The light has come: Christmas in the truth of Christ.

Matthew 1:18-25

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

THE NATIVITY OF THE MESSIAH

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 See, the virgin will become pregnant

and give birth to a son,

and they will name him Immanuel,

which is translated “God is with us.”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

The Fulfilled Prophecy (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7): The birth of Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies from the Old Testament, demonstrating that God is faithful to His promises and works through history. Biblical Reference: Isaiah 7:14, which prophesies the virgin birth of Jesus.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

The Humility of Christ (Luke 2:7):

Jesus was born in humble circumstances, not in a palace, but in

a stable, and placed in a manger. This teaches us about God's humility and his identification with the humble and marginalized.

Bible Reference: Philippians 2:6-8, which talks about Jesus humbling himself and taking the form of a servant.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

as something to be exploited.

7 Instead he emptied himself

by assuming the form of a servant,

taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man,

8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.

The First Worshipers (Luke 2:8-20):

The shepherds, simple people of low social status, were the

first to receive the news of the birth of Christ. This shows that the message of salvation is for everyone, regardless of their status.

Biblical Reference: John 3:16, which states that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

The Worship Response (Matthew 2:1-12):

The wise men from the east came to worship Jesus, bringing

significant gifts. Their journey and worship symbolize the appropriate response to Jesus: adoration

and surrender.

Biblical Reference: Psalm 95:6, which invites us to worship and prostrate before the Lord, our Maker.

6 Come, let’s worship and bow down;

let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker.

ILLUSTRATION AND APPLICATION

Illustrations: Share contemporary stories of how the true celebration of Christmas has impacted lives, leading to a deeper understanding of Jesus.

Practical Application: Reflect on how we are celebrating Christmas. Are we focusing on consumerism and festivities, or are we taking time to reflect on the miracle of Christ's birth and its significance for our salvation?

CONCLUSION

Summary: Christmas is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's promise and the beginning of our salvation. It is a time for worship, reflection and gratitude.

Call to Action: May this Christmas be a time to renew our admiration for the mystery of Jesus' birth, deepen our relationship with Him, and share His love and His story with others.

Closing with Prayer: Let us pray that this Christmas brings us closer to Jesus, fills us with the true joy that comes from Him, and inspires us to live in accordance with the love and humility that He demonstrated.