And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30–33 (ESV)).
This baby, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, was unique. We know that all births are special. When Jesus was born, he was the fulfilment of all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV)).
Those of us who are “in Christ” rejoice as we celebrate Jesus’ birth, in the certain knowledge that we may live with him through eternity. This is the true miracle of the birth of our Lord.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
(John Newton)
Colin R. Vine