Both Bethlehem and Christmas are significant as we observe and celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who was born in the little city of Bethlehem.
The Scripture tells us this about the birth of Jesus Christ: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “She” is referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The prophet Isaiah predicted that Christ would come: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
The Scripture records that the birth of Jesus, the Savior of mankind, actually took place. Luke 2:7 says: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, for there was no place for them in the inn.”
Following Jesus’ birth came the angelic announcement. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11).
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord: “Here we have a theology in miniature. First, He is a Savior, which is expressed in His name, Jesus. Then He is Christ, the Anointed of God, the Messiah of Israel. Finally, He is the Lord, God manifest in the flesh” (William MacDonald).
The birth of Jesus was the only birth of its kind because of the incarnation, that is, God becoming man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Christmas is a wonderful and glorious time of the year when Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior. However, we cannot ignore the purpose for which He came. First John 5:20 says: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
Why did Christ come into the world? The answer is: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
“To save sinners” is noteworthy because it means no one is good. The Bible says: ”None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).
“Sin is any thought, word, or deed that falls short of God’s standard of holiness and perfection. It is a missing of the mark, a coming short of the target” (William MacDonald).
This text is declaring that man is a sinner, that’s why he sins. He is hopelessly lost, and not in a position to save himself in order to be right with God. Therefore, he needs a Savior who is Jesus Christ and whose substitutionary death on the Cross provides forgiveness for his sins. And that is the only way he can get to heaven.
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
This text makes it very clear that it was for our sins Christ died. He could not die for His own sins because He had none. And also note in the text: in accordance with the Scriptures, which state, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5,6).
“Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the prophecies about the Messiah, like this one that was written hundreds of years before He was crucified. On the Cross, He willingly became our substitute. Jesus, “who knew no sin . . . [became] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). He was pierced and crushed because of our sin, and by His sacrifice we are healed” (The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible NKJV pg. 855).
The coming of Christ into the world is a lingering joy and excitement, especially as His birth was unlike the births of all other babies with biological fathers. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. An angel told Joseph in a dream: “do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew. 1:20).
It is also important to keep in mind that Jesus did not remain a baby. The Bible says: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Christ lived a perfect and exemplary human life while on earth. He always did the things that pleased His Father (John 8:29). He also healed the sick, raised the dead back to life, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and other great miracles.
“Jesus’ earthly ministry was about the cross, not the crown. Not only the cross He would bear for the sins of Israel and the whole world, but spiritual death to self. Jesus said we would need to take our cross (Luke 14:26, 27), die to self, and be “born again” in order to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3)” (The Earthly Ministry of Christ by David Jeremiah).
At the end of His earthly ministry and life, Christ ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12), until the day of His second advent when He returns to take His saints to heaven (John 14:3).
Let us therefore joyfully celebrate Christmas with these truths in mind.