Quoted Text

Many nations have their way of celebrating Christmas.  Many believe that St. Nicholas delivers gifts to the good children, and others believe it is three wisemen who deliver them.  While both are respected and loved representatives of the spirit of giving, there was one man who would give the greatest gift of all.

His name was Jesus.

Long has the day been awaited.  It was prophecied in Isaiah 53 that a man would come about with no earthly beauty to attract people.  But he played the greatest role in history.  Jesus was no ordinary man.  He was the son of God.  Here it was promised.

Shepherds guarded their flocks nearby, when an angel of the LORD appeared to them.  "Fear not," he announced, "For I bring you tidings of great joy.  This day in the town of Bethlehem, a savior is born."  Here is was announced.

Shortly before then, Mary gave birth to Jesus.  The promise had been fulfilled.  Within a number of years, Jesus would deliver his gift to us.  Years later, Jesus had died on the cross.  Three days later, he rose again.  In this, Jesus had delivered a gift that he was born to carry out; the gift of salvation.  The gift has been delivered.

Though Jesus wasn't born exactly on Christmas day, we celebrate Christmas as his birthday.  It's more than a holiday to celebrate.  The day of Jesus' birth was the beginning.  Through Jesus' birth, a gift would be delivered to mankind.

This is why we honor Christ's birthday; it was the beginning.  The promise of a savior has been fulfilled.  No greater gift has been given to us, nor will any greater gift be given.

Even today, this gift is still being received.

Quoted Text

¹⁸ Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Joseph, her fianc¦, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. ²⁰ As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,* for he will save his people from their sins." ²² All of this happened to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
      ²³"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
            She will give birth to a son,
      and he will be called Immanuel*
            (meaning, God is with us)."
²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, ²⁵ but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.