SAME JESUS - DIFFERENT REACTIONS

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as it had been prophesied concerning the Messiah, 700 years earlier (Mic. 5:2).  His birth would be miraculous in that His mother would be a virgin (Isa. 7:14).  He would be from the lineage of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David (Gen. 3:15; 12:3; 17:19; Num. 24:17; Gen. 49:10; Jer. 23:5).  There is little doubt that Jesus was Israel's long-awaited Messiah!

And if the Old Testament prophecies were not enough to show His true identity, we have the reaction of those involved with Him the first eight days of His life.  The following examples all come from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

*  The Angels of the Lord at the announcement of Christ's birth to lowly shepherds:  "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (2:13-14).

*   The shepherds, after seeing the Christ child:  "And when they had seen [Him], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (2:17).

*  Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Christ:  "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (2:19).

*  Simeon, who had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen Israel's Messiah:  "Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:  for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation" (2:29-30).  And he prophesied concerning Mary's future grief (2:34-35).

*  Anna, a prophetess, reacted as well, for the Word says, "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (2:38).

As can be seen from these five examples, not everyone reacts the same.  But they all have one thing in common:  from the moment they meet Him, He becomes the center of our thoughts and their conversations!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!