The Baby Grew Up She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. —Matthew 1:21 In a thought-provoking essay, Halford E. Luccock wrote about how we can miss the point of the Christmas story. He said: “We can become so charmed with the story of a baby that we grow sentimental about it. It does not ask that we do anything about it; it does not demand any vital change in our way of thinking and living. The great question for us is this: Is our Christmas still only a story about a baby, or is it . . . about a Person into whom the baby grew, who can redeem the world from its sins, and who calls us into partnership with His great and mighty purposes?” When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, he said, “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). It is only as we see the birth of Jesus in light of His crucifixion and resurrection that we are able to grasp the full meaning of Christ’s coming. With your eyes wide open this Christmas, respond to God with love and commitment for the gift of His Son. Focus your thoughts and actions and motivations toward honoring the Baby who grew up and died for all our sins. Christ the Savior is born! —David McCasland The mission of the cross is hidden in the message of the manger. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: B EHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A S ON, AND THEY SHALL CALL H IS NAME I MMANUEL, which translated means, G OD WITH US. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 NASB)
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 13:04:44 +0000