Some of the Wonders of Christmas
Christmas Devotion: Some of the Wonders of Christmas
by John Rataczak
But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
There is no doubt that there are some in the world today who would like to minimize the significance of Christmas. The secular progressives (as they are called) would have us feel that this special season should be merely a time to buy gifts and take time off from our work responsibilities.
Believers know better! There are many wonders involved in the story of the birth of our Savior (far too many to explain here), but consider the ideas expressed in the two verses quoted above:
1. But when the fullness of the time was come. God’s timing is always perfect, whether it be in the planning of the birth of His Son or in the occurrences of our personal lives! Jesus was born in the days of the Roman empire. Why would that be important? Because the Romans built wonderful roads and maintained order throughout the empire, making it a lot easier for the Apostles to go all throughout the known world preaching the Gospel.
Greek was the universal language of the day. What difference did that make? Again, the Apostles did not have to learn a new language every time they entered a new country or territory. In addition, the Hebrew Old Testament had been translated into Greek, so the message of God’s Word was available in a language all could understand!
God’s timing was perfect!
2. God sent forth His Son. The Father and the Son have always enjoyed a special relationship, but because of His love and grace, He sent forth Jesus to live among us and die for us! How amazing it is that He would allow His only Son to come to this sinful world and minister to us in such gracious ways!
3. Made of a woman. This phrase speaks of the virgin birth of our Savior and the fact that He is both God and man (the incarnation). In order to die for mankind, Jesus had to be man. In order to meet the holy demands of the Father, Jesus had to be God (and therefore sinless). Simply put, Jesus is the only One Who could possibly be our Savior! His deity and humanity made our salvation possible. He is truly unique!
4. Made under the law. Jesus voluntarily subjected Himself to all the rituals He had imposed upon sinful man. He humbled Himself in ways that are unimaginable!
5. To redeem them that were under the law. The word “redeem” means “to buy back.” When Adam sinned, the entire human race fell and was guilty before God (Romans 5:12-16). In other words, mankind was in the slave market of sin. Thank God, Jesus came to redeem us from that awful condition. In fact, redemption frees us! If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36). Believers need not fear death or the consequences of sin because of the redemption (paid for by His precious blood) that is available through Jesus Christ!
6. That we might receive the adoption of sons. Because Jesus came and provided salvation, one of the great benefits for those who believe is a very special relationship with the Father. Not only is He not angry with us if we are saved; He is now our heavenly Father! We are adopted into His family! The Greek noun for “adoption of sons” indicates that believers have all the privileges of an adult son.
When a parent makes a will, he may stipulate that upon death his earthly belongings be given to his son when he reaches a certain age. Perhaps that age would be 18 or 21 or 25. In other words, those belongings are his, but he has to wait until he reaches the stipulated age in order to enjoy them. In the case of a believer, the salvation that Christ provides involves immediate adult sonship, meaning that all the benefits and privileges are his regardless of how long he has been saved!
In this busy world we often struggle to find the time to ponder these great truths, but it is certainly worthwhile, especially during the Christmas season, to consider Galatians 4:4-5.
These are some of the wonders of Christmas!
These devotional thoughts were written by John Rataczak, Ph.D. He has written two Christian books that will bless you and enlarge your understanding of the scriptures. You can learn more by going to the website:http:// www.eleutherosbooks.com
