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Who is the baby in the manger?
Is He more than just a “baby in the manger?” Is He more than just some “homeless child
born to a homeless couple?” Is He more
than just a 2,000 year old story about some obscure child, born on an obscure
night in some obscure village located in a far reaching, obscure outpost of the
Roman Empire?
Mary knew exactly Who her baby was - it had been revealed to her by the
Angel Gabriel that He would be great and would be called “the Son of the Most High.”
Joseph knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - it had been revealed to him by
an angel in a dream that He would “save
His people from their sins.”
Mary’s relative, Elizabeth (who was pregnant the same time Mary was),
knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - it was revealed to her by the Holy Spirit
when her own baby “leaped in her womb” at the sound of Mary’s voice and she
exclaimed in joy “Why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth’s husband, Zacharias, knew exactly Who
Mary’s baby was - it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit when he prophesied
at the birth of his own son, John the Baptist, saying “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will
go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him.”
The Shepherds knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - it had been revealed
to them by angels from heaven on the night of His birth when they said “Today in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Old man Simeon knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - it was revealed to Him
by the Holy Spirit when he saw the Baby Jesus in the temple 40 days after His
birth and he declared “My eyes have seen
your salvation.” The prophetess,
Anna, knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - she came up to prophesy over the Baby
Jesus in the temple the same day that Simeon did, speaking “about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem.”
The Wise Men knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was - it had been revealed to
them by the appearance of His Star in the East and they came to Jerusalem saying
“Where is the one who has been born king
of the Jews? We saw his star in the east
and have come to worship him."
King Herod knew exactly Who Mary’s baby was (without even knowing who
Mary was!) - upon hearing about the Wise Men’s search, “he was
disturbed . . . and inquired
. . . where the Messiah was to be born.” The chief priests and scribes of the people
knew exactly Who was being referenced when Herod inquired about the Messiah -
quoting the prophecy about Bethlehem saying “out
of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."
Everyone surrounding the birth of Jesus knew exactly Who He was - even
His enemies! There was no ambiguity or
vagueness, no obscurity or uncertainty, no doubt or wavering, no
incomprehension or hesitation. Through
the revelations given to them, each individual had a very clear understanding
that this was the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Promised
One anointed and sent by God to be Immanuel - God with us!
The question this Christmas is “Do YOU know Who He is?” The Scriptures tell us that the Christ Child
was born to us; the Son of God was
given to us. He was not given just for the people of an
ancient time. He is for all peoples of
all times. He was born for you. Immanuel - God with us - was given for you!
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Scott
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