A little girl brought her Christmas Sunday School art project home for her mother to see. The mother couldn't figure it out.
"Why did you put Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus in an airplane?"
"That's the flight to Egypt."
"Well, who is that mean-looking man in the front of the plane?"
"That's Pontius, the pilot."
"So, who is that fat man standing behind Mary and the Baby?"
"That's round John Virgin."
Did you know that one of the best evidences for the existence of God, the inspiration of the Bible, and the Diety of Jesus Christ is fulfilled prophecy?
The chance that just 8 of approximately 333 Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ being fulfilled in one man without the intervention of God is 1 in 1,017.
Born in Bethlehem -- the Virgin Birth -- triumphal entry into Jerusalem -- betrayed by a friend -- hands and feet pierced -- crucified with robbers -- lots cast for clothes -- bones not broken -- and many more.
There was never a time when God the Son was not. He has always existed in eternity as a member of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. His miraculous birth was so we might know Him.
The Virgin Birth must be accepted by faith. Surprisingly, many so-called Christian clergy deny the Virgin Birth. Take away the divine birth and Jesus is a mere man. His virgin birth, atoning death, resurrection, ascension, and return stand or fall together. If you reject any of these great teachings about Jesus, you reject them all.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
As our words reveal to others our hearts and minds, so Jesus Christ is God's "Word" to reveal His heart and mind to us.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was not anything made that was made.
14. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us . . .
By the miracle of the virgin birth, Jesus took on Himself sinless human nature and identified with us in every aspect of life from birth to death.
"The Word" was not an abstract concept of philosophy, but a real Person who could be seen, touched, and heard. Christianity is Christ, and Christ is God.
Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name
Born in a manger, to His own a stranger
A Man of sorrows, tears and agony
O how i love Him, how i adore Him
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all
The great Creator became my Savior
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him.
Richard Carr
Mary believed the angel's promise, but she didn't understand it. How could a virgin give birth to a child?
Luke 1:31 And, behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32. 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:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his Kingdom there shall be no end.
Gabriel explained that this would be a miracle, the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Joseph, her betrothed, would not be the father, even though Jesus would be legally identified as the son of Joseph.
Gabriel was careful to point out that the Baby would be a "holy thing" and would not share the sinful human nature of man. Jesus knew no sin.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
It was fitting that the Good News about the birth of the Great Shepherd and Lamb of God first be delivered to the shepherds.
Luke 2:10,11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ The Lord.
Gabriel had frightened them at first, and I can only imagine their mouth-gapping expression still hanging when a chorus of angels appeared and gave an anthem of praise.
Rushing to Bethlehem, they found the long-awaited Messiah where the angel said and worshipped Him. On the way back to their old jobs they reported the Good News, glorifying and praising God. Anxious to tell their families, they couldn't stop talking about seeing Jesus.
Life changes when you meet the Master.
How amazed the angels must have been when they saw the Creator born as a speechless baby.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The King of kings and Lord of lords left his throne in heaven to become a servant. He didn't even have a place to lay His head. His ultimate experience of poverty was when He was made sin for us on the cross.
Why did He do it? That we might become rich. We were spiritually bankrupt, but now that we have trusted Him, we share in all of His riches! We are a child of the King, "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ" (Rom. 8:17).
Once I was clothed in the rags of my sin
Wretched and poor, lost and lonely within
But with wonderous compassion the King of all kings
In pity and love took me under His wing
Oh yes, oh yes, I'm a child of the King
His royal blood now flows in my veins
And I who was wretched and poor now can sing
Praise God, praise God, I'm a child of the King
Cindy Walker
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore The Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.
While the baby Jesus was as weak as any other baby, humanly speaking, He was also the center of power as far as heaven was concerned.
When Mary said, "Be it unto me according to Thy word" -- Luke 1;28, it meant that from then on, her life would be a part of the fulfillment of divine prophecy.
God had promised that the Saviour would be a human -- not an angel -- and a Jew -- not a Gentile. He would be from the tribe of Judah and the family of David, born of a virgin in Bethlehem, the city of David.
All of this occurred just as the Scriptures said, and Caesar unknowingly played an important part.
President Garfield called history "the unrolled scroll of prophecy". If God's Word controls our lives, then the events of history will only help us fulfill the will of God.
