The Prophet Isaiah wrote concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). And in Matthew 1:23 the Bible says: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall his name Immanuel (which means God with us)”
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.”
—Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
There is much more to Christmas than the focus being only on the “baby” Jesus without considering the purpose for which He came into the world. First Timothy 1:15 says: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
The Bible makes it clear “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” And here’s the reason: “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:22,23).
The birth of Jesus is unique because it was the only human birth of its kind since God became man in the form of Jesus Christ—the incarnation, that is, God becoming man in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
Jesus had no biological father since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says an angel said to Joseph: “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).
Jesus did not remain at the baby stage after His birth. But he grew up as a man. The Bible says: “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
This text tells us that Jesus increased in wisdom, that is, His mental growth. He increased in stature, that is, His physical growth. He increased in favor with God, that is, His spiritual growth. He increased in favor with man, that is, His social growth.
Jesus is called the “Son of God” and the “Son of Man.” “He is divine. The Son of God, when used of Christ, writes William MacDonald, speaks of His absolute equality with God the Father. His humanity qualified Him from our viewpoint; His deity, from God’s viewpoint. No wonder He is called a great High Priest” (Believers Bible Commentary pg. 2126).
The Lord Jesus also referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” many times in the Scriptures. “The Son of Man is a heavenly person—a heavenly person who descends to this world, whose principal role in His visitation to this earth is that of the heavenly judge. And then He returns to the presence of God in His ascension. We remember that Jesus says, “No one ascends to the Father except He who has first descended from Him.” Again, we tend to think that Jesus’ calling Himself the Son of Man was an expression of humility, when, in fact, it was a claim to divine authority” (R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries).
Christmas is a very joyous annual event when Christians around the world commemorate the birth or advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. There is no other celebration quite like it. And Christians will and must continue to celebrate this holy event until Christ returns.
Isaac Watts, an English hymn writer, wrote the lyrics of this beautiful and popular Christmas carol, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing.”
The Bible tells us that wise men from the east came to Jerusalem to worship the Christ child. And on entering the house where He was, they saw Him with Mary His mother. Then they worshiped Him, and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Each of these special gifts has a very symbolic interpretation. The Gold represents His deity, as God in human form, and His kingly character. “May all kings fall down before Him, all nations serve Him” (Psalm 72:11).
The Frankincense is a perfume, symbolic of the fragrance of His sinless perfection. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
The Myrrh being a bitter herb, and used to anoint dead bodies is symbolic of the sufferings and death of Christ on the Cross. “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
With these truths in mind, we can conclude that the birth of Jesus Christ has purpose and divine meaning. The prophet Isaiah says, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6).
A Child is born speaks of the humanity of Jesus Christ. A Son is given speaks of His deity. The text continues: the government shall be upon His shoulder, that is, Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. And Revelation 17:14 says: “They will make war on the Lamb and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Having considered the main reasons for the coming of Christ into the world will help us to celebrate Christmas in a more meaningful and spiritual way. Remember, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).