For unto us a child is born…

by Marcelo Brandão·December 12, 2019·4 min read

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Isaiah 9: 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness.

It is very likely that this passage was written seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus. Isaiah was one of the prophets who announced the coming of God’s anointed in the Old Testament. I confess that one of the things that strikes me most about the Bible is how ancient prophecies aligned with these later events.

Today’s text is intended to remind all brothers of the true meaning of Christmas. And not. I’m not talking about good energy or dressing nice people at the end of the year.

The meaning of “Christmas“

The word “Christmas”, coming from the Latin “Nativitatis”, carries the simplicity of the word “birth” in its meaning. Therefore, we celebrate the occasion of one’s birth.

Whether or not this is the official date, if we have a mind focused on the real meaning of this birth, we have the opportunity to commemorate and remember the birth of Christ. Not just in one day. But after all, it is because of these “Nativitatis” that we have life today. But this is just my opinion.

The motive of “Nativitatis”

Or, the motive of the birth. Jesus was never a “plan B” of God. Before all was created He already existed with God and was God (John 1: 1-5). And it pleased the Father that all the fullness should dwell in him (Colossians 1:19).

During a visit to a Presbyterian Church in São Paulo, Brazil, in the ministry I was led to reflect on the significance of this plenitude. In his illustration, the pastor tried to make us think of the size of the universe. How God is still beyond the size of all that is known, be planets, galaxies, stars and the like. And that, in an indescribable act of love, all this greatness compressed into the form of one man. And the size of a woman’s womb.

The reason for the birth, then, was to fulfill God’s desire. That in his son, and at the same time in himself, dwell all this fullness.

Why did we need Christ?

Christianity is one of the most well-known and widespread religions in the world. Even so, I see that many people do not understand the reason for Christ’s birth and the grandeur of it.

Ephesians 2: 4 But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) and being dead in our transgressions, gave us life together with Christ – by grace you are saved – (6) and He raised us up with him and made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (7) God has done this to show in the times to come the supreme riches of his grace, in kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

In short, we were dead for our wickedness. We were God’s enemies. The only way we could reconcile and have peace with Him again was through faith that God Himself gave His life. In the form of man. The man Jesus Christ.

The death to which the bible refers is nothing but the absence and impossibility of connecting to the source of all life. This source being God Himself. And being God totally separated (holy) from all that evil. It is understood that man, being evil, was opposed to God. Because of this, man’s connection to the good source of life was broken, and so, without the restoration of that connection in Jesus, we were dead in our mistakes.

Call to Remember

The “true meaning of Christmas” is not Santa Claus. Not the gifts. Not is it about the good human works we can do. Much less about the “Hollywood” thing we see in the movies that run on celebration nights.

The true meaning of Christmas is birth. The birth of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The coming of man in whom dwells all the fulness of the God who created all things, and of him who bears on his shoulders the rule over all things (Isa 9: 6).

My appeal to the brothers is to bring that sense back to memory. Not only to personal memory, but also to bring this reflection to family reunions, parties, and everyday. For it is in this memory that salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life reside. And that is why we celebrate the Christmas of Christ on December 25th.

May the grace of Jesus Christ, the incarnate and glorified God, be with all the brethren! Enjoy the holidays and rejoice in the Lord and in his great power!

Merry Christmas! Today and forever!

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