Christmas is a time for Christians to commemorate the birth of Jesus. But just who was this baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago?
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:11 NIV
Luke tells us that this baby was our savior; that he was the Messiah, God’s anointed one; and that he was the Lord, a term used in the New Testament for the Son, the second person of the Trinity.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23 NIV
Matthew tells us that he was Immanuel. That he was God with us. When we have seen him, we have seen God (John 14:9).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1, 14 NIV
John tells us that he was God who became human. And that in him we behold the glory of God.
Who, being in very nature God, / did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; / rather, he made himself nothing / by taking the very nature of a servant, / being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:6-7 NIV
Paul tells us that he was, in nature, God. But he took on a human nature. He did not become less than God. But his divinity was wrapped in humanity.
For this reason he had to be made like them [us], fully human in every way
Hebrews 2:17a NIV
And Hebrews tells us that Jesus, as the Son of God, became just as human as each of us–fully human in every way. While he lived among us, he went through all we do, including birth, childhood, temptation, and ministry, as a human with no special advantage.
As you celebrate this Christmas, remember who that baby was that we so often picture wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. He is the God of all creation, our redeemer, and Lord. Who came to live among us and die for us so that we might share in his life. Indeed, it was good news of great joy.
