Time with God is Celebrating Jesus

A Joyous Miracle

Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a wonderful thing. As we spend time with God reading about Jesus’ time here on Earth we learn how God brought His Son to us. Hallelujah!

I love Christmas! It’s a happy time for family, filled with song and celebrating our Lord Jesus who came to save us.  Even the thought of Santa Claus bringing wonderment to a child’s eye gives me pause for joy. (Remember, Santa Clause originated from the true story of a Saint, who was determined to bring joy to others on this sacred holiday). My daughter is especially wide eyed about the holiday. Throughout the whole year she might play Christmas music and dance throughout the house to the sound of Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole. She will even decorate her room with the occasional ornament or two.

The Battle is “On”

As we spend time reading the Word, the holiday itself can increase our thoughts of Christ and all He went through just to save us.  Although, the Earth and all the angels were rejoicing at the birth of our Lord and Savior, God’s bitter enemy, Satan, knew his time was shortened the night Jesus was born.

The battle was always “on” but now Satan knew he had to step up his game to destroy as many souls as possible. Basically, Satan, God’s enemy is quaking in his shoes.

Godly Events

Christ’s birth is truly a joyous time for all mankind, but it was not so for Jesus. The life Jesus led was, by human standards somewhat troublesome mixed with events of peril. If you or I had to face what He did we would have likely perished very early on.

God as a Child

His mother, Mary, who was 9 months pregnant, was forced to travel bareback on a donkey across the desert. After that Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem but there was no place available to stay, with no room at the Inn they found shelter in a stable. Our Lord Jesus was born in a barn like environment in the presence of farm animals, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and placed in a manger designed to feed those same animals.(Luke chapter 2:1 )

In retrospect, if one thinks about it, He was placed in a feeding stall. And what did Jesus do throughout His life? He fed the people through the Word that He received from His time with God.

His life was placed in more peril because the jealous and wicked King Herod ordered the massacre of the innocents, and was forced to flee to Egypt until Herod’s death.(Matt. 2:16)

At the age of twelve following a festival Jesus was accidentally (or was it God’s plan) left behind, so as God’s Son He instinctually went to the temple, His Father’s house. (Luke 2:41)

Now you realize I am not mentioning the multitude of angels gathered at His birth or the visions and dreams Joseph received from God. Therefore you can easily see God protected Jesus at every step. If you or I had to live through the same events there would have been a very different outcome.

God as a Man

Jesus’ adult life was at best difficult as well. Soon after His baptism He was confronted by Satan and was tempted in every way.

During Jesus’ three year ministry He never owned a home, not one place to lay His head at rest. Jesus was admired, loved, and hated by many people who never knew who He really was; the Son of God.

Jesus the Servant King

His word was God, His word is God, He spent His entire earthly existence serving mankind and serving the Father. God the Son spoke often with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They supported one another as one. Jesus humbled Himself to our level so He could live as one of us. He did this so we could, face to face, know the love of God through Christ. He sacrificed Himself as atonement for the sins of all mankind.

A Little History

At this time I will give an opinion on why Jesus had to sacrifice His Earthly life and endure the horrific torture prior to and during His crucifixion.

Jewish culture of the day, ordained by God’s law during the time of Moses required a sacrifice of the first born and unblemished animal from their flocks to cover sin. Therefore, Jesus the first born of God, the first born of Mary, the first born who was blameless without any sin had to be sacrificed to atone for the sin of all mankind. In other words, The Lamb of God who was sacrificed to cover the sin of all mankind forever.

Paid in Full

Sin has a price; God gave His only begotten Son to pay this price. Because Jesus paid this debt, Satan now has no hold on us at all. All we have to do is believe by faith that Jesus is the Son of God and we are redeemed from our sin through His sacrifice. Satan will do everything possible to deceive us from that knowledge of Jesus.

Three days after the crucifixion Jesus arose from the grave defeating death and defeating Satan. Following these events, Jesus spent time with the disciples solidifying their faith and giving instruction on spreading the good news of salvation to the rest of the world.

The Battle Has Been Won

The birth of our Lord and Savior is a tremendous miracle celebrated throughout the whole world. However I feel the resurrection is as equally important if not more important. Jesus death and resurrection seals his power over Satan. Think of all the people Jesus will save strictly through faith in  Him. All of this frustrates the enemy of God. Jesus has won, now Satan knows he has lost. The redemption of mankind has taken place for those who truly have faith and believe that Jesus is God the Son.

Jesus did this for you. Jesus cares for you, call upon Him, seek His name. Get to know Him, He’s asking for your friendship, just pick up the book and turn the page a little each day.