‘Do Not Be Afraid’

“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.

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’

“So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

“The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” (Luke 2:4-20)

‘It is the Lord Jesus Christ!’

Count Zinzendorf, the founder of the Moravians, was converted in an art gallery in Dusseldorf.  He stood before a painting of Christ on the cross.  Below the painting was an inscription.  “I did this for thee.  What hast though done for me?”  Zinzendorf was cut to the quick and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.

The picture had been painted by an artist three hundred years before.  When the artist had finished his first sketch of the face of the Redeemer, he called in his landlady’s daughter and asked her who she thought it was.  The little girl looked at it and said, “It is a good man.”  The artist knew he had failed.  He destroyed the first sketch and prayed.

Then with great skill he finished a second.  Again he called the little girl in and asked her to tell him who she thought the face represented.  This time the girl said that she thought it looked like a great sufferer.  Again, the painter knew that he had failed and again destroyed the sketch.

After meditation and prayer he made a third sketch.  When it was finished he called the girl a third time and asked her who it was.  Looking at the portrait, the girl exclaimed, “It is the Lord Jesus Christ!”

The Coming of Jesus Christ

That alone makes the coming of Jesus Christ meaningful to the world.  Not that a good man came, not that a wise teacher came, not that a great sufferer came, but that God came.

Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah predicted our savior virgin birth.  “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name, ‘Immanuel.’” (Isaiah 7:14)

Our Greatest Need

“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.  If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.  If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.”  Roy Lessin

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son; whosoever believers in Him shall not perish but having everlasting life.”  John 3:16