Omaha Church of Christ

by Dr. Gregg Marutzky

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’
Luke 2:7-14

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The birthday of a person is the time to celebrate the life and character of the person. We celebrate the impact they have had on our life and the difference their life has made. What a different world we would live in without the birth of our Lord. His life was a short 33 years but what an impact. His ministry was a mere three years but the difference is eternal. We all can connect to a very personal God by the humble nature of the Messiah’s birth. Since the Savior was born in a barn and slept in a manger normally used to feed the animals, we are draw to the Creator of the universe. We have a model for living due to the life of Jesus. We have hope after death since the Lord died and was resurrected. We have the forgiveness of sins due to his sacrificial death of atonement on the Cross. We can understand God due to the descent of Jesus to earth.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus came to earth to reveal God to us. He had to empty himself into a human body to become a man. Our Lord had to let go of his equality with God in heaven to come to earth. The theological implications of the incarnation are numerous. Jesus died on the cross for the salvation of mankind. Therefore God died on the Cross for each one of us. Jesus was fully human and fully God. He was not half man and half God but fully all human and all divine. How could Jesus be both? According to Hebrews 1:3, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Jesus reveals to us the attributes of God. We see the love and goodness of God in the relationships of Christ. We see the compassion and mercy of the Heavenly Father as Jesus lived on earth. The justice of God and his forgiveness are displayed at the Cross. Praise God we can celebrate Christmas! Without the birth of Jesus we would be groping to understand God. We could witness many of his divines attributes in nature but how clear and personal a picture could we really have. Where would we be without the words of Jesus. The truth which guides our lives would never have been recorded. How lost we would feel without His’ message from heaven. His heart resounds from the record of his life. We feel the love over 2000 years later.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20

Happy Birthday Jesus! We remember your birth to gain faith, hope, and love. We celebrate the peace in our lives because you brought it to us from heaven. We celebrate Christmas because you are our Savior and not our Santa. Santa is for our children, you are for our soul. We are grateful for what you have brought to us and for what you have taken away! Thank you for coming!