Christmas 2008

Dear Neighbor,

You are invited to bring your family to Christmas tableaux, in which the Christmas stories are simply represented by people in costume while the Gospel is being read. The tableaux will be presented on Saturday, December 20th, at 4:30 and at 6:00 p.m.

Whose birth do we celebrate at Christmas? In the Gospel of Luke, we read what the angel of the Lord said to Mary when he came to tell her that she was “blessed among women”:

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:31-33)

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, whose name means “Jehovah saves.” The angel said He would also be called “the Son of the Highest” and “the Son of God.”

Jesus would have the throne of His father David and rule over the house of Jacob forever. This shows that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. So we can look at all the Old Testament prophecies to find further clues as to who Jesus was. For example, Isaiah 7:14:

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel,” which being translated is “God with us.” (See Mat. 1:23.)

Isaiah 9:6 says,

“Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given… and His name shall be called… the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

There are many, many other prophecies in the Old Testament showing that Jehovah God is the only Savior, the only Redeemer, and that there is no other God. So when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmastime, it is not just the story of a sweet little baby laid in a manger, or even a very special child who would grow up into a wonderful teacher. Christmas is much bigger than that!

It is the miracle that Jehovah God, the creator and preserver of the universe, came into this world in Person to be with us, because He loves us. When we had lost sight of who God is and even doubted whether there is a God, He came to restore our faith. He gave us freedom to know Him and to love Him by keeping His commandments. The Lord set us an example of truly Human nature. He taught us to love one another as He loves us. He set us free from the demons that were taking possession of human beings. And by laying down His life and then rising again, He led us to see that life in this world is not the end but the beginning, and preparation for eternal life.

May the Lord bless you and keep you this Christmas.