'"It's the most wonderful time of the year" is a phrase from a song I've heard Andy Williams sing over the years. As a Christian, the wonder of Christmas for me is much different from that of the unbelieving world. I love the Christmas decorations and festivities, but all of that is so hollow. The real wonder is Jesus Christ! In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet dipped his pen in prophetic glory declaring Messiah would be called "Wonderful"! The Hebrew word means He is a wonder! He will be like no one else who ever walked this planet! He will inspire awe and worship because of His uniqueness! What is so wonderful about Jesus Christ? First, He is the Eternal Son of God who was pre-existent with The Father and co-equal to the Father (John 1:1-4). Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh. The babe in the manger is Jehovah God! No wonder Paul wrote, "great is the mystery of godliness" in I Timothy 3:16. God the Son took on human flesh and humbled Himself to walk among us. He is not 50% God and 50 % human. He is 100% God and 100% human. He is the God-Man! This why He accepted worship, forgave sins, and declared He was sent from heaven! He is not one of the greatest men to live nor is the greatest man to live! He is the one and only God-Man! Totally unique is our Lord Jesus. The virgin born Son of Mary is the Son of God! This will cause you bow in wonder and awe in worship! Second, He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophets wrote about, through divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit, concerning the coming Messiah! He is the appointed and anointed Messiah! For hundreds of years prophecies were given to nation of Israel concerning the coming Messiah. Jesus is identified as the Christ over 600 times in the New Testament. The New Testament writers declared Him as the fulfillment of over 300 prophecies concerning Messiah, of which 29 were fulfilled in completely in His life and death. In Luke 4:17-21, Jesus Himself declares He is the long-awaited and hoped for Messiah, and this why He declared the Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39-40). The shock waves cause by those bold statement left the Jewish leadership reeling in unbelief that a carpenter's son could make such audacious claims, and those statements still cause the same reaction in today's world! However, the record of the New Testament is clear Jesus not only made the claim, but he also backed up the claims by the miracles He performed and the message He taught! No one else had healed the blind, lame, deaf, and raised the dead. No one else had held authority over the demons, the environment, and circumstances like Jesus Christ! He declared He was the Way, the Truth, and Life. Further more, He declared unless you believe in Him, not merely believed Him, you will die in your sins! No doubt this was the cause for the peoples reaction that "He speaks with authority, not like scribes and Pharisees" as they listened and watched Him. Yes, Jesus Christ is the Messiah and His birth is the long awaited coming of the Savior! Let us adore Him! Third, He is the Redeemer. Jesus Christ came to redeem and rescue us for our sins! In Mark 10:45 Jesus states, " For the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many". Isaiah 53 declares Messiah would suffer death for His people. Jesus Christ did this by His death on Calvary's Cross. He died as the Lamb of God, which had been pictured in the Old Testament sacrificial system, who alone could redeem us from the penalty and power of the curse of sin and the Law! Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. The concept can be traced to Old Testament law that a near relative could redeem a family member from slavery and debt. Jesus Christ was born of virgin to become like us in order to redeem for us all that was lost in Adam's sin (Romans 5:12-21, Galatians 3:10-4:7, Hebrews 2:10-18)! God the Father sent Jesus Christ to die in our place so that Holy God could grant us heavenly grace (Romans 3:21-23). There is no other way for a Holy God to grant mercy and grace. Hallelujah, what a Savior! In His death of the cross, Jesus died twice, both a physical death and spiritual death, in our place! That is why He cried out in the darkness on Calvary's Hill, "my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me" as recorded in the Gospels. For three hours, Jesus Christ bore our sin in the darkness of the wrath of God! He was a voluntary, vicarious, and victorious Sacrifice! After the time in the darkness, he cried out "it is finished'. He did not say I am finished but it was finished! He completed mission of salvation by His perfect death for us! Jesus Christ was born to die for us! Mary had a little lamb and His name is Jesus! Come let us adore Him! Are you saved? Fall on your knees and praise Him! And finally, He is the Risen Lord. Jesus Christ rose again on the third day! He lives. Every day is a Resurrection Day because He lives (Romans 8:31-39, I Corinthians 15:1-58). He broken the power of death! He returned to heaven after 40 days of post resurrection instruction to His disciples. He is coming again as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the words of the Scott Wesley Brown's song, "This Little Child", "In the midst of this darkness there is a hope and light that burns, this little child someday will return"! Jesus Christ is coming again! He will fulfill all of the rest of the prophecies given to the prophets concerning the reign of Messiah who will rule in righteous and justice. He is the Savior! The little child born in Bethlehem is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is the Wonder of Christmas! Hallelujah, What a Savior! He is the only Hope for a sin screed and sin sick world filled full of hatred, violence, and anguish. He is the Greatest Christmas gift. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
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Doug MillerEvangelist Archives
May 2021
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