Angle

Issue date: 12/15/09 Section: Devotional Thought

Shepherds Fields. "In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!" Luke 2:8-14

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not (John 1:10).

Easter is a message of what Christ has done, but Christmas is a message about who Christ is. The world does not object to our Christmas celebrations as long as we maintain the story-book level of make believe. Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, bright lights, beautiful and expensively wrapped gifts, all make an exciting time.

Little baby Jesus is even a nice touch for a story tale about a little baby born to a poor family. If we are to properly understand the meaning of the cross and the resurrection, though, we must begin with His existence before His conception and virgin birth.

Christmas is the message that God became en-fleshed and manifested Himself in human form (I Timothy 3:16), in order to redeem sinful, fallen people from the consequences of sin.

That fusion of God and man into one permanent body, which is called the hypostatic union, sets Christianity totally apart for any other religion. Many people have the idea that Jesus began to live when he was born in a manger in Bethlehem. The Bible informs us that He existed in eternity past.

Continued...

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