purposes for our lives are accomplished. Not even a hair of our head can fall to the ground without His authorization (Matt. 10:30; Lk. 21:7-19). The complete safety of Jesus throughout His birth and early life is a living example of how God is able to keep all His children completely safe today until they live out the fullness of their lives and accomplish His purposes for living (Matt. 10:30; Lk. 21:17-19; Lk. 1:37). As Christmas is celebrated around the world today, every believer can count on the same protection that Jesus enjoyed right from His birth to His voluntary death on the cross (Ps. 127:1; Matt. 10:30; Lk. 21:17-19; Lk. 1:37).

In his account concerning Jesus, Luke states that what he writes is wholly based on eye-witness information and careful investigation (Lk. 1:1-4). People actually witnessed the events he is writing about (see Lk. 2:15-18; 2Pet. 1:16; 1Jn. 1:1-3; cf. Jn. 15:27; Acts 1:21-22). Therefore, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth every year today, we are not celebrating a myth but an authentic, credible, historical event (Lk. 1:1-4; Lk. 2:15-18; 2Pet. 1:16; 1Jn. 1:1-3). His birth was personally witnessed by numerous people (Lk. 2:15-16). Moreover, when Christmas is celebrated today throughout the world, it is a worthy celebration because it is based on a trustworthy birth. If there is any event in human history that is wholly trustworthy, it is the birth of Jesus Christ more than two thousand years ago. But it is never enough just to celebrate His birth today. The most important thing is that as we celebrate His birth today whoever and wherever we may be, we accept Him as our Saviour in order that we may partake of the salvation He was born to provide (see Jn. 1:12-13; Jn. 3:16). With the trustworthiness of the account concerning Jesus’ birth, anyone who goes beyond merely celebrating His birth today and puts his trust in Him will be saved and will never be disappointed (Rom. 10:9-11).

When Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, He was visited by some Magi who bowed down and worshipped Him when they saw Him (Matt. 2:11). They responded to Him appropriately, as He deserves (Matt. 2:11). Jesus does not only deserve our worshipped, He is entitled to it. This is why His disciples worshipped Him (Matt. 28:9). The best response we owe to Jesus today is to worship Him. In fact, anyone who does not respond to Jesus in worship does not respond to Him adequately. Without worship, our response to Jesus is inadequate. Worship must be our first response to Him. Therefore, as we celebrate His birth all over the world every year we must ensure that we worship Him. To celebrate His birth without worshipping Him is utterly meaningless. It is not possible to have a meaningful celebration of Jesus’ birth today without worshipping Him. To worship Him is to accept Him as the Messiah or Saviour that He is (Jn. 1:12-13). And anyone who accepts Him as His Messiah or Saviour is the one who has a real basis or justification to celebrate His birth today.

When the angel foretold Jesus’ birth to Mary His mother, he made it quite clear that the one to be born is the Son of God (Lk. 1:32-33, 35). Therefore, when Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, He was born the Son of God, as foretold by the angel (Lk. 1:32-33, 35). Jesus’ status as God’s Son was confirmed during His baptism a few years after His birth (Matt. 3:16-17; Mk. 1:9-11). To be born the Son of God means that He is fully Lord (see Jn 1:1-2). Although He took our own flesh, He is fully God (Jn. 1:14). As we celebrate His birth each year all over the world, it is important to know and take Him as God that He is (Jn. 1:1-2). It is when we know and take Him as God that He is that we can give Him the worship and service due to Him. Anyone who does not acknowledge Jesus as God cannot worship and serve Him as He deserves. And any celebration of His birth today that does not take account of His deity has nothing to do with Him. Our celebration of Jesus’ birth today must reflect the fact that we are celebrating the birth of the one who was born fully God (Lk. 1:32-33, 35). What this implies is that any celebration of His birth today must give Him the worship and service due to Him as God.

In one of his prophecies concerning Jesus, Isaiah stated that the Son to be born will reign on David’s throne (Is. 9:6-7). Although Jesus was born in humble and mean circumstances (Is. 53:2; Lk. 2:6-7), He was born a King (see Matt. 2:1-2; Matt. 21:4-5; Lk. 19:38). It was the news that a King by the name Jesus was born that made Herod to murder numerous innocent children in an attempt to kill Him (see Matt. 2:1-18). He remains King for ever ( cf. Rev. 11: 15). As we celebrate His birth throughout the world every year, we need to take account of the fact that we are celebrating the birth of the one who was not only born King more than two thousand years ago but remains King forever. As King we must obey Him and be loyal to Him. In fact, the best way to acknowledge Jesus as King is to obey Him in every aspect of our lives. Any celebration of His birth that is not accompanied by full obedience and loyalty to him is incomplete and improper. We must give Him due obedience and loyalty before our celebration of His birth today can be a meaningful one. There is no basis or justification for celebrating His birth when one is not ready or willing to obey and be subject to Him. The celebration of Jesus’ birth today that is worth endorsing or commending is the one carried out by His obedient and faithful children (Jn. 1:12-13).

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