"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV)
 
Many parts of the world do not celebrate New Year's Eve. They celebrate Old Year's Night. When I have been in those nations, I often hear comments like, "I wish our nation celebrated New Year's Eve. It seems like we are always trying to hang onto the old." "Old Year's Night is so depressing compared to New Year's Eve.”

Each is a perspective of looking at something. One looks forward, and the other looks back. One celebrates the future, and the other celebrates the past. One thinks about where we are going, and the other reflects on where we have been. In actuality, New Year's Eve and Old Year's Night are just markers, time designations on a calendar.

It is what you do with your life today that counts. As Paul, I want to press on to the high calling in Christ Jesus. I will celebrate the victories of last year. Learn from my mistakes and press on. I will set my face like flint towards my future—to become all God has called me to be and to accomplish all He has given me to do. I will not let my past stop me, nor will I be afraid of the future before me. So, whether I am looking back or looking ahead, where I am right now is what matters. I will keep my eyes on the prize and run to finish this race.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body..." (Philippians 3:20,21 ESV)
 
Are there times when you no longer feel a part of this world? Paul did. He was excited to know that he was a citizen of heaven. And being a citizen of heaven created a longing in his heart to be there. What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven? The Greek word for citizen has as its root a word meaning 'fortified place." Later, it came to mean a community member sharing the same values.

Abraham was looking for that city whose builder and maker was God. (Hebrews 11:10,16). Seeing this city from afar, he lived as a pilgrim and stranger on Earth (Hebrews 11:14,16). As citizens of heaven, we are not a foreign colony on Earth but aliens in this place, just passing through. We, too, are looking for and moving toward this city built by God.

We are waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ! And we know we will be transformed to have a glorious body like His when He returns. A body that will not wear out, break down, or contain any bad or missing parts. Being a believer gives me citizenship in two worlds: a heavenly one there and an earthly one here. It makes me kind of homesick.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
 
When Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, He was making a radical statement. He really meant enemies, not people who irritate us or offend us. The standard teaching was to love your neighbors and hate your enemies. But Jesus was after the heart and what the heart contained. It was not acceptable for a person of the Kingdom of God to carry hatred in their heart.

The way you drive out such hate is by learning to love your enemies and to pray for your persecutors. How do you do that? One, you pray for their salvation. Though enemies, they are still people Jesus died for. As you pray for them, you will find your heart softening toward them because you see them as individuals loved by God. Two, pray that the evil in their hearts would be restrained and that the mercy of God would come upon their hearts. Mercy is what none of us deserve but all of us need. Third, pray for justice, but make sure your heart is in the right place. Justice is not your enemy's destruction but the destruction of the evil he holds in his heart and the destruction of the manifestation of that evil.

It is a radical thing that Jesus asks of us. But if the Kingdom operates in love, we have to do it.

"...Samuel said, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 7:3, ESV)
 
Repentance is a change of heart and a decision we make. Israel was facing her enemy, the Philistines. Is it not amazing when we find ourselves threatened by trouble that we call on the name of the Lord, saying, "Lord, save us!”

It was no different in Samuel's day. He knew their hearts, just as God knows our hearts. Samuel understood this, so he was directing their hearts into both faith and repentance. Do you remember when your mom would make you say you're sorry as a kid? You weren't sorry. You were sorry you were in trouble! Samuel knew that God was after the hearts of His people, Israel, so he directed their hearts back to God.

Let that be a 'game changer' for you when you are in trouble. Don't just ask God to deliver you from trouble; give him your heart. Turn away from the sin that so easily entangles. Let God have your heart. Serve Him only. God does not want to be your Savior only when you are in trouble. He wants to be your Savior every day! He wants to hold your heart in His hand so you might experience His goodness and enjoy Him.

