For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; . . .1
A merry Christmas to everyone! Jesus is the reason why we celebrate Christmas. The merriment is born out of gratitude and awe as we reflect on the love of God. [God] desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.2
Strangely, people miss the path to salvation because of pre-conceived notions or wrong beliefs and traditions devoid of biblical context. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.3
When the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her the good news, she was greatly troubled. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”4 Yet she was assured, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”5
Jesus consented to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. As he went out of the water, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”6
Consider [Jesus] who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearled.7 Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.8
Jesus who was descended from David according to the flesh was declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. Through him we have received grace to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations.9
Plainly, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”10 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”11
Notes:
1. Isaiah 9:6a
2. 1 Timothy 2:4
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
4. Luke 1:26-29
5. Luke 1:30-33
6. Matthew 3:13-17
7. Hebrews 12:3
8. Hebrews 12:1-2
9. Romans 1:3-6
10. John 14:6
11. John 10:27-30
