Pastor's Points

"If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Mark 5:28 (NKJV) was the conviction of a poor sick woman who sought only to touch the hem of Jesus" garment believing in faith that she would be healed. The phrase "If only" is used in at least a couple of ways. "If only" I'd had more time. "If only" we had more money. "If only" I'd known better. We so often tend to complain or regret our current situations on consequences we could have perhaps avoided "If only" we'd known better or had better "luck". What touched Jesus heart that day was not her hand but her faith. "If only" can be nothing more than wishful thinking or it can be a pro-active stepping out of faith. Is your "If only" merely a self-pitying whine? Her "If only" leap of faith touched the heart of Jesus.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:13-16 (NKJV) Thus was the birth of Jesus! Born to working class parent, in stable with a hay manger for a crib. The night was cold and His first visitors were the shepherds that cared for the sheep that had been reserved as sacrifices for men's sins. Now, the Savior is born and His sacrifice will be the last necessary for mankind's salvation. Hallelujah! The King is born!

A young virgin, betrothed to a just man receives amazing news and is overcome with awe and praise for God. She is to be the mother of the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of mankind! An unlikely scenario, an impossible circumstance; that one should conceive a child by God Himself. The God-Child was to walk among men, lead a sinless existence and reveal God to us. He is Immanuel, "God with us"! 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.  Luke 1:31-33 (NKJV)

Unlike our births; the birth of Jesus was not reported "after the fact" but before! As in last week's article; some 700 years before His birth the Prophet Isaiah wrote "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 (NKJV) The virgin born Son of God came to serve the world by forgiving our sins giving us eternal life. You see Jesus is God described in Revelation 11:17 (NKJV) "O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come". Of His kingdom there is no end, nor to His power to forgive sin and grant eternal life.

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) Some seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus the Prophet Isaiah foretold His coming. God's final solution to man's bondage in sin is found in the Christ child whose birth we celebrate this month. In Christ is freedom from the penalty of sin, safety from the enemy's snares, peace in the midst of turmoil and joy in the midst of sadness. In Christ we are made whole.