2 Peter 1:5, "...make every effort to supplement your faith... For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:8, ESV)
 
Peter is talking about planning to grow spiritually. If every believer made every effort to grow spiritually, a major transformation would occur in the body of Christ. So many believers are just lazy. They have no desire to grow, no vision to grow, and no goals to grow spiritually. Look, you should be more of a Christian than you were last year.

Peter lists eight things we should grow in and possess in increasing measure. Jesus paid too great a price for you not to give Him your all and your best effort. You should have a plan for how you will grow spiritually. You could practice a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle. You could purpose to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. You could break down the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13.

Go before the Lord and tell him you want to grow this coming year. Listen. Be still and listen for His gentle leading. Write down what you hear and begin to build a plan to grow. Do it with a friend, and you will see much more success. Hold each other to your strategies. Celebrate your successes often, and do not quit when you fall short.
Start building a spiritual life that Jesus would be proud of. Make every effort!

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52, ESV)
 
People grow best when they plan to grow. Show me a person who is growing, and I will show you a person who has a plan to grow. In Luke 2, we find the story of Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem while his parents return to Nazareth. He was twelve years old and listening and asking questions in the synagogue. Luke writes, "and all who heard him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

How did this young man get this way? I am sure Joseph, knowing he was raising the Son of God, had a plan to ensure Jesus was well-versed in the scriptures. My father-in-law had a saying, "Blessed is he who aims at nothing, for he shall surely hit it." So many people go through life like that. They have no goals. They have no plan to grow. They are adrift on the sea of life.

In what ways would you like to grow next year? List five or six things you would like to grow in. Now, set reasonable goals for each item. Make them measurable. You have to be able to measure progress daily, weekly, and monthly. What tools will you need to fulfill your goals? Find yourself an accountability partner who holds your objectives and can regularly ask how you are doing. If you take these simple steps, you will increase in favor and wisdom with God and man. Be intentional about growing.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11, ESV)
 
I have always thought of Linus from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special when I hear these words. I do not mean to make light of the Gift. I desire to acknowledge the power and joy at the moment of Jesus' birth, making it so simple that children can understand it. The whole reason for His coming was to purchase for us, by His own blood, our salvation. So, it does not matter who reads these words; it still means, "For unto you!" We were the ones who needed saving. He was the one who came 'for us.' He is the one who the Father sent 'for us!’

He was born in the City of David according to the word of the prophets, thus fulfilling God's word. He is a Savior! Our Savior! He came to save us from serious peril! Our sin had condemned us to a devil's hell. But Jesus came to save us from that destruction! Beautiful Savior! We praise you!

He is Christ the Lord! What does that mean? He is Christ, meaning He is the Anointed One. God has authorized Him for a special Kingdom purpose: to represent us as the Victorious King! He has power over death, hell, and the grave! He is Lord over all! No one else even comes close to Him. Because He is Christ the Lord, He is a marvelous, loving Savior! For you, this is who He is!

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:13–14, ESV)
 
When God does something, He always does it up big! Can you imagine being on that hillside the night the angel appeared to the shepherds? An angel shows up and announces, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11, ESV)  And the angel, barely finishing his announcement, is drowned out by a multitude of heavenly hosts that are breaking out in glorious song: "Glory to God in the Highest!" What a way to make an announcement! 

Not only is God being praised for His infinite wisdom, but the multitude of heavenly hosts are decreeing, "Peace among those with whom he is pleased!"   Peace is the absence of all hostile feelings. To those who believe on His name, He gives them the right to become children of God! As His children, we are dearly loved! We enjoy His peace, as only He can give. The joy of knowing that God is pleased with you—who can compare?

The message to the angels moved them to go and see. It is like receiving the revelation of who Jesus is, and you come running to Him! And it does not stop there. The angels returned with the song of the Lord in their hearts as they continued to watch over the sheep.

"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, ESV)
 
What sets Mary apart from so many others is that she discovers and keeps true treasures in her heart. For such a young person, Mary is filled with God, encounters angels, carries the Christ child, is surprised by visits from excited shepherds, and is honored by wise men. In all this, she does not become proud but humble. She treasures all these things in her heart. What are you storing in your heart? What have you hidden away in your heart that God has given you?

