The mission of this ministry is to love God, love people and share Jesus, to as many who would receive the Gospel message. But we aren't the first to share Jesus by any means.
The first person who shared Jesus was our Heavenly Father God, and for this, I am eternally thankful.
Two thousand years ago The Angel Gabriel came to a Priest named Zechariah while he was performing his priestly duties burning incense in the Temple. Gabriel told him that his elderly, barren wife would bear a son and he was to name him John.
Zechariah was shocked and responded like this to the angel who then told him that he would be mute because of his unbelief. Six months later Gabriel again appeared, this time to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph. He told Mary that she had found favor in God's eyes and she would bear a son that she should call Jesus. He also said to her that her cousin Elizabeth who had been barren was also pregnant.
Mary too questioned the angel and asked how this would happen since she had never known a man. Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would conceive and bear a son, who would be the Son of God. When Joseph found out that she was pregnant before marriage, being an honorable man he decided to divorce her quickly. That evening The Angel Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream. He told Joseph not to fear because the child that Mary was carrying is the son of the Most High. He said to him that the baby would be born and to name him Jesus.
Mary then journeyed to see her cousin and when she greeted her the baby in Elizabeth's belly jumped with Joy. Elizabeth knew right away that Mary carried The Lord in her stomach.
Cesar decided to count all of the Jews living in the Promised Land. Joseph who was related to King David would have to travel to David's hometown and register with the Roman census. Mary who was pregnant would have to go with him. They travelled several days, and when they reached the City of David, also called Bethlehem, they couldn't find anywhere to stay. The city was filled with people also trying to register for the census. They finally found a stable beside an inn and settled down for the night.
It came time for Mary to give birth and she bore her firstborn son, and they named him Jesus. They wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger.
Far away were some shepherds who were tending the flocks of sheep meant for sacrifice to the Temple of the Most High Lord. In the middle of the night, an angel of the Lord appeared and around him shown the Glory of the Lord. The shepherds were terrified because the Glory had not been seen for thousands of years. The angel said, "I bring you news of peace and great joy, for today a King has been born, you will find Him lying in a manger wrapped with a cloth." Then all of the Heavenly hosts sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth."
The shepherds then traveled to where Jesus was and fell to worship Him, and they went throughout the land proclaiming the good news. There were three Magi in a far East land who saw a star in the night's sky. They knew that the star was to announce the birth of the Messiah, the King of the Jews. They traveled very far to see the baby. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they went to see King Herod (who was also a Jew), and they asked him if he knew where to find the King of the Jews. Herod and all of the priests were terrified. The king inquired of all of his priests where the Messiah would be born. They told him that he would be born in the City of David, in Bethlehem,
The king called the wise men back in and asked them when they had first seen the star in the sky. The star appeared almost two years prior, for they had journeyed from far away. Herod asked the Magi if after they found Jesus if they would tell him where to find Him because King Herod wanted to worship Him as well. The Three kings departed and the star guided them to Bethlehem.
When they arrived, they found the baby in the manger, and they presented Him with gifts. King Caspar, from India, presented Him with gold, King Melchior, from Persia brought the frankincense; and Balthazar from Arabia brought myrrh. The kings knew of the sacrifice that Jesus would have to make one day. After being warned by an angel in a dream, they departed and went a different way back to their countries.
Gold, frankincense and myrrh; these three items hold a lot of significance. Gold holds power on the earth to distribute wealth. Frankincense represents the power of worship; it is an ancient spice that was used to anoint new kings. Myrrh is the power of death, in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were separated from God, and Death had gained strength in the world. Herod was terrified because myrrh symbolized the redemptive power of the resurrection of the Messiah.
When King Herod heard that the Magi had tricked him, he issued a decree to have all of the boys who were age two and younger killed, because he feared the coming of the Messiah. The thing that frightened the Jewish king the most was the arrival of the Three Kings from afar. Their gifts illustrated the power that The Messiah would have on earth.
After the king's departed, Joseph had also been warned in a dream to take the baby and Mary to Egypt and stay there until told to return. It was during this time that the massacre took the place of all of the innocent children. Many years later Joseph was visited in a dream once more and told that Herod was dead and it was safe for them to return. Fulfilling the prophecy that says, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." (Matt 2:13-15)
The Christmas story isn't just about a baby in a manger. It is much more than that; it is the story of how God sent his only begotten Son to earth to redeem humankind from the curse of sin and death that happened way back in the Garden.
As you sit with your families this Christmas, I hope you will think about this beautiful story of the birth of our one and only Savior who is Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
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