The Greatest Gift of All

This morning I want to explore some aspects of the birth of Christ - ˇ§what is it we celebrate when we are celebrating the birth of Christ?ˇ¨

„« I realize that it was the birth of our Savior

„« I realize that our redemption was purchased through the purpose of Jesusˇ¦ coming

But there is more to this than we care to deal with.

We find the Christmas story ˇV the story of Christˇ¦s birth in Luke chapter 2, but I want to look at the prophecy that Isaiah proclaimed about birth of Jesus

So letˇ¦s look in the book of Isaiah

Isa 9:6-7
6 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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (NKJ)

In the majority of verse 6 and in all of verse 7 we find characteristics, purpose, and realities that will be associated with the coming Messiah

But I want to focus for a moment on the first 13 words:

ˇ§For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is givenˇ¨

We find in this first statement that a ˇ§Child is bornˇ¨ and a ˇ§Son is givenˇ¨

The first thing we find in that statement, which we know is being spoken of Jesus is that He had to be born

But once He was born ˇV as the Son of God ˇV He was given as a ransom for us all ˇV there was purpose directly connect to his manifestation

Matt 20:28
28 Even as the SonˇKcame not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)

We know and I would assume understand that Jesus came for a purpose ˇV He was born into this world

ˇ§A child is bornˇ¨ for a purpose

„» That word ˇĄchildˇ¦ from the Hebrew means, ˇ§a child as a builder of the family nameˇ¨

Jesus came into the world to perpetuate the family name (family of God) ˇV but in that purpose of being born He gave Himself that others might also experience sonship

This is interesting because we have no problem with Jesus being the Son of God

We have no problem in reading the gospels about this Son that was given who went around doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil

We have no problem in reading about this Son who walked on water, took some loaves and fishes and fed a multitude

We have no problem with this Son who when it came time to pay taxes had His disciple go fish and the money that was needed was in the mouth of the fish

We have no problem reading about this Son who when confronted with a demoniac spoke the Word and he sat clothed and in His right mind

We have no problem of this child that was born and this Son that was given when confronted with the issue of a sinking boat in the middle of storm He could speak to the wind and the waves and they would calm

We have no problem with any of this because Jesus was the Son of God and that is what the Son of God didˇK

But do we comprehend the fact that we have been born again ˇV and that when you were born again the same thing could be said of you ˇV this day a child is bornˇK (rejoicing of heaven)

1 Pet 1:23 ˇV speaking of believers:

ˇ§having been born again, not of corruptible seed but