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The Greatest Gift Of All
By Samuel Ashwood | December 26, 2008
Some six thousand years ago, when man first sinned, God approached him, and showed that He was fully aware of what had occurred. But in pronouncing judgment upon His fallen creature, God also gave this promise: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Over the course of history, there would often be long droughts when there was no word from God, nothing for sinful men and women to cling to except an ancient promise. But every so often, there would be anoth promise of a coming Messiah. Israel’s greatest prophet Moses foretold an even greater prophet than himself (Deuteronomy 18:18, 19). Nathan the prophet promised king David, in God’s Name, that from him would come a King whose throne would be established forever (II Samuel 7:11-16). Micah told that the Redeemer would be born in the little town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Isaiah the prophet told hundreds of years in advance that God’s Redeemer would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and that He would make atonement for the sins of His people (Isaiah 53).
Generation after generation of God’s people died away without seeing this promise fulfilled. But then an angel came from God to a young virgin girl in the town of Nazareth, and delivered this message: “Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His Name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and His kingdom there shall be no end.” When Mary wondered how a virgin could bear a son, the angel explained, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
In this great message, and the precise fulfillment of the angel’s words, was fulfilled the promise given to Adam and Eve so many thousands of years before. When Jesus was born, God HImself invaded time and space, to take on Him the flesh of a man, so that He may suffer, die, and then be raised again from the dead, to save sinners. The apostle Paul described it this way: “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Timothy 3:16).
For those like myself who do not celebrate Christmas, it does not make the incarnation of the Son of God any less precious. The day on which God’s Saviour was born is not important; what is important is that He was borne, and that He achieved a perfect salvation for all who believe in Him. The message of Christ is not about a political fight over saying, “Merry Christmas,” it is not about commercialization, trees, or giving presents, but about the gift of God’s only begotten Son, given by the heavenly Father as the only remedy from the damning power of sin. Because of the incarnation, which many celebrate at this time of year, there is salvation for sinners. And that is more important than any political battle we can ever fight.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
Topics: Social & Religious Commentary |
December 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Excellent post! What a great reminder of what Christmas is all about and what we should truly be celebrating.