"The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." (Matthew 12:35, ESV). It matters what you put in your heart. Mary pondered these things in her heart. To ponder means to think about. It is not just about thinking but about connecting the things that are thought of. Mary wanted to 'understand' what all of this meant. What are the implications of these things? 

When God is working in our lives, we are hearing His voice and being led by Him in supernatural ways. We, like Mary, should treasure these things in our hearts because they are from God! It is in the pondering that we discover more of God's plan. In the pondering, the treasure is locked away for another day, in which we will need understanding. May you find and keep the true treasure of God.

"'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:6, ESV)
 
When Herod asked the religious leaders of his day where Christ would be born, they quoted Micah 5:2, saying Bethlehem. Why Bethlehem? Because the scriptures made it clear through the prophet Micah that the Messiah, Jesus, would be born there. And that He would be of the lineage of David. Even though Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, God saw fit to bring them to Bethlehem so that Jesus would be born there.

Bethlehem was such an insignificant little city for something so big to take place. Why? This is how God does things, so we cannot boast of our greatness. Bethlehem could not boast of its glory and strength; therefore, the Messiah was born there. God wanted everyone to know that this was His doing and not the achievements of men. 

God chose a stable so the innkeeper could not boast. God chooses insignificant Bethlehem to prove, once again, that man's achievements count for nothing. Hear these words of Paul: "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ” (1 Corinthians 1:27–31, ESV)

May Christmas remind us of the exalted place of humility.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, ...according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4–7, ESV)
 
God's goodness and kindness toward us brought about the coming of Jesus into our world. God, our Savior, did this! He appeared and saved us according to His own mercy. You would have thought He would have shown up to punish us, but He came to save us! According to His great mercy, He came to give us what we did not deserve but needed: Love.

To those who believe, the One born to die brought us the washing of regeneration. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness and makes us new again—'born again' new! And with the help of His Holy Spirit, we are sanctified by His Word. Not only are we renewed by His Spirit, but we are also filled with the Spirit of God! There is more! And being justified by His grace and declared righteous, we become heirs to eternal life!

That baby born in Bethlehem brought all of that to us. God's goodness and kindness are wonderfully rich towards us. Jesus took what He did not deserve for us to get what we didn't deserve! Look what the Lord has done!

"And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home." (Luke 1:23, ESV)
 
God chose Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of John the Baptist. Don't think for a moment that this was a random act of God. God saw something in Zechariah and Elizabeth that qualified them to raise up a forerunner who would announce Jesus, the Bridegroom God.

"And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." (Luke 1:6, ESV) It matters how we carry ourselves in this life. Zechariah and Elizabeth chose to live this way because they understood God and the things of His Kingdom. It was precious to them, desired by them, and lived out joyfully to Him.
 
God was looking for people He could trust who would raise His prophet in the ways of God and with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. God was preparing them to be the preparers of the one sent to prepare the people of Israel for the coming Messiah.

How would your life change if you committed to becoming a preparer of people for the coming of the Lord? How would your parenting or grand-parenting change if you knew you were being entrusted with raising up a preparer of people for the coming of the Lord? To accomplish this task, they lived righteously, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and were equipped with prophetic words to guide them. Maybe God wants you to be a preparer of preparers.

"And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1:41, ESV). "And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied," (Luke 1:67, ESV). "and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15, ESV).
 
Luke obviously loves the Holy Spirit by the way he writes about Him! And he sees something interesting in the Christmas narrative—three times, Luke mentions people who are filled with the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of his Gospel. What is unique about this is that the Holy Spirit came upon people in the Old Testament, but here, Luke is recording that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He also writes that his parents were filled with the Holy Spirit.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit, one must receive the Holy Spirit within themselves. Like a glass receives water, so are those filled with the Holy Spirit. Something big is happening, and Luke writes about it!

