Oppressive Government, high taxes with a crippling economy, society in a moral spiral downward, corrupt religious system where church leaders misuse their influence for personal desire, the common man longing for truth and yet skeptical if truth even exists. Wow, it sounds like I’m reading the headlines of a modern day newspaper but I’m not. This was the scene during the first century in Israel.
The average family in first century Israel experienced the same emotions that many in our generation are experiencing today.
1. Discouragement
2. Doubt
3. Disillusionment
4. Despair
And into this scene, God breaks forth with the light of hope! The Prophets declared,
Isaiah 7: 14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
There is a reason God gave us that first Christmas. We were given that first Christmas so we could experience Easter. That babe born in Bethlehem was destined for a cross outside the gates of Jerusalem. Consider this, if there had not been a cross, and an empty tomb, that first Christmas would have no value. Jesus was born in order to die. Heaven came to earth, so we on earth could one day go to heaven.
The Gospel of Matthew recalls the account of the humble babe about thirty-three years after that first Christmas…
Matthew 27: 33-37, “And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. 35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Jesus died on that cross, but friends, I want to tell you, they buried Him, but they soon found that the grave could not hold Him.
Matthew 28: 1-7,
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,[a] and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
Just like in the first century, many in our generation are experiencing Discouragement, Doubt, Disillusionment, and Despair, but the Good News of the Gospel is that the same ray of hope that shone on that first Christmas night still shines tonight! HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST.
Our hope is not found in Government policies, the strength of Wall Street, social organizations, Higher Education, Technology, or any other human endeavor. Our hope is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who is still transforming the lives of those who call upon His Name to be their Savior.
The angel declared that His name would be called, Immanuel – God With Us!
Let the hope of Heaven that was born on that first Christmas night come into your heart and shine His love and forgiveness in your soul.
Merry Christmas!
