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Category: Christmas

Unfamiliar Biblical Verses for Christmas

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On December 28, 2009

In Christian, Christmas

During the Christmas season, we hear umpteen number of verses that talk about the birth of Jesus and the most familiar accounts in the Scriptures is what is often heard of.
Some of these include

Matthew 1:21:-23
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 2:11
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

As I wondered as to whether there other verses in the Bible, that we are not so intimately familiar with, which also signify the birth of the Lord Jesus Chirst, the following few verses came to mind.

Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed [Jesus]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is referred to be the first messianic prophecy recorded in the Bible.

Song of Solomon 3:6
6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense [two of the gifts presented to Jesus at his birth], with all powders of the merchant?

Revelation 12:5
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

If you are familiar with other verses that signify the birth of Christ Jesus, please share.

Christmas in a Sentence

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On December 25, 2009

In Christian, Christmas

A friend of mine was sharing with me as to how he responded when some of his peers asked him about Christmas. He said, On Christmas, Christ-mas be told.
It’s Christmas day in the year of the Lord 2009 AD and as I ponder over what Christmas means and if one was given just 30 seconds to share to someone about Christmas, what would that be?

Christmas is God with us a.k.a. Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23);

Christmas is the fulfillment of a Prophecy (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:6-7)
in the Persona of Jesus Christ  (Matthew 1:21, Philippians 2:6-7)
who joyfully endured the Cross in His Passion (Hebrews 12:2)
subduing all including death and the grave through His resurrection Power (John 11:25; Philippians 3:21)
becoming THE Provision of a Savior (John 19:20)
for the Problem of sin (Romans 6:23).

What other one-liners can be used to describe Christmas? Think about it. Time is short, opportunities are little and we must be prepared to share about Jesus, especially on Christmas where Christ must (mas) be told.

The gifts at and the Gift of Christmas

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On December 24, 2009

In Christian, Christmas, The Gift

For the past couple of nights, we have been as a Church going home to home, caroling and proclaiming the good news of God’s presence with man (Emmanuel) by being born into this world in the form of a baby, who is named Jesus, which means Savior a.k.a. He shall save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21-23). One of the songs we sang was ‘We three kings of Orient are’ which narrates the event of the wise men from the east that sought the king of the Jews who fell down and worshipped Jesus, when they came into the house and saw Jesus the child with his mother, Mary and in their act of worship, opened their treasures and presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

While the presentation of gifts may be considered customary and happenstance, there is more to learn from this portion of the Scripture, just as any other narrative in the Christmas account.

Let us at first we look at the givers and then we shall look at the gifts.
The givers first and foremost fell down and worshipped Jesus, then they opened their treasures and presented him with their gifts. We must do likewise as well. We must first fall down and worship Jesus for He is King of kings, then we must open up our heart (for out of it is the wellspring [treasures] of life) and present ourselves to Him.  In other words, our act of worship must include wholeheartedly surrendering all we have and are to Him, the King over all.

Now looking at the gifts. The gifts that were given were gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Gold signifies royalty and divinity. It is the gift given to kings. Here we see that Jesus is the King given the gift of gold.
Frankincense signifies the prayers of the saints. Jesus is given Frankincense to symbolize that He is indeed a Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, the High Priest of the Most High God who is the intercessor on our behalf to God.
Myrrh signifies aroma/perfume which was used when preparing someone for burial. By the presenting of myrrh to Jesus, it symbolizes the preparation for his death on the cross of Calvary as the final and acceptable sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. The cross overshadowed the cradle in the manger on the First Noel, the first Christmas, when the Son of God became the Son of Man, so that the sons and daughters of man could become the sons and daughters of God.

Additionally, we must not forget that the greatest giver was none other than God, Jehovah Jireh, The Provider of a provision for reconciling God with man (Emmanuel), through the greatest gift which was His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, THE GIFT.

What is the gift you/I are/am going to give Jesus?

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

John 3:16  (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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