Joy Born at Bethlehem || BibleHub
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Joy Born at Bethlehem
by C. H. Spurgeon
Part 2
"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'" -- Luke 2:10-12.
Why is it that the coming of Christ into the world is the occasion of joy? The answer is as follows: -- First, because it is evermore a joyous fact that God should be in alliance with man. Sin had separated between God and man; but the incarnation bridges the separation: it is a prelude to the atoning sacrifice, but it is a prelude full of the richest hope. From henceforth, when God looks upon man, he will remember that his own Son is a man. From this day forth, when he beholds the sinner, if his wrath should burn, he will remember that his own Son, as man, stood in the sinner's place, and bore the sinner's doom.
But there was more than that, for the shepherds were aware that there had been promises made of old which had been the hope and comfort of believers in all ages, and these were now to be fulfilled. There was that ancient promise made on the threshold of Eden to the first sinners of our race, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; another promise made to the Father of the faithful that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed, and promises uttered by the mouths of prophets and of saints since the world began. Now, the announcement of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds was a declaration that the covenant was fulfilled, that now in the fullness of time God would redeem his word, and the Messiah, who was to be Israel's glory and the world's hope; was now really come. Be glad ye heavens, and be joyful O earth, for the Lord hath done it, and in mercy hath he visited his people. The Lord hath not suffered his word to fail, but hath fulfilled unto his people his promises.
But the angel's song had in it yet fuller reason for joy; for our Lord who was born in Bethlehem came as a Saviour. "Unto you is born this day a Saviour." The Lord might have come with thunderbolts in both his hands he might have come like Elias to call fire from heaven; but no, his hands are full of gifts of love, and his presence is the guarantee of grace. The babe born in the manger might have been another prophet of tears, or another son of thunder, but he was not so: he came in gentleness, his glory and his thunder alike laid aside.
Rejoice, ye who feel that ye are lost; your Saviour comes to seek and save you. Be of good cheer ye who are in prison, for he comes to set you free. Ye who are famished and ready to die, rejoice that he has consecrated for you a Bethlehem, a house of bread, and he has come to be the bread of life to your souls. Rejoice, O sinners, everywhere for the restorer of the castaways, the Saviour of the fallen is born. Join in the joy, ye saints, for he is the preserver of the saved ones, delivering them from innumerable perils, and he is the sure prefecter of such as he preserves. Jesus is no partial Saviour, beginning a work and not concluding it; but, restoring and upholding, he also prefects and presents the saved ones without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing before his Father's throne. Rejoice aloud all ye people, let your hills and valleys ring with joy, for a Saviour who is mighty to save is born among you.
Go Deeper
Click here to find other uses of the word 'saviour' in the Bible.
Dig deeper in Luke 2:11 at BibleHub.com.
Reflect
"The Lord might have come with thunderbolts in both his hands. He might have come like Elias to call fire from heaven; but no, his hands are full of gifts of love, and his presence is the guarantee of grace. The babe born in the manger might have been another prophet of tears, or another son of thunder, but he was not so: he came in gentleness, his glory and his thunder alike laid aside."
Respond
What are all the reasons we have for rejoicing that Jesus was born?
How have you seen Christ work in your life since you have known Him?
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
If you want to share this Bible reading plan with friends and family, here is the link:
https://bttb.org/Joy-Born-At-Bethlehem
by C. H. Spurgeon
Part 2
"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'" -- Luke 2:10-12.
Why is it that the coming of Christ into the world is the occasion of joy? The answer is as follows: -- First, because it is evermore a joyous fact that God should be in alliance with man. Sin had separated between God and man; but the incarnation bridges the separation: it is a prelude to the atoning sacrifice, but it is a prelude full of the richest hope. From henceforth, when God looks upon man, he will remember that his own Son is a man. From this day forth, when he beholds the sinner, if his wrath should burn, he will remember that his own Son, as man, stood in the sinner's place, and bore the sinner's doom.
