[“In a glorious manner”, Jesus will arrive; Isaiah tells them “you have been often told that he should be born among you, I am now further to tell you that he shall BE BORN OF A VIRGIN, which will signify both the divine power and the divine purity with which he shall be brought into the world”!] “…the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (lit. With us is God).” (Isa. 7:14) [The excellence of the Gospels is not that it makes allowances for sin, but that IT MAKES AN ATONEMENT FOR SIN: not that it tolerates sin, but that IT FORGIVES THEN DESTROYS SIN!] “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because WHAT IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “GOD WITH US“).” (Matt. 1:20-23) [Some will have these gifts to be symbolic of the Divinity, regal office, and manhood of Christ. “They offered him incense as their God; gold as their king; and myrrh, to a human body, subject to suffering and death!] “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and THEY BOWED DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:11) [“If a man love me”, says Christ, “he will keep my word; and I and the Father will come in unto him, and make our abode (dwelling) with him.” And indeed even Christ in the arms of Simeon could not benefit him, if Christ were not already formed in his heart.] “…there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon…the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that HE WOULD NOT DIE BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S MESSIAH…Simeon took him (Jesus) in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that:
WE ARE ALSO BLESSED TO HAVING SEEN OUR SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST!
-Bill Stockham