Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Wednesday, December 24, Luke 2:11

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

I remember that when I was a kid, my mom and dad would corral us kids to church on Christmas Eve for "Midnight Mass". For me it was a bit grueling, for our bedtime was about 8 pm. But I don't think I complained much, because at that time we were brought up in the fear of the Lord, mostly through my mom, but my dad was always faithful to be in church during the "seasonal services", and made sure we went to church. And if we gave mom any lip, well, afterward we'd have to answer to him!

I never paid much attention as to why we would go so late, but later learned that traditionally Christ was said to have been born at around midnight, so the church would pray each Christmas Eve in anticipation of that great moment, perhaps the greatest moment in history, when God inserted Himself into this earth.

It was prophesied long before that moment in Micah 5 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord God." (2-4a)

We still wait to see part of that fulfillment "And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace." (4b-5)

And of course, all of the "Immanuel" chapters in Isaiah pointing to the "virgin bearing a Son" in chapter seven, with his attributes given in 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

And again, we will see its fulfillment when He comes to claim His Kingdom, maybe soon:

"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (9:7)

So, throughout all these centuries Christians throughout the world celebrate Christmas Eve in honor of that great Day when Christ first came to Bethlehem. For me, I anticipate the conclusion of the prophecies as well. It's all there in the Old Testament, and we who have been fortunate enough to see the First Coming have the New Testament as well to help prove the veracity of the Prophets.

Some try to spiritualize it all, but there is no "spiritualizing" needed. All will be fulfilled literally, just as the Prophets have written. Christ will return to the Land, first touching the very spot from which He left, the Mount of Olives. And the blinders will be taken off Israel, and they will look and mourn for Him who they had pierced, and all Israel will be saved. (Zechariah 12, 14, Romans 11)

And all nations will come again to Jerusalem to see the Great King who will rule and reign for 1000 years, and then present the fulfilled Kingdom to His Father, when the Trinity will form a New Heaven, Earth, and a New Jerusalem, and reign forever.

So, today, this is what I think about. Of course, I think about this every day, and cry out most mornings: "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6)

I hope you do as well. If not, call to Him and receive the greatest gift of all, the gift of His Son.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps:

"For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord."

If you don't have this memorized, you should do it today. And if you have children, if you never have, you should teach them this verse. To remember where it is, here is a quick hand action. Luke was a doctor, so imagine yourself in a white doctor's outfit, stethoscope and all. When you say "unto" raise one finger from each hand to make "2" for chapter 2 ("un-2"). Notice that the two fingers look like an "eleven". Now you know that this is from Luke 2:11.

And then let the kids see the video link below, where Linus explains what Christmas is all about.

Linus: Christmas (Charlie Brown)