Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth...Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2
I thought this year it would be good to finally tell the complete story. You see, the Christmas story is not only the story of a baby named Jesus, it is also the story of a Lamb being sent to us from God. A Lamb with one purpose, to serve as a sacrifice to reconcile us to God once again. Jesus was born that night in Bethlehem, but He was also present at the creation...
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Gen. 1:1-2
John explains that Jesus was present at creation along with God and the Holy Spirit as part of the Holy Trinity...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5
Man and woman was created and placed in the garden, but the serpent tempted them to disobey God and they sinned against God, bringing Death into this world. As God was pronouncing punishment on the serpent, He announces the coming of the Lamb (Jesus) to this world to strike the head of the serpent...
So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. Gen. 3:14-15
Old Testament prophets wrote about the coming Messiah, and provided hints about Him...
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel (“God with us” Mt. 1:23). Is. 7:14
A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
John the Baptist, a New Testament prophet and cousin of Jesus, proclaimed of Jesus when he first saw him...
Man and woman was created and placed in the garden, but the serpent tempted them to disobey God and they sinned against God, bringing Death into this world. As God was pronouncing punishment on the serpent, He announces the coming of the Lamb (Jesus) to this world to strike the head of the serpent...
So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. Gen. 3:14-15
Old Testament prophets wrote about the coming Messiah, and provided hints about Him...
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel (“God with us” Mt. 1:23). Is. 7:14
A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
John the Baptist, a New Testament prophet and cousin of Jesus, proclaimed of Jesus when he first saw him...
Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
Jesus fulfilled his purpose on this earth and became the sacrificial Lamb of God for all, covering our sins with his blood, and reconciling us back to God...
But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Jesus conquered Death and Sin, and then appears to believers 3 days after. During this time, He walks, talks, and even eats with His followers in His glorified body...
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
So we know that He will return for us, He has promised, and the time is quickly approaching. This will be the Rapture…
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. I Thess. 4:16-18
After the Rapture, and after the 7 year Tribulation, Jesus will again return, but this time not as Lamb, but rather as King of Kings and Lord of Lords…
Jesus fulfilled his purpose on this earth and became the sacrificial Lamb of God for all, covering our sins with his blood, and reconciling us back to God...
But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Jesus conquered Death and Sin, and then appears to believers 3 days after. During this time, He walks, talks, and even eats with His followers in His glorified body...
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
So we know that He will return for us, He has promised, and the time is quickly approaching. This will be the Rapture…
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. I Thess. 4:16-18
After the Rapture, and after the 7 year Tribulation, Jesus will again return, but this time not as Lamb, but rather as King of Kings and Lord of Lords…
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev. 19:11-16
The last chapter of the last book of the Bible describes Jesus (the Lamb of God) and his role in the New Heaven and the New Earth...
Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. Rev. 22:1-5
Paul in his letter to the Colossians describes Jesus, the Lamb of God, that baby in the manger, best I think…
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:13-20
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
The last chapter of the last book of the Bible describes Jesus (the Lamb of God) and his role in the New Heaven and the New Earth...
Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. Rev. 22:1-5
Paul in his letter to the Colossians describes Jesus, the Lamb of God, that baby in the manger, best I think…
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:13-20
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
