For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 (KJV)
The Christmas holiday season is the most observed, most significant period on most family calendars in our country. For weeks we prepare, many times in all-consuming ways, for the biggest holiday of the year. While there is nothing wrong with devoting so much time and energy remembering and celebrating Jesus’ birth, it is easy to assign undue significance to the event. Of the events that reveal Jesus’ nature as the Messiah, the Savior, His birth may be one of the least significant! In fact, there would be nothing about His birth to celebrate, were it not for three other events that truly define Jesus Messianic nature. Let’s devote some time to understanding these events and then return to our birthday celebration and truly celebrate!
Event #1 Jesus’ Conception
The Bible tells us that Jesus was born to a woman who was a virgin. Jesus was not conceived through natural means, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, by God Himself (Luke 1:31-35). Jesus was thus conceived with a divine nature and a human nature, getting His divine nature from His heavenly Father, God, and His human nature from His human mother Mary. Only a Savior conceived in this manner would have the dual nature required to provide the way to salvation. If either the human or divine component were to be missing, salvation would be impossible. Were it not for God’s direct involvement in Jesus’ conception, His birth would have been meaningless. Let’s continue on to see why this is so.
Event #2 Jesus’ Life
The Bible tells us that Jesus led a life that was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the most significant truth about His life on earth, yet it usually takes a back seat to His teaching, healing the sick, calming storms, walking on water and bringing dead people back to life. While all of these acts revealed that Jesus possessed divine power, they would all be meaningless, if they were accompanied in Jesus’ life by even one sin. Only Jesus, because He was conceived with both divine and human nature, could accomplish living a sinless human life. Since we have not been so conceived, sin is a part of our life. Let’s continue on, to tie this all together.
Event #3 Jesus’ death on the cross
The Bible tells us that the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). There’s no way out. Because we sin, we will die. Because Jesus did not sin, death was not part of His future. But He chose to die anyway! He paid a penalty that was not due. What does He do with this ‘excess’ payment? He offers it to each of us! Because Jesus suffered a human death, he can offer His payment in place of ours! Because Jesus had a divine nature, the payment made by His death has an infinite value! He can continue to offer payments and He will always have a remaining balance to offer more payments! (If you haven’t accepted Jesus’ offer or aren’t sure how to, please see “For God So Loves You” right now!)
Now let’s return to Jesus’ birthday celebration. Because He was conceived as He was, lived as He lived, and died as He died, we truly have something to celebrate each Christmas! That’s the truth.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit for you, so He could live a sinless life for you, so He could pay a penalty of death not required of Him, so that He could offer His death payment to you. This Savior is Christ the Lord. He has done this all for you!
That’s the YouTruth. Jesus Was Born For You.