Weekly Devotional 12-24-12 Our Salvation
December 25th of each year is the day that has been traditionally set aside as the birth of Jesus. Some think of Him as the Son of God, some think of Him as the Christ, the anointed of God. Others, while acknowledging His birth, do not attach much significance to it or to His life. To those thinkers it must be said, the Bible declares of Him that He was God manifested in the flesh. The Apostle John spoke of this in the gospel that bears his name, “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men… 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (.John 1:1-4; 14 NKJV).
John walked with Jesus for almost three years and witnessed many things that attested to His deity. In his presence, Jesus changed water into wine, He multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish into enough food to feed hundreds that had gathered to hear Him, He gave sight to the blind, He healed the lame, He walked on water, He cast out demons, and He raised the dead. John of course was not the only witness of these things. Others who followed Jesus also witnessed these same things. Many of those followers went to their death rather than deny what they had witnessed. So yes, Jesus’ deity was proven, at least to them. Such conviction however was not peculiar to them. Hundreds, thousands that came to believe those proofs of His deity committed themselves to Him and were killed during the first century because of their commitment. But, it didn’t end with those of the first century. Because of their testimony and faithfulness, millions have come to believe and trust in Jesus for their salvation; many who have also been martyred (killed).
Another Thought; It’s hard to imagine what Joseph and Mary thought on the night of His birth as they looked into Jesus’ eyes for the first time. Perhaps Mary recalled the words of the angel Gabriel who said to her,“30 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end”(Luke 1:30-33). Perhaps she recalled her question to Gabriel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And Gabriel’s answer, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Perhaps Joseph recalled the words of the messenger who had been sent to him in a dream. “20bJoseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 20b-21).
Certainly, they both knew that Jesus was of the miraculous, but probably did not know of His eventual death, burial and resurrection. Joseph would die before those things took place, but Mary would live to see them occur. What joy must have overwhelmed her when she saw Jesus for the first time after His resurrection! When she looked into the eyes of the risen Jesus full understanding came to her. She was not only standing before her son, but she was standing before her Lord and Savior.
When we consider Jesus this Christmas season may we each see Him for who He truly is, God the Son, manifested in the flesh, the Savior of those who turn to Him in faith, and the Lord of the world.
Have a blessed Christmas.
Steve