It’s Christmas time! Literally, the World celebrates! Here, at home, we decorate; we host festivals and enjoy festivities. It’s a time for family! We give gifts; we go to church. We sometimes find peace-but many times we just feel pressure! We unbox decor, purchase and write greeting cards, place gift orders, move through shops and crowds. We’re living in the season and it’s meant to be a time of joy and holiness… but we bump into an unspoken emptiness; seeking good cheer- we press on!
Humanity can sense the deep meaning of the season but with the passing of time we forget! We forget that this time of year is steeped in ancient traditions and beliefs! We forget that this holy time is derived from ancient writings of the ancient Jewish faith that birthed prophesy whispering about a coming Savior! Here is just one of those prophesies:
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
There will be no end!
He will reign on David’s throne
And over his kingdom,
Establishing and upholding it
With justice an righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
Will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9: 6-7
This was written about 700 BC!
Two thousand Seven-hundred and Seventeen years ago!
Our modern-time Christmas season has been “accomplished” and firmly established by The Lord, Almighty! Remembering this brings holiness back to our December!
The genealogy of Adam is listed in Genesis 5. As a child I wondered why this was so important. Now, I understand that it graciously has to do with verifying prophesy and being able to look back through History and find truth; to find God!
The genealogies of Israel are listed in 1st Chronicles 1:1 all the way through to 1st Chronicles Chapter 8. The first verse of 1st Chronicles 9:1 says this:
“All Israel was listed in the genealogies
recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.”
The genealogy continues in Chapter 9! On and on it goes, leading us ...leading us…leading us to Truth; To Christ! Does this interest you during the Christmas season? I pray it does!!
Let’s move from 700 BC to approximately A.D. 60 or so (that’s 760 years)! In the very first book of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter One gives the Genealogy of Jesus- beginning with Abraham and moving through to King David - which is important because of the scripture, above, in Isaiah 9! The genealogy continues all the way through to the lineage of….
“Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
Matthew 1:16
Let’s remember that God has stretched His Hand through human History to bring us this Christmas Season! Our modern Christmas was carved and etched out through centuries of time, through the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people, through literal Kings, God’s prophets, scribes, and historians! We have all of this knowledge due to the meticulous census-keeping of people from time-past and from our God, who made it so! Interestingly, the reason Mary and Joseph were traveling and Jesus was born in a stable was due to a mandatory government census that was taking place:
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee
to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,
because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary,
who was pledged to be married to him
and was expecting a child.
While they were there,
The time came for the baby to be born,
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger,
Because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2: 1-7
The AWE of these details is what makes our Christmas season so holy! It’s what God has accomplished through the workings of fallible man that is breath-taking. History has worked its way to December 2018 and still man rejoices over the birth of Jesus. The Christ-child took His first breath then exhaled and an entire new way of life was birthed! Let’s remember the reason for the season- for it ushers into the history books Jesus’ birth! But, Jesus’ birth also culminates the story of life on earth and proclaims the return of God’s kingdom, as written about in Revelations Chapter 22 (the last chapter in the Bible):
Behold I am coming soon!
Blessed is he who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
Verse 7
“Behold, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me and I will give to everyone
according to what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Verses 12-13
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star.”
Verse 16
Song Recommendation:
Mary Did You Know
By: Danny Gokey