I believe that Zechariah and Elizabeth were filled with the Holy Spirit to help prepare their son, John, for the mission he is called to and so that they might stay out of the way of John's destiny. I also believe that John was filled with the Holy Spirit due to the nature of his ministry, a forerunner of Christ! His message to repent needed Holy Spirit fire upon it so that Israel's heart would be turned back to God and prepared for the entrance of the Word, Jesus Christ.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means God with us). (Matthew 1:23, ESV)
 
What does 'God with us' mean? First, it was a prophetic word given to Ahaz in Isaiah 7:14. It is a word of great hope! 'God with you' is never a bad day! The Word creates expectation. Ahaz expects a son to be born! A man-child! A king! The mother of this child will have expectations! A righteous ruler excites the expectations of the people! Jesus, as the fulfillment of this scripture, creates wonder! Think of it and apply it to yourself... IMMANUEL! GOD WITH US!!! "God with us" means that the Creator became a creature (flesh and blood, like us) with us! That astounds me!

Christmas is not about humanity's worth and goodness but about God's mind-blowing mercy towards us—the mercy that He would come and reveal Himself to us, die for us, and, on the third day, rise and save anyone who would believe in Him. He became poor so that we might be made rich. He became sin so that we might become righteous!

'God with us' means I get to know Him as He is! I get to know God! Jesus is with us, and He is here to save us! This means that God is knowable, and He wants us to know Him! "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15, NLT)  I stand in awe! Immanuel, God with us!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, ESV)
 
The coming of Christ at Christmas is referred to by many as the Advent. Advent means coming. Christ came to earth because God loved us so much. It is the nature of God to love. When we make such a statement, we are saying that the nature of a thing is revealed by what it does. It is the nature of fire to burn, a lion to kill, and a tornado to destroy. But it is the nature of God to love!

Because it is God's nature to love, He could not help but love us! It is who He is! God is love, so he gave that others might be helped, encouraged, saved, and strengthened. God was loving us by sending us His Son. Jesus was the gift given by God to us. If we receive that gift, we live and do not die spiritually.

God, in loving us, says He knows us and that we are important! God has prepared a gift—His Son. A gift for all people! One way that God loves is by giving. He took pleasure in giving us His Son so that we might live because He would give His life for us.

You may think you do not deserve such a gift. But it is not about deserving but about receiving what God freely gives. Jesus is God's gift to you. Just believe and say, "Yes!"

"Thus says the Lord: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more." (Jeremiah 31:15, ESV)
 
Having experienced the surprise visit by the wise men, Herod is now troubled and threatened that another King has been born. One called the King of the Jews. According to Luke 2:39, we also know that Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth after Mary's purification. "And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth." (Luke 2:39, ESV). According to the Word, we must assume that the wise men found Jesus in Nazareth, far from Bethlehem and Herod.

Most scholars agree that Jesus would have been about two years old when the wise men came looking to worship Him. This explains why Herod killed all the male children of Bethlehem, two years old and younger, when the wise men did not report back to him. Satan's rage is always against the plan of God. And bitter weeping is the fruit of his actions.

But let us find hope and remember that it was Jesus who said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10, ESV) Whatever heartbreak you may feel today, know that Jesus is your only answer and hope. Draw near to Him, and let Him draw near to you.

"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1:9, ESV)
 
I remember an old song we used to sing in college. "There is a Light at the end of the darkness, and it shines for all the world to see. It will shine on your heart if you will let it. I was so blind when it finally shined on me!"  Yes! Glory to God! There is a Light that gives light to everyone. And it has come into the world! His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He brings light to all men so that all men can see and be drawn to Him. He comes to destroy the darkness in every man. 

It was Isaiah who said, "Those living in darkness have seen a great light." God is light! He is the true Light, and He has come into our world as the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can extinguish or put out the Light! The darkness flees at the presence of the Light! You can shout right there!

