The CHRISTmas story starts out like this:
Luke 2 (New International Version, ©2010)
The Birth of Jesus
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to their own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14. “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22. When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23. (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]),
24. and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]
25. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28. Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29. “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30. For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31. which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32. a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33. The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35. so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36. There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37. and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
This was God's Gift To Mankind!
Why was The Son Of God born under the most humble circumstances? There wasn't even a decent place for Mary to have baby Jesus! She had him in a stable, among the horses, cows, and donkeys then, wrapped and laid Him in a bed of hay. Joseph and Mary didn't quite understand what had happened yet, as the Bible said "Mary pondered these things". But, God had performed a miracle!
What miracle? Jesus was born to die. Approximately 33 years later he would die the most “cursed death” on a cross. Why? In order to be the substitute and propitiation for sin! Never has that happened before and never will it ever occur again!
Now, man does NOT have to suffer the wages of sin, which is death. Not only physical death ( of the flesh and blood body ) but spiritual death ( which is ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD! ). God made man with an eternal spirit and depending on his decision ( ops, there goes that word again . . . . .) here in this life, it will determine WHERE he/she will spend eternity.
Since Jesus bore EVERY sin on the cross! I mean EVERY sin you can possibly think of Jesus took upon His own sinless body! Why would a totally innocent man do this? So that mankind would be freed from sin's horrible grasp. That's if If we want to be freed.
Why do I say, if we want to be freed? Because God also gave man a gift of his own "personal sovereignty". In short, that means man has the right to make his/her own decision(s) without interference from God. God will not force you to say yes to Him if you don't want to.
That means you can be reading this and knowing you aught to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, but reject it for some such reason. God will not use coercion you to get say yes. Why? Because He wants man to WILLINGLY come to Him. He does not want robots and slaves.
That means you can be reading this and knowing you aught to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, but reject it for some such reason. God will not use coercion you to get say yes. Why? Because He wants man to WILLINGLY come to Him. He does not want robots and slaves.
If you would say yes, all you need to do is realize “Yes, I am a sinner”. As the bible says: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” And make John 3:16 a reality in your life by accepting Jesus Christ into your life as Your Personal Savior from sin. There is no other substitute and will be no other!
There is room at the cross for more. . . . .
John 3:16 (New International Version, ©2010)
16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
