Christmas is the reminder that God came to earth in a human body. Born in a stable to an average family His birth was marked by angelic beings announcing His arrival to shepherds out in the local fields around Bethlehem.
Wise men in the east saw a conjunction of three stars and recognised the significance. They travelled to Israel looking for the new born King and new High Priest and found Him, not in the Jerusalem but in the town named House of God’s Bread, or Bethlehem.
As He grew He was stigmatised for being born illegitimately and his adopted town of Nazareth did not have the best reputation. Living in a country oppressed by a foreign power he suddenly became famous at the age of thirty when for three and half years His preaching and miracle working became the talk of the land.
Falsely accused, the religious leaders arranged with the Roman authorities to have Him put to death in one of the most painful ways possible; crucifixion.
Just to ensure the body couldn’t be stolen and another miracle claimed the tomb was guarded by armed soldiers.
But on the third day the body rose from the dead, resurrected, as had been prophesied. Even the followers of Jesus had difficulty believing what had happened.
God is a spirit. He had lived in the body known as Jesus of Nazareth. Fifty days later that same spirit, the very life of Jesus. came down and into 120 believers in the upper room. Jesus Christ was alive again on earth, born in believers, changing them from fearful believers into a body made up of individuals, each preaching and living their part of Him.
And that is the real Christmas. Not just the arrival of God in human form two thousand year ago but the arrival of God here today in His people, born into hearts no cleaner than a stable but with a life that is eternal.
What a message!


Brother Richard Oliver
Eltham Message Church