It is Christmas morning!
No one ran to the tree. There were no matching pjs, presents, or stockings.
Instead, I woke up to a house full of friends and sisters in Christ. This Christmas, we have each other. This morning, we ran to the Cross.
Today, two-thousand and sixteen years ago, a Savior was born. Born of a virgin, Mary, who trusted the Lord. Trusted the Father to put a baby inside of her. And Joesph, who trusted the Father, stayed with Mary and heard the call of a name, Jesus. Baby Jesus was born to bring freedom, love and grace to all of us for the rest of eternity. Today thousands of years ago God’s promise of a Messiah and Savior was fulfilled. Hallelujah! Joy to the world!
Today we get to celebrate the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Savior. The birth cannot be celebrated without the acknowledgment of the rest of Jesus’s. He came to show us love and grace. To model what our lives should look like as we follow Christ in our everyday. Today is bigger than a tree and presents. Today is a celebration of who Jesus is.
Around 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah shared a prophecy, “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.” (Isaiah9:6) Then in Matthew 3:17 it is said, “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” And in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to save the YOU. He loves YOU. He came for YOU.
There is a purpose for this season of celebration, for the season you are currently walking through, and the timing of the Father.
Jesus is ours, and He feels the weight and brokenness of all of us. In John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” He wept. He did not consider himself above our sufferings, but emptied himself of privilege by taking our form, being born in our likeness (Philippians 2:7). Jesus was born in flesh and blood, like us. He bared everything on the cross.
For some this is a time of year filled with joy, while for others this is a difficult time of year. Have faith and hope in knowing that whatever this time of year brings, that the Savior brings hope. You are never alone; you are deeply loved.
Today we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