Jesus is called the Light of the World! The whole world was in darkness until He came! Jesus is also called the Word, and the Word is a light to my feet and a lamp to my path. Those who live in gross darkness and receive the revelation that the Word brings will be brilliantly saved!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! The true Light has come into the world! Merry Christmas!!!

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10, ESV)
 
The cross brought Him down, but the Father brought Him up! Jesus truly humbled Himself to the cross and was brought low to the depths of Sheol. But the Father raised Him up! Death could not keep Him in the grave, and it will not keep in the grave those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ has tremendous advantages! You get your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. You pass from death to life. You are given the new birth. You walk in new life. Old things pass away, and all things are made new. The old man is dead, and the new man is raised up with Christ Jesus! These are just a few of the advantages of being born again.

For those who believe, Jesus is their Savior! Do you believe? Believers enjoy the benefits of having a Savior, for we are saved from sin. We are delivered from devils and healed from sicknesses. We have a future and hope. God is for us, not against us, because we believe in Jesus. Look! God sent His Son so that we might have life and have it abundantly! Why settle for less when God has given you the very best?

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!

"but standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother ..." (John 19:25, ESV)
 
By the plan of God, Jesus was born to die for the sins of humanity. One can never separate the birth of Christ from the death of Christ. It is all part of one story: our redemption! Mary is one mother who has endured so many different things in life. The scary fulfillment of prophetic words like "you shall conceive a child having never known a man." What do you tell Joseph? How do you explain this to mom and dad? Not everyone is on board: What do you mean a sword will pierce my soul? (Luke 2:35).

Mary watched her son begin ministry. She saw the miracles, the healings, and the amazement with which people stood before His words. She saw Him rejected, mocked, and accused. Her heart carried the weight of where her son's journey was going. And yet, being the mother of Jesus and a lover of God, she knew she had to stay out of God's way and not interfere. She was His mother, but He was God's Son! 

Now, on that most God-awful day, Mary stood by the cross. Tears falling down. Blood dripping down. Her heart breaking, and His heart broken. "Father, why have you forsaken me?" How is it that you can be so close to the cross and yet so alone? Mother and child, alone...separated by the cross. Yet in just a few days, the cross would be the thing that unites them. Draw me nearer to the cross, Lord Jesus.

Jesus "emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:7-8, ESV)
 
Christmas is more than a celebration of the birth of Christ. I love the story of the baby in the manger. Who does not like babies? I love the story of the shepherds tending their flock and being visited by angels. I love that God chose Mary and Joseph and entrusted them to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Wisemen, Simeon, Anna, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the star are all wonderful parts of the story. But we can't forget that His birth makes our new birth possible. The One sent to give us life was to die!

He humbled himself. He laid aside His glory, becoming a man who would die for the sins of the whole world. Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. He stooped to any measure that was needed to secure our salvation! That is love! 

He was obedient to the point of death. Obedience means that it was not a pleasurable thing that Jesus was doing. He knew it was what had to be done. Therefore, He despised the cross and endured its shame. And having laid down His life, God raised Him up, making our new birth possible! Thank you, Jesus!

Jesus, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:32, ESV)
 
As a gentile, I am most thankful that God did not forget us. As Simeon proclaims truth over Jesus, he declares that Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles. This is great news! The Gentiles are also included in God's glorious plan of salvation. We have hope!

What does 'a light for revelation' mean? It means that even though Israel already knew God and was in a relationship with Him, the Gentiles were also loved by God and offered a relationship with Him! But they would have to 'see' God for that to happen. To 'see' means that the light of understanding would have to come on. John writes in his Gospel, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4, ESV) And in verse 10, "all who would receive Him would become children of God! Relationship! We Gentiles can have a relationship with God.

Jesus would be glory for the people of Israel! In other words, they, too, would need to receive this light to be saved or have eternal life. Having done so, they would be the nation, the people, God's holy people, through whom Messiah has come. They would stand in glorious relationship with Father God! The Glory of Jesus would be seen as having come through the nation of Israel! What a blessing for the Jewish people! What a blessing for all who receive Him!

