Don’t miss the Christmas sign

On the night that Jesus was born, an angel announced his birth to a group of shepherds, saying, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12)
 
The word “Lord” is a term for deity. So, what the angel is saying is that Jesus is none other than God himself, who has come to save us. However, the sign to look for that God has arrived on planet earth isn’t a big earthquake, or a massive storm, or a booming voice from heaven; it’s the birth of a baby!

The idea that God was born as a baby brings us face to face with the truth of the Incarnation. Although Jesus was fully and truly God from all eternity, he acquired a human nature when he was conceived in Mary’s womb and born in Bethlehem.  In some way, mysterious to us, Jesus has two natures (divine and human) joined together in one person.

What is the sign that God has come into our world to save us? A baby!! Sometimes I hear people say things like, “If God only gave me a sign that he is real, I would believe.”  By this they are usually looking for some miracle, or answer to their prayers, or perhaps an angelic visit!! Yet, the amazing thing is that God has given us a sign … 2000 years ago!

Jesus is the sign that God hasn’t forgotten about us in our suffering.
Jesus is the sign that God loves us and came to give us eternal life.
Jesus is the sign that God offers us hope and joy and peace.
 
So, where does that leave you? As you behold God’s sign, the only proper response is to worship and surrender to him as your Savior and Lord. In the words of the chorus of the famous Christmas hymn, “O Come let us adore Him … Christ the Lord!”  When the shepherds realized the truth of God’s sign, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 1:20). When the Magi realized the truth of God’s sign, “they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).
 
As we come to celebrate Christmas, integral to that is taking the time to worship and thank Him, who was born to be our Savior.