Christmas by Billy Graham
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1. Why was Jesus’ birth so important? The reason is because slightly over 2,000 years ago, God stooped down from Heaven and became a human being: Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” — John 1:14, NIV
Think of it: God became a man! He did it because He loves us—and that’s what we should celebrate as Christmas approaches.
2. Why Mary and Joseph? We’re given just a little glimpse of Mary and Joseph before Jesus was born. They lived in the hill country of Galilee. Joseph was a religious man. Mary gives every evidence of having a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, even though she was a teenager. The Bible teaches that God was so pleased with her that He chose her to be the mother of Jesus.
Both Joseph and Mary followed the call and plan of God—and through their obedience the way was prepared for Christ to come and bless us.
3. Why Shepherds? On that first Christmas night, the angels appeared to shepherds on a hill near Bethlehem. Those shepherds and the sheep to whom the angels appeared near Bethlehem were no ordinary shepherds and sheep. The sheep were those bound for the temple sacrifices. The shepherds were outcasts because of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances. And their manner of life rendered legal observances unlikely, if not absolutely impossible.
How wonderful that in God’s wisdom and love the angels should appear to shepherds —the doomed and the outcast—that night.
4. Why at Night? The greatest sermon ever preached was delivered by angels on this historic night. It wasn’t night because the sun had gone down. It was night because the world was surrounded in spiritual and moral gloom. People were driven by greed, intolerance, and lust for power. Religion had become a device for the rich in the exploitation of the poor. Men robbed and swindled and profiteered under the cloak of religion.
Things haven’t changed. Today, there seems to be a moral night that has settled over our world—sexual immorality, pleasure-mad people, lusting for money and power—the same as it was in the days when Jesus came 2,000 years ago. Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
It is in the darkest hour that Christ often comes.
How has Jesus shown Himself to you in your darkest hour?
(Condensed Version) To see complete original text “click here”
