“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
Luke 2:10-11
That is the wonderful message that was once proclaimed with such clarity in the fields of Bethlehem. The Savior of the world has come to break the chains of vice, to free from the bonds of sin, to destroy the work of the devil, and to release the souls of those in bondage.
Darkness covered the earth. Separated from God, burdened and enslaved with sin, people had to go about their daily activities burdened and weary. They were not able to find the peace they longed for as eternity rapidly approached.
All hope for rescue had dissipated. They could not find salvation through the law. The thousands of animal sacrifices could not purge their sin. Only God Himself could save them. In a prophetic vision, the prophet Isaiah foresaw the great Savior coming and proclaimed: “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).
He is called Wonderful
He, who came to bring salvation to the world, is wonderful. His life was wonderful. Christ, who was with the Father from eternity, is wonderful. The world needed a wonderful Savior to save them from their sins and bring them back to God. Wonderful is His love as He extended His loving arms to embrace the whole world as He died on Calvary’s cross. Wonderful is the power of His blood that can cleanse even the vilest sinner from all sin. This Savior who came to take away our sin and bring salvation, life, peace, and joy is indeed wonderful.
He is called Counselor
He has counsel, even when all human wisdom fails. In His wisdom, He can make a way, even where there is no way. He has counsel for the sinner for whom, from a human standpoint, there is no hope. He has help for the lost soul that is shackled by Satan’s fetters. He can free from the bonds of sin, addiction, and vice and lead a person from the realm of godlessness to the pure light of God.
He is called Mighty God
His is the might and power of God. He has power to heal the sick, to break the shackles of death, to still the storm and calm the waves. He has power to cast out demons and to free humans from the power of Satan. He has the power to melt a stone-hard heart and save a soul entangled in sin with His saving grace. He is the mightier one. He is mightier than the mighty and more powerful than the powerful. In triumph, He can exclaim: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He is “alive forevermore” and has “the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18). He is victorious in battle. Darkness flees from His presence, and His enemies are destined to be made His footstool (Hebrews 1:13).
He is called Everlasting Father
What a thought! He rules from eternity. He has no beginning or end. Before the world was created, He is God, from everlasting to everlasting. He is the Father of all that is good, Father over His whole family on earth and in heaven (Ephesians 3:15). “A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God” (Psalm 68:5). He is fatherly in His love, in His guidance, in His care, and in His compassion.
He is called Prince of Peace
The name Prince of Peace rings out into a world full of unrest, sin, passion, war, uprisings, and strife. He came to bring peace through the shedding of His blood on the cross in order to take away the enmity between God and mankind. Indeed, He came to bring His peace for restless hearts, for families, for young and old, for those of high standing and for the lowly – peace for everyone. Millions have received this peace which the Prince of Peace offers. Despite the restlessness of the nations, despite the wars, despite Satan’s fury, despite strife and unrest, He is and remains the Prince of Peace. He says: “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). All who come to Him in faith can experience this peace.
Let the message resound. Go tell it on the mountains and in the valleys: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy…there is born to you…a Savior” (Luke 2:10-11). This Savior can free from all sin (Matthew 1:21), can free from the power of darkness and from the evil one. Go tell those who are discouraged, those who are without comfort, those despairing, those on the fringes of society. Go tell everyone. A Savior is born, bringing light, life, and salvation. Here is hope and salvation for all mankind. His peace is like a spring of water and His righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Behold this great wonder of God! In your mind’s eye, see the babe in the manger. Only the great love of the Father could give such an indescribable gift. Dear friend, if you are still living in sin or have addictions, if you are still not completely free from sin, come to the Savior. Accept the gift of salvation so that your heart may be filled with the peace of God, and you can experience the real meaning of Christmas.
Be the first to comment