"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end" Isaiah 9:6-7
This passage about Jesus was written some 600 years before he was even born. Here are some other prophecies about the birth of Jesus written long before he arrived. The Old Testament is full of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.
Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin
Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem
Jeremiah 31:15 Herod's murder of all babies in Bethlehem
Hosea 11:1 Jesus would escape Herod's brutality by traveling to Egypt
But what I want to focus on now is the phrase "a Son is given" You see, I have a son, an only son, who I love with all my heart. In fact, my children are the only people on earth I would sacrifice my life for. And I believe most parents feel the same way. But would I send my son to an excrutiating death in order to save the life of someone else I loved? Probably not. Would I send him for someone who was my enemy, someone who belittled me, shunned me, rejected me? NEVER. But my love is human, selfish and flawed and I can never understand the perfect, unconditional love of God. When God sent Jesus to take on human form and be born as an infant in that manger, I don't think He was looking at Jesus as a cute little baby. I think God saw His Son, mangled and mutilated, hanging on a cross. And it broke God's heart. He could have called Jesus home at any time during his 33 years here on earth, but He didn't. What manner of Love is this? Incredible.
If you are feeling blue this season, if you have problems you're battling, or even if you're overwhelmed by gift-buying and decorating and parties and you seem to have lost the true meaning of Christmas along the way, click on this link and take a few minutes out of your busy day to watch this video. You'll be glad you did.
If you'd like to enter another drawing for The Red Siren, please leave a comment about what Christmas means to you. I'll draw a name on Monday next week. Also, my publisher is having a drawing of their own on their blog. You can also enter your name there to win a free copy as well. Here's the link The Edit Cafe
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Christmas to me is a time when I'm with my family and and we read the Christmas Story, and just enjoy being around each other.
ReplyDeleteRae
raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com
This year it has meant slowing down and enjoying the time with my family!
ReplyDeleteTo me Christmas is about taking time to spend with my family.
ReplyDeleterebecca191@aol.com
Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of God's gift to us through His Son, Jesus. I love spending time with family and friends during the Christmas season! Christmas is a joyous holiday that is so much more than I can describe...Christmas, to me, is a blessing, a gift in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for another chance to win your book, and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to win Gallimore! Merry Christmas to all!
Amber Stokes
stokes.a@suddenlink.net
Dear MaryLu,
ReplyDeleteIn this season of gift giving to our loved ones, I realize how blessed I’ve been to have won a book from your blog this past year. The time you put into your blog and your generosity in sharing books means a lot to me. So I wanted to express my appreciation and also wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Blessings,
Carole
(I tried to post this on your website, but it wouldn't go through.)
Christmas is A time to celebrate God's greatest gift to us.Have A Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is a great time to spend with family to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
ReplyDeleterachelmarie42@yahoo.com
I was thinking about that question the day after Christmas. I love to be able to give to others less fortunate at Christmas,I cherish the time spent on Christmas day with my family taking turns opening gifts but I realized how easy it is to loose the perspective of what it is all about. Way too easy to get caught up in giving or seeing family we don't get to see often or the beautiful lights and decorations. When the truth of the matter is, it's about a small babe that was born to grow up and suffer and die a horrendous death for our sins. I asked myself could I enjoy Christmas without all of the trappings? Would it be just as special if it was just God's word and me alone on His birthday?
ReplyDeleteDebbie Lynne
Christmas is all about family! (and actually having time to breathe....) :) And of course the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ without who we wouldn't have Christmas at all!
ReplyDeletemissbookworm [at] ymail [dot] com
Hi MaryLu,
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Or rather I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a very prosperous new year ahead.
Well Christmas, materially, means I get two weeks of vacation to sleep, eat and read without remorse! So far, I've done all three amply! Even got to watch Pride and Prejudice (BBC), which I do annually. I learn something new every time!
I cannot grasp the wonder, the divine love, of giving my child to anyone...even someone I love. Giving it to an enemy is beyond mind-boggling. For Him to take my sin upon Himself so I could spend eternity with Him is the greatest event that’s ever happened.
ldneuhof at hotmail dot com
Christmas has taken on a new meaning to our family, because our daughter is now in Germany, preparing to lead a new campus ministry. Jesus' coming shows us what Immanuel, God with us, looks like. This means putting our children in His hands and knowing that He is with them wherever they are in this world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another chance to win your book, MaryLu.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net