“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.”-- Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.”-- Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
The Prophecy
of Isaiah was given around 740 B.C.E. Jesus was born around 1 C.E. The map above
shows most of the known world was ruled by the Roman Empire in 44 B.C.E. This includes the future land of Israel. The
boundaries of the empire had only changed slightly by the time Christ was born.
A Military Messiah?
Jesus Christ
was far different from the earthly martial leader predicted by much of Jewish
tradition. He didn’t battle kings or stain the mountains red with blood. He didn’t
fight any Romans. Basically, Jesus didn’t free the land from the rule of
Caesar. Here are his humble characteristics:
- Born in one of the poorest nations in the world
- Came into the world as a helpless baby, just like everyone else
- Lay in a manger for his first bed—with the animals. His young parents weren’t rich or powerful.
- Birth announced by an angel to modest shepherds in the field. The wise men from the east only saw the special star in the beginning.
- Worked as a humble carpenter
Jesus came
for everyone, especially the
undervalued. He scorned arrogant, powerful people, such as the Pharisees. He
called them “whited sepulchers” (See Matthew 23:27.).
The blessing
of His birth isn’t just for the religious elite, or for the rich and famous. Here’s
an example of how the joy of the season can bring joy to even the most common
of us:
A Modern Christmas Miracle
(Information taken from The Travel
Channel’s “Mysteries at the Museum” series)
World War 1
was in full swing in Europe in 1914.The line of trenches stretched for 440
miles almost straight down--from the North Sea down to the Swiss border. At
that time, there were only about 100 yards separating the smelly, horrific
trenches of both sides.
On December
24, there was a pause in the fighting. Some German soldier started singing a
Christmas carol. The Allied troops in the opposite trenches were stunned, but
one of them began singing, too.
When the
singing stopped, one of the Germans offered to share his cigarettes. Cautious,
not knowing what to expect, a British soldier stepped out to meet his
counterpart. A few men, enemies and allies, ended up sharing cigarettes and
laughs.
Astounding!
But wait; it gets better! By Christmas
Day, the foes were playing an impromptu game of soccer. There was no fighting
that entire day along the 440 miles of battle lines. For 24 hours, the peace
and hope of Christmas prevailed.
This is the awesome
legacy of our Savior’s birth. We can find a bit of joy and hope even in the
middle of desperate circumstances.
My Conclusion
“People say there are no more
miracles, that God does not exist. But just look at Christmas - a time when
people express kindness, a time when the world stops and actually has peace, a
time when people share with others - a miracle, part of God's plan!”--
Catherine Pulsifer from wow4u.com
Jesus did
not come to bring immediate, military freedom. His legacy was many levels above
that. He came to bring lasting salvation, peace, and joy to every inhabitant of
Earth.
Christmas is
about rising above tough conditions to love and share. It’s a season for recognizing
our common interests.
Related Posts
Do you feel the joy and peace of the
season?
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