“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
The greatest thing that ever happened to mankind occurred the day the Son of God stepped out from eternity into time. The prophets had prophesied concerning His birth, and angels sang and declared Him. Today our entire civilization is shaped and maintained by Him. So who is this man? I am glad you asked.
He is the embodiment of science, the bedrock of all truth, the manifest wisdom of God and answer to the yearning cry of every sinner. He is friend to the lonely, provider to the needy, health to the sickly and strength to the weak. He was born into a world of deficiency yet He is King. He was the creator of all things, yet there was no room for Him at the inn. Who is this man that wise men seek? And why did He come?
This Christmas millions of God?s people all over the world will celebrate the birth of our Saviour, and celebrate we should. In order to make the festivities even more special we need to remind ourselves of two cardinal truths concerning the season. Who was Jesus, and why did He come?
Who Was Jesus?
He was and is the great Jehovah Jireh of Genesis, the multi-breasted one. In Him all our needs are met (Genesis 22:14). When God created Adam and Eve, he placed them in a world of material abundance. He commanded the water and ground to bring forth abundantly (Genesis 1:20). After creating all living creatures of the land, fowls of the air and fishes of the sea, God blessed them with fruitfulness and increase. In doing so He revealed His plan for the blessing and empowerment of His people.
The Great Redeemer
Not only is He our Great Physician, Jesus is also our Great Redeemer. Physical healing is a redemptive blessing that was paid on our behalf, and in our name, when Jesus Christ Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. This truth, my friend, sets us free from ever again being victims of satan’s lies and strategies. He was and is our Jehovah Shalom, the Prince of Peace (Judges 6:24). The greatest cry of the human heart is for peace, without which mankind has no hope. The human soul is like a raging sea without the peace of God. But thanks be to God, who has given us His peace in exchange for the war on the inside. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” – Ephesians 2:14-16 He was and is our Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner and Victory. By His death and resurrection He became the Great Captain of our salvation, which is the foundation for our victory. In 1 Corinthians 15:57 we are encouraged to give thanks to God, “which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This Christmas season remember this simple fact – we are not praying for the victory, we have the victory in Jesus our Lord.
The Good Shepherd
He was and is our Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd and Guide.“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1-4 The Lord Jesus Himself declared that He is the Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” John 10:11. We are no longer separated from Him because of sin. He has become our shepherd and guide, promising to instruct and teach us in the way that we should go, and guide us with His eye (Psalm 32:8). Through Him we have access to His super abundant life. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.”Deuteronomy 32:11-14
Our Righteousness
He was and is our Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness – (Jeremiah 23:6). Because of His righteousness, our dignity and value have been restored. Sin is the greatest enemy to self value and dignity. Sin diminishes a man to little more than an animal. The word teaches us that “It was through what His Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to Him; all things in heaven and on earth. Christ’s death on that cross has made peace with God for all by His blood. This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were His enemies and hated Him and were separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now He has brought you back as His friends,” Colossians 1:20-21 LB. Now we are friends forever because of Jesus. The Living Bible also says, “God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us!” 2 Corinthians 5:21. He was and is our Jehovah Shammah, the Lord Who is There, or Present (Ezekiel 48:35). There is one thing we can be very confident about: the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. He is very committed to His people, and since He is our friend, we will never be alone again.
Why Did Jesus Come?
This season we celebrate Jesus, who was born for a reason. If He had not come, salvation of man would not have been possible. Jesus did not come to start another good religion; He came to bring us into His own class of life. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:11-12 Jesus also came to show us God and to reveal us to ourselves. Both God and man are continually misrepresented by satan. Religion has portrayed God as someone who does not care for His people. Mankind has been slaves and victims of satan but the Bible tells us that, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people,” – Psalm 113:7-8. Jesus came to set the record straight! Finally, Jesus came to destroy the works of satan. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil,” 1 John 3:8. Just the thought of this scripture brings gladness to my heart; He came to“destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus not only died on the cross for us, the Bible lets us know that He also descended into hell (Ephesians 4:9). There He defeated satan and his cohorts and made an open spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). He paralyzed satan, rendered him completely helpless, and gave us authority over him. Jesus? victory over satan, sin, sickness, disease and death was not for Himself but for us, so let us go out and celebrate the season! Just as the man of God Nehemiah urged, I also encourage you to, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength,” Nehemiah 8:10. I pray that the joy of the Lord overtakes you afresh this Christmas Season. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for the Prophesied One rules and reigns today! Expect this New Year to be marked with the greatest of blessings;beyond your wildest dreams!
Love from your friends and pastors,
Apostle Everton and Pastor Tracy