"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy " Luke 2:10
Although December 25th was almost certainly not the date Christ was born, it’s as good a day as any to celebrate that glorious and wonderful event.
So, let’s, for a moment, consider Jesus.
Before His birth, His name was revealed to Mary when Gabriel said, "You shall bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus" (Luke 1:26-33).
His name, Jesus was prophetic. The angel of the Lord clarified this when he appeared in Joseph’s dream saying, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:9-21).
Matthew, too, declared that Christ's birth fulfilled the prophesy of the incarnation, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel; which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1: 22-23).
Jesus is, therefore, our Saviour God whose arrival was a message of great joy (Luke 2: 9-11).
Perhaps we should pause and meditate upon these truths, for they tell us of the source of true Christmas joy.
His name is Jesus the Saviour.
He is our joy.
His name is Jesus Emmanuel, God with us.
He is our joy.
That means before there was a sinner on earth, there was a Saviour in Heaven.
He is our joy!
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).
He is our joy!
He is Christ the Lord, the anointed one.
He is our joy!
As the Puritan, Ralph Venning (1621–1673) said, "The name of Jesus is honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, and a joyful jubilee in the heart."
But when He came to earth, He was rejected and crucified! Nevertheless, He, by His atoning death, revealed that He is the Saviour. By His resurrection, He demonstrated that He is the ever- living One who is able to save to the uttermost, them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
What immense joy these truths bring when we believe.
May we never forget that this Saviour, "Christ the Lord," was not only born in the world, He "came down from heaven." He was God incarnate, perfect God and perfect Man.
When then we commemorate the Lord Jesus at this season may these sacred events not be locked in history as dry letters on a dusty page. May the Holy Spirit bring these glorious truths to our understanding.
May we, by the grace of God, believe and bask in the joy that the Christmas message brings.
Sweeter sounds than music knows Charm me in Emmanuel's Name; All her hopes my spirit owes To His birth, and cross, and shame.
When He came, the angels sung, "
Glory be to God on high! "
Lord, unloose my stammering tongue; Who should louder sing than I!
No, I must my praises bring, Though they worthless are and weak; For should I refuse to sing, Sure, the very stones would speak.
O my Saviour, Shield, and Sun, Shepherd, Brother. Husband, Friend!
Every precious name in one, I will love Thee without end,
John Newton (1725-1807)
And that’s the Gospel Truth!