It is written of Anna, the prophetess, "She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day." (Luke 2:37, ESV)
 
As was Simeon, Anna too was great in years. Scripture says she was eighty-four years of age. Here is what she lived for: "She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day." She lived to be in the presence of God. She lived to serve God with fasting and with prayer. She lived to speak prophetically as God gave her things to say.

Older adults are often pushed to the side during the holiday season. They often cannot hear as well as they once did, so they are excluded from conversations and special moments that can fill the heart with joy. As you are with family this Christmas, make a little extra effort to include those excluded by hearing difficulties.

A lack of mobility often restrains older adults. The legs and feet that once took them wherever they wanted to go now cannot move as steadily or as fast as they once did. Again, their lack of mobility keeps them from participating in relational things. Remember to include them.

Simeon and Anna were two older people who had much wisdom to share. Their time before God in the secret place filled them with insights that will go unnoticed unless someone purposely draws wisdom from these wells of life. This Christmas, do not overlook these aged ones whom God has kindly set in our midst.

"And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, ESV)
 
Swaddling clothes comes from a Greek word that refers to long strips of cloth used to wrap wounds, infants, and newborn lambs in the winter. I am sure Mary, being a great mom-to-be, brought swaddling clothes on her trip to Bethlehem. I am also quite sure the shepherds of that day also had swaddling in the caves where they kept their sheep and lambs at night.

Mary would have wrapped baby Jesus up in swaddling clothes to keep him warm and to comfort Him. She would have wrapped the Lamb of God in swaddling! The wrapping of Jesus in swaddling in the Bethlehem cave is a prophetic shadow pointing to the purpose of His coming: the Lamb of God born to take away the sin of the world! John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. (Jn 1:29). First Peter 1:19 also calls Jesus "a lamb without spot or blemish." Revelation 5:12 states, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And John later writes of Jesus in Revelation 13:8, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

It was truly a sign for the shepherds to find the Lamb of God wrapped in swaddling. This little Lamb would take away the sin of the world.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18, ESV)
 
Have you ever wondered how Joseph was chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus? Did God throw a bunch of names into a box and pick one? Not hardly. I believe God knew exactly what He was doing when He chose Joseph to be the earthly father of Jesus! You do not pick just any man to be the earthly father of Jesus. You pick the best—a man who has been tested and who can raise Jesus in righteousness.

God chose Joseph because he was of the house and lineage of David. But there were others in the family line of David too. What set Joseph apart from the others we learn from him in stories of Jesus' birth. Joseph was a man of integrity and mercy. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he wanted to divorce her quietly. That speaks of the mercy that Joseph walked in. He wanted to do it quietly, which speaks of his desire to tenderly care for the human heart. 

Joseph walked in integrity after the angel told him to take Mary as his wife. He abstained from all sexual relations until after the birth of Christ. Thus, he was a man of purity. Joseph was a man chosen by God because God could trust him to raise His Son. How far can God trust you?

Gabriel was sent "to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:27, ESV)

Why a virgin? Why did God choose to bear the Christ child through a virgin? Because Isaiah 7:14 states, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, ESV). This literally means that Mary was a young woman who had never had sexual relations with any man before. For her to get pregnant without the participation of a man would be a miracle and the fulfillment of scripture! This virgin birth would be a sign to those who believe that God was sending the Messiah into the world.

The angel Gabriel tells Mary two times, "You are highly favored!" It simply means she was chosen and had the favor of God upon her. Hearing these words really perplexed Mary, for she knew she was a virgin. She did not doubt God. She simply wondered how God was going to do this. 

The angel responds, "Behold!" What I am about to say is amazing! It will leave you and many others speechless. "And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." (Luke 1:35, ESV) Mary's response is one of simple faith: "Let it be unto me according to your word."