But there was more than that, for the shepherds were aware that there had been promises made of old which had been the hope and comfort of believers in all ages, and these were now to be fulfilled. There was that ancient promise made on the threshold of Eden to the first sinners of our race, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; another promise made to the Father of the faithful that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed, and promises uttered by the mouths of prophets and of saints since the world began. Now, the announcement of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds was a declaration that the covenant was fulfilled, that now in the fullness of time God would redeem his word, and the Messiah, who was to be Israel's glory and the world's hope; was now really come. Be glad ye heavens, and be joyful O earth, for the Lord hath done it, and in mercy hath he visited his people. The Lord hath not suffered his word to fail, but hath fulfilled unto his people his promises.
But the angel's song had in it yet fuller reason for joy; for our Lord who was born in Bethlehem came as a Saviour. "Unto you is born this day a Saviour." The Lord might have come with thunderbolts in both his hands he might have come like Elias to call fire from heaven; but no, his hands are full of gifts of love, and his presence is the guarantee of grace. The babe born in the manger might have been another prophet of tears, or another son of thunder, but he was not so: he came in gentleness, his glory and his thunder alike laid aside.
Rejoice, ye who feel that ye are lost; your Saviour comes to seek and save you. Be of good cheer ye who are in prison, for he comes to set you free. Ye who are famished and ready to die, rejoice that he has consecrated for you a Bethlehem, a house of bread, and he has come to be the bread of life to your souls. Rejoice, O sinners, everywhere for the restorer of the castaways, the Saviour of the fallen is born. Join in the joy, ye saints, for he is the preserver of the saved ones, delivering them from innumerable perils, and he is the sure prefecter of such as he preserves. Jesus is no partial Saviour, beginning a work and not concluding it; but, restoring and upholding, he also prefects and presents the saved ones without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing before his Father's throne. Rejoice aloud all ye people, let your hills and valleys ring with joy, for a Saviour who is mighty to save is born among you.
Go Deeper
Click here to find other uses of the word 'saviour' in the Bible.
Dig deeper in Luke 2:11 at BibleHub.com.
Reflect
"The Lord might have come with thunderbolts in both his hands. He might have come like Elias to call fire from heaven; but no, his hands are full of gifts of love, and his presence is the guarantee of grace. The babe born in the manger might have been another prophet of tears, or another son of thunder, but he was not so: he came in gentleness, his glory and his thunder alike laid aside."
Respond
What are all the reasons we have for rejoicing that Jesus was born?
How have you seen Christ work in your life since you have known Him?
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
If you want to share this Bible reading plan with friends and family, here is the link:
https://bttb.org/Joy-Born-At-Bethlehem
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Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to save the entire world! And last of all He came to save me!
Jesus is my joy, my strength, and my song. His beautiful, gentle, loving presence is always with me.
I stand amazed at all He has done in me. He took me from a deep, muddy pit of sin and He set my feet on the solid rock. Gives me the power to say no to sin, and yes sometimes I slip, but He is ever faithful to forgive me.
I recently lost my hubby of almost 60 years, when I sink into moments of sorrow I know Jesus is with me. And soon I know joy again.
I know people who have lost loved ones and they refuse to celebrate Christmas! I don't understand it.
Christmas is meant to celebrate God's greatest gift to us, His Son!
He sent Jesus to show us who God is! Love! Grace! Mercy! Forgiveness! Abundant life! And the precious hope of Heaven!
I will forever thank and praise my Savior, no matter what comes my way. I love You, so much Jesus💗
Jesus is my joy, my strength, and my song. His beautiful, gentle, loving presence is always with me.
I stand amazed at all He has done in me. He took me from a deep, muddy pit of sin and He set my feet on the solid rock. Gives me the power to say no to sin, and yes sometimes I slip, but He is ever faithful to forgive me.
I recently lost my hubby of almost 60 years, when I sink into moments of sorrow I know Jesus is with me. And soon I know joy again.
I know people who have lost loved ones and they refuse to celebrate Christmas! I don't understand it.
Christmas is meant to celebrate God's greatest gift to us, His Son!
He sent Jesus to show us who God is! Love! Grace! Mercy! Forgiveness! Abundant life! And the precious hope of Heaven!
I will forever thank and praise my Savior, no matter what comes my way. I love You, so much Jesus💗
He came to save us, me, the world. To be the bread of life and the living water, so I will not thirst. How can I not be filled with joy that my savior was born and is still alive and has given me his Word and has promised to guide me and protect me through all my days. When I continue to seek him each day and through good and bad days. He is my savior and he is my joy my eternal joy.