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"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

Have you heard this verse before? Have you thought about it in the context of Christmas? Now, you might be thinking, "Well...that's a very strange thought. While we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we’re thinking about His death?"

Well, yes…you cannot separate those two events because it's the very reason Jesus was born. Jesus—who is both God and man—lived an absolutely perfect life…died on the cross for our sins. Why would he do that? Well...it's because He loves you. And that love is so deep, that He would sacrifice His very life for you. When Jesus hung on the cross, He cried out, "Tetelestai," which means "the debt is paid." The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death..." And Christ paid it. All we must do is put our trust in Him.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[…] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1, 14

What a picture! God, the Creator, who’s always been and always will be, spoke and created the universe with His voice. The infinite, powerful God of the universe...the very Word — Jesus — became flesh and dwelt among us. He is glorious, full of grace and truth. And truly, we need grace. There’s not one of us that can stand before a holy God. The Bible tells us: "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." And this is why Jesus came…lived the perfect life we couldn't. He offers his sinless life for our sinful ones, if only we would put our trust fully in Him.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14

It was such a glorious miracle that even today, over two thousand years later, people marvel at its fulfillment. Isaiah prophesied to Israel that their Messiah would be born of a virgin (that prophecy was over seven hundred years before Jesus came!). Jesus' birth was a miraculous fulfillment of what God promised the world—that "He would send His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life." That eternal life is offered today to anyone who repents of their sins and believes on Jesus. He took the penalty for our sins and exchanged His perfect life for our imperfect ones.

"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." - Isaiah 35:5-6.

When we celebrate Christmas, it's important for us to remember who our newborn King is. He fulfilled over three hundred different prophecies—showing that He was powerful, everlasting, and divine. Jesus fulfilled many times over this prophecy from Isaiah about being a miracle worker. All four gospels of the Bible record miracle after miracle that Jesus performed. He was showing the people of Israel who He was — the Messiah. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, taking the sins of all those who believe and giving them eternal life. 

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." - Isaiah 53:2-3.

John writes in his gospel, "The Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." If God becoming a human wasn't amazing enough, he also chose to come as a baby born in a manger that first Christmas morning. He reached adulthood and walked a road of rejection and suffering for us. Isaiah wrote this prophecy seven hundred years before Jesus stepped foot on this earth. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He rose again and is in Heaven now offering us the free gift of eternal life. 

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” - Micah 5:2

"Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Truly, the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem and fulfilled Micah's prophecy, our hopes for salvation and fears for judgement were answered in the form of God coming to earth...to live a perfect life and to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. In the quiet, little town of Bethlehem, the everlasting Light of the world came to us. All we must do to receive the gift of eternal life is to place our trust in Him. 

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14

During His time here on earth, Jesus fulfilled over three hundred different prophecies. One of these is the prophecy that Immanuel, which means God with us, would be born of a virgin. Luke records the fulfillment of this through the angel telling Mary that she would bear Jesus, even though she was a virgin. Jesus' fulfillment of Isaiah gives us confidence that He truly is our powerful God and is faithful to His promises. And do you know what He promises those who believe in Him? That we would be saved from our sins and welcomed into the family of God.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” - Luke 2:13-14

"Peace on earth"...that is certainly what most people strive to find. We spend our lives searching for things to fill the hole in our heart that lacks joy, hope, and peace. Well today, I have good news, just like the angels had for the shepherds. And the Good News is this: in the city of David, a Savior is born…He is Christ the Lord. When we place our trust in the Savior Jesus and Him alone, we’re adopted into the family of God. We can have the security, excitement, and hope that comes from knowing that God is always with us. Do you want this peace in your heart? Well, invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. 

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." - Matthew 2:1-3

When Christ's birth was proclaimed, there were two distinct reactions. The first was like the Magi who gathered up treasures and set off to worship the newborn King. The second was like King Herod who was disturbed at the news. Why, you might ask? Well, King Herod was interested only in himself. And truly, we’re all faced with this same decision when we meet Jesus. Will we place our trust in Him or rely on ourselves? Well, let me urge you, place your trust in Jesus. 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2.

The Magi are known for journeying to Jesus after seeing the star announcing His birth. In Numbers 24, there is a prophecy that "a star would come out of Jacob.” Well, the Magi waited and watched the sky for generations. And the minute they beheld the star, they gathered up precious treasures; and they traveled about two years to find the Messiah, the one who saves His people from their sin.