Joy to the world, ____ ______ ____ ______!
Can you finish this line from a popular Christmas hymn?
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Have you ever considered why the earth would be joyous at Christ’s coming? This question begs an even deeper question: why do we celebrate Christmas in the first place?
Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of holiday festivities, the Christmas narrative can lose its centrality to the season. We can become so familiar with the shepherds, the manger, and the angels that we fail to slow down and really consider the impact of our Lord’s coming. Today, you are invited—as you sip your morning coffee or gaze at twinkling lights in the dark—to slow your mind and dwell in the good news of Christ’s incarnation.
“Incarnation” is a theological word describing the process by which Jesus took on human flesh while maintaining His full deity. Or, in simpler terms, it is the miracle in which Jesus became completely human yet remained completely God. As you picture the manger scene with your mind’s eye, baby Jesus has ten little fingers and ten little toes—He coos in glee and cries in need. But this little baby, in the humility of a manger, is also the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Mary’s arms, she miraculously held her Maker. The shepherds who heard the good news of Jesus’s arrival, ran with abandon into town because their Messiah had finally come!
In today’s modern context, we can sometimes lose the wonder of the manger because we haven’t had to wait for the Messiah. For centuries and centuries, Israel waited for the redemption promised to God’s people. God gave His people a law to follow; but they failed to keep it. God gave Israel kings to lead them into fellowship with Him; but the kings often led Israel astray. God gave prophets to inspire hope and obedience; and yet the prophets were often shunned and sidelined. Even so, God remained faithful to His promises—He would bring salvation to the world through a son of David (2 Samuel 7).
In fact, biblical scholars count over three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament that point to Jesus’s life and legacy. Each of these prophecies, fulfilled in Christ, remind us of the God who is faithful even while we are not. Let’s check out three of these prophecies that are fulfilled in Christ—Christ’s cradle (or that the Messiah would be born a child), the Cross (or that the Messiah would die for our sins), and the crown (or that the Messiah would be King of an everlasting kingdom). Through each prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus, we are reminded that God keeps His promises. Christmas matters because Christmas proves God’s faithfulness.
The Cradle
Prophecy 1:
For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6
Approximately seven hundred years before Christ’s birth, Isaiah prophesied that the hope of Israel would be a child “born for us” and that “the government will be on his shoulders.” In this prophecy, Isaiah foretold that this son will not only be a child—but that He will be God. This child would usher in God’s peace and establish an eternal kingdom. This child would be the hope of the world. Fast forward to Bethlehem centuries later, Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. The Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God was not born in a palace or in prestige. Instead, God’s coming as a child and his resting in a manger symbolizes God’s identification with the lowliest of humanity. Christ came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The government—and all of humanity’s establishments—belong to this Child who holds authority over the heavens and the earth (Matthew 28:18).
Why does this matter?
Today, we know the name of the child Israel longed for. We know that God delivered on His promise to redeem the world through a Child who was fully man and fully God. The hope Israel longed for is ours today. We can rejoice in God’s promise being fulfilled in Jesus.
The Cross
Prophecy 2:
But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
— Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah continued prophesying about the coming Messiah, predicting that He would be pierced, crushed, and punished for our sins. The details of Psalm 53 point us to the cross of Christ, where we know that Jesus was in fact wounded so that we may be healed. Isaiah foretold a man who would sacrifice HIs life to pay for the sins of the world. Jesus is the sinless, spotless Lamb of God whose sacrifice gave us life. Because Jesus bore on sins on the cross, we have peace with God. There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Even more, because Jesus experienced suffering and pain, we know that He understands our pain—He sympathizes with us. The cross reminds us of Jesus’s great compassion for human pain.
Why does this matter?
Without Christmas, we would not have our salvation. Jesus had to be born, so that He could live a perfect life and then sacrifice His life for the sins of man. When we gather around to celebrate the beloved baby in a manger, we can remember that without Luke 2, we would not have Luke 23. Without the manger, we would never have the cross, and without the cross, we would never have the empty tomb.
Crown
Prophecy 3:
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule is for all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and gracious in all his actions.
— Psalm 145:13
David, the author of Psalm 145, looks forward to a day when the Lord would establish His everlasting kingdom. In fact, God promised David that his house and kingdom would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16)—that means that God promised a future King from David’s line who would be the promised Messiah. Jesus’s human lineage traces back to David, as proven in Matthew and Luke’s genealogies (Matthew 1 and Luke 3). Jesus is God’s promised King of kings. So too, as David prophesied, Jesus’s kingdom is everlasting. In glory and honor and power, our forever King conquered death. Now, Jesus reigns in heaven waiting for the appointed time to return and rid the world of evil once and for all. Jesus’s rule is for all generations.
Why does this matter?
Right now, we live in the “already but not yet.” We know Jesus is the Messiah. We know His birth story, and the story of our salvation. However, we are still waiting for His promised return, when our King will fully establish His kingdom here on earth. As the Israelites waited for Christ’s coming, we wait for His return. Jesus’s first coming prompts us to wait expectantly for His second. As we celebrate the joy of Jesus’s birth, we can imagine the joy of His return for all who trust in Him. Christmas whets our appetites for eternity. One day, we will be with Jesus forevermore.
Christmas traditions, twinkling lights, and tinsel are all great—but they pale in comparison to the wonder of Christmas’s true meaning—they pale in comparison to Jesus. Who could have imagined that the God of the universe would become a helpless baby? Who could fathom that God would sacrifice His only Son to save us? Every promise of God finds its “yes” and “amen” in Jesus. This Christmas, as you fix your thoughts upon the swaddled baby in a manger, may your heart prepare Him room. May you remember God’s faithfulness. May joy overflow from within, as you remember that God keeps His promises. Even as you face the unknown in the coming year, you can remember God’s goodness proven in Christ. You can remember that Jesus is good news of great joy for all people (Luke 2:10). He is good news of great joy for you.
The incarnation matters because in Christ’s coming, we see the fullness of God’s faithfulness. In Christ’s coming, we remember the joy of our salvation. In Christ’s coming, we are filled with hope that He will one day come again.
Additional Resources for the Holidays:
|
Liturgical Living Bundle |
The Promise of Christmas Children's Book |
Seeking True Growth in Christ |
How to Feel More Confident in Your Salvation |
|||
Loading price… |
Loading price… |
|
Loading price… |
