The Savior’s Birth

PERHAPS NO SCRIPTURE gives more hope and comfort to Christians than the words Jesus spoke to a Pharisee named Nicodemus: “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His One and only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him as Savior shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, … but that the world might be saved through Him.”—John 3:16,17, Amplified Bible

Centuries earlier, God’s love was expressed to Abraham in a promise when he offered up his son Isaac, providing an illustration of God’s giving of his Son in sacrifice for the world in due time. (Gen. 22:15-18) The Apostle Paul clarifies God’s promise to bless mankind through Abraham’s seed. Although the blessing was not possible by the works of the Jewish Law, by “his grace” God “gave it to Abraham through a promise.” (Gal. 3:18, New International Version) In the same chapter of Galatians Paul identifies God’s only begotten Son as the promised seed, saying, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”—vs. 16, NIV

Today’s Key Verse fulfills another prophecy. Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. (Mic. 5:2) Prior to Jesus’ birth, Caesar Augustus had declared that every male should return to their city of heritage to be taxed. “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David).”—Luke 2:4

Jesus’ birth itself was declared by an angel to shepherds tending their sheep by night: “But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10, NIV) Then comes the familiar words of our Key Verse. The Prophet Isaiah also has much to say about the birth of the Savior. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isa. 9:6, International Standard Version

We read further in Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Jesus quoted from this prophecy in the synagogue after his baptism. (Luke 4:18-21) He declared that he was the one who would fulfill these words, and would save the world of mankind from the curse of death placed on Adam and his posterity. Jesus would be the “ransom for all” later declared by Paul. (I Tim. 2:5,6) He would be the one to bring to fruition the words: “For just as all men die by virtue of their descent from Adam, so all such as are in union with Christ will be made to live again.” (I Cor. 15:21,22, Williams New Testament) What glorious words are thus spoken concerning the Savior of the world, Christ Jesus.