Christmas is quickly approaching. There are many opinions regarding Christmas. Some hold the opinion that Christmas is biblical, spiritual, and worthy of celebration.
Others hold the opinion that Christmas is nothing more than man-made tradition rooted in ancient paganism. No matter which opinion you hold, the fact remains that Jesus was indeed born of a virgin. He was not born on December 25th. However, He was born, and His birth was wonderful!
There is a popular Christmas song entitled, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. I personally do not care for the song. However, many people enjoy because it talks about all the fun and wonderful things that occur during the Christmas season. In this writing, I wish to remind you that this is the most wonderful time of the year, because ...
He is wonderful.
Jesus is wonderful. In fact, the prophet, Isaiah, revealed to us that Jesus would be called Wonderful. Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “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. 7 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.” (ESV)
The Hebrew word for “wonderful” in Isaiah 9:6 is “pele”. According to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance number 6382, this word means, “miracle, marvelous thing, wonderful”. Gesenius’ Hebrew Lexicon points out that when speaking of God, or Christ, it means, “admirable, distinguished, and wonderful”.
Truly, our Savior was wonderful in the way His birth fulfilled prophecy. For example, God spoke to Abraham and provided a nation through which our Lord should come. That nation was Israel. The Lord spoke to Jacob and revealed which tribe of Israel the Savior would come. That tribe was Judah. To Isaiah, He told which particular family the Savior would be born to. That family was to be the family of Jesse. To Micah, He told the name of the birthplace. The birthplace was to be Bethlehem. In Malachi, He told of the forerunner to come. That forerunner was John the Baptist. When Jesus was born, He fulfilled all of these prophecies, plus more. Truly, He is wonderful!
His birth was wonderful. Pastors, preachers, and theologians have pointed the following things out for centuries. Jesus was the earthly child of a Heavenly Father and a heavenly child to an earthly mother. He contained two natures, one God, and one man. He is the God-man. If men had arranged His birthplace, they would have chosen the best hospital in the entire world or maybe a palace with a personal private physician on hand. But God chose a manger. Men would have prepared a royal crib to fit only for a King. But God chose a feed-trough. Man would have sewn the best of gowns made of the finest silk. But God chose swaddling clothes of the average person.
He is Wonderful! He was sinless, pure, and perfect. He was the bread of life but went hungry for forty days. He came to offer us the drink of living water, but He, Himself, thirsted for a drink of water. He came to offer rest for the weary, but He, Himself, suffered sleepless nights.
He is Wonderful! He calmed the stormy sea and blessed the children. He could preach to multitudes, and minister to the meek. He is the object of all worship, but the religious establishment wanted to kill Him. He was the sinless One, but it was the sinners who invited Him to dinner. He could walk on the water, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. Because of Him, the deaf hear, the mute speak, the blind see, and the lame walk.
Truly, He is wonderful!
He was even wonderful in His death. He laid aside the crown of glory to receive a crown of thorns. His hands healed the sick, their hands slapped His face. He spit in the dirt to make mud so that blinded eyes could see. They spit in his face so that His eyes could not see. He stopped funeral processions, but no one stopped His as He carried His death bed, the Cross, to Calvary. He hung on a cross between two thieves and forgave those who put Him there. People walked by and cursed Him, yet He prayed for them. As He died, the sun would not shine, an earthquake woke the dead, and the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, so that man could have access to the presence of God. He is wonderful!
He was wonderful in His resurrection. His death was wonderful, but thank God He did not stay dead. You see, if He would have merely died and not bodily rose from the dead, then His life and death would not mean a thing to you and me. He would have been nothing more than an interesting footnote in history. However, He did not stay in the tomb. He rose from the dead on the third day just as He said He would. His resurrection brought joy and hope to the disciples, confounded the Jews, stunned Rome, and took the sting out of death for His chosen. And, because He lives, I live. Not only do those who believe have eternal life, we have life right now, and life to fullest.
To many, this is the most wonderful time of the year. However, as you gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, please remember the following truth. It is the most wonderful time of the year only because He is Wonderful.