The birth of Yeshua (Jesus) otherwise known as the Incarnation ( in Christian theology, the belief that Yeshua the Christ, “was made flesh” by being conceived in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary has been spoken about many years before Yeshua (Jesus) was born. Many people had looked forward to its fulfillment, not until the time of Mary.
God had always planned to be one with the man in union, fellowship, and relationship. He would do this by revealing himself to man (humanity) as a man. Adam had sinned, and sin had caused a separation between man and God in the beginning, but God by his unfailing love for mankind would not allow this to thwart his plan. The implication of Adam’s sin had ravaged the whole of humanity causing men to progress in ungodly activities (every man seeking his way).
Mankind had tried to salvage himself by offering sacrifices for sins but like Hebrews 10:4 says; “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” Man needed to see the end of himself and his efforts, hence the need for the Messiah, a Saviour. The Saviour would be one not ‘implicated’ by the sin of Adam. The Saviour must be able to save the human race from the scourging hands of sin and death. The savior must be able to represent MANKIND; Angels could not do that and no Animals could. A man needed to stand for mankind. By this, God would have to become a man. He would have to take up flesh and blood to be able to relate with flesh and blood.
This had never happened in the whole of history, that the Almighty God would become a man. This would also mean that God as Man Yeshua (Jesus) would exhibit human characteristics. He would see the need to sleep, eat, and even cry as he did in John 11:35.
This is far beyond mental reasoning but the essence was LOVE FOR HUMANITY.
Matthew 1:21, says; ” And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Yeshua (Jesus), for He will save His people from their sins.” That was one essence of his birth, to save the world from sin. By doing this he revealed God whom no one had ever seen before as John 1:18 says, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son Yeshua (Jesus), which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Love was the motivation, that love remains unchangeable and unconditional even till today.
The birth of Christ had a death sentence. He wasn’t born to start up a career, get a job, get married, and enjoy himself. He was born to die for sins. One clear reason why he was called THE LAMB OF GOD which in literal terms would mean A GOAT but was a figure of speech signifying that he was going to be a sacrifice for sins. John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Christ coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” This signified his purpose to take away the sin of the world by dying for it.
So in the Christmas season (and every other day), we are celebrating the birth of Christ, the only solution to the sin problem. His virgin birth was a miracle, so it is a season of miracles, where impossibility becomes possible by faith. Many have celebrated Christmas in a way not different from their birthday celebration but Christmas is more than that. It is spiritual. The significance of this is that hope is restored to the world. The Saviour was born to settle the sin issue so that men could now have dominion over sin. His birth which led to his death and resurrection makes it possible for any man who believes in him to have eternal life which is in union with God.
No one would need to perish because the Saviour was born and the Saviour lives forever! It is Christmas, a time of love! A time of hope! A time of celebration! This time has come to stay with us, not to be seasonal. So, much more than now, everyone in appreciation of this act of God must live in the consciousness of Christ and all about him.
